D.F.M. Report post Posted June 10, 2009 Looking for a decent bull 350 working for a great bull 380 will be happy with a good clean shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZbowhntr Report post Posted June 11, 2009 I think a lot will depend on the scouting and what we are seeing. But I will be looking for something in the 350 class or better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gthor Report post Posted June 14, 2009 Boy, it is so easy to sit here at home in June and picture myself being so picky, and passing anything less than a 350 bull. So I'm sure I'll be the guy on opening morning reconsidering everything as soon as I see that first spike. But as my dad always says "Do you know why people don't shoot big elk? Because they shoot small ones!" I'll be in unit 8 in Nov. with a Coues Whitetail.com sticker on my truck. Feel free to say "Hey!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted June 14, 2009 Im in it for the whole hunt, i hope. Man i just want an elk. I screwed up on my only opportunity last NOV. and am looking for redemption, if it comes in the form of 350 or better it will be even sweeter!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted June 14, 2009 Hey guys..... I once again find myself without a tag.... and green with envey. I'd like to share a thought with all you lucky Ladies and Gents that have tags.... Don't get too wrapped up in the numbers games... half of the folks out there that are pitching the big numbers around are tape stretchers in the first place. Hunting is just like fishing...The phrase First Liar Doesn't Stand a Chance!... is one of my favorites about the numbers game. If you saw a Great 320 bull the next guy saw two 350s and the next guy saw a two 400s... etc, etc.... Set goals and try to visuallize what your "No Brainer" is, so that when you see it, your only thought is Shooter! Don't allow that numbers game to deminish your outdoor and hunting experience! If you are like me and love the chase as much or more than the harvest than it is not hard to go home empty handed.... but to others filling the tag is the measure of success and that is great too! Whatever your personal goals are be sure they are yours and not someone else's preconceived notions of what your hunt should be. Remember, in reality.... a 400 incher is like a supermodel... there are a few of them out there but we are not all going home with one tonight! Live the dream, enjoy the hunt, get bloody, and measure your success with Your tape measure....not someone elses. Best of luck to you all and maybe we will see you out there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shanehamblin Report post Posted June 15, 2009 dont really remember what magazine it was in but it was talking the spider bull and how big of a deal it was to everyone in utah and how much money was spent and how much bad it actually ended up bringing out in a lot of people and how many people have forgot why they like to go hunt and be in the mountains and spend time with family and friends. it talked about how we find ourselves saying " man i hope i can kill opening day or opening weekend," as if hunting is all the sudden a burden on us instead of a way of life and a past time. i know i do get caught up in numbers and different things a lot but i have lived in unit 1 all my life and im now 24 and this is my first elk tag in unit 1 so im just looking forward to having fun and spending time with family. dont get me wrong im gonna scout my butt off for a good bull but hope i dont lose sight of what i really enjoy out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattys281 Report post Posted June 15, 2009 EVen though it's my first bull tag, I'm thinking that shooting a small bull in Az during the Sept hunt would be a waste of my good luck in the draw, so I'm planning on putting an arrow in a 5x5 or better, or I'll be eating tag soup. My bosses have already been informed that they will not be seeing me for the entire season until I tag out, so at least I've got some time to work with . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BML Report post Posted June 15, 2009 Hey guys..... I once again find myself without a tag.... and green with envey. I'd like to share a thought with all you lucky Ladies and Gents that have tags.... Don't get too wrapped up in the numbers games... half of the folks out there that are pitching the big numbers around are tape stretchers in the first place. Hunting is just like fishing...The phrase First Liar Doesn't Stand a Chance!... is one of my favorites about the numbers game. If you saw a Great 320 bull the next guy saw two 350s and the next guy saw a two 400s... etc, etc.... Set goals and try to visuallize what your "No Brainer" is, so that when you see it, your only thought is Shooter! Don't allow that numbers game to deminish your outdoor and hunting experience! If you are like me and love the chase as much or more than the harvest than it is not hard to go home empty handed.... but to others filling the tag is the measure of success and that is great too! Whatever your personal goals are be sure they are yours and not someone else's preconceived notions of what your hunt should be. Remember, in reality.... a 400 incher is like a supermodel... there are a few of them out there but we are not all going home with one tonight! Live the dream, enjoy the hunt, get bloody, and measure your success with Your tape measure....not someone elses. Best of luck to you all and maybe we will see you out there! Couldn't have said it better myself Gino!!! I drew my first archery tag this year. Last year, my dad had his first tag, in the same unit. The year before, my brother had a tag, again in the same unit. Both two years ago, and last year, I was able to spend a total of 15 days in the field and in camp with my dad and my brother. My brother killed a 342 and my dad killed a 297. This year, I get to do it all over again. As far as I am concerned, the fact that I will be chasing elk is just the icing on the cake. Spending time with my dad and brother is really where it's at. I haven't really even set any goals yet. I am going to work hard, hunt hard and sleep hard. Somewhere in between, I hope I get the opportunity to "aim small, miss small" at my "no brainer"!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eldonkey Report post Posted July 5, 2009 Well, not much to add here other than I have a cow tag ( 1st one ever) in 5B South... Any suggestions on areas to look in? All help appreciated. Can reciprocate with information on certain areas for Deer in 30B, 36A, and 27. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GonePointing Report post Posted July 6, 2009 I drew a Nov archery bull tag last year and passed on a spike. Saw a nice 5x5 coming but he was spooked by other hunters before I was able to get close enough for a shot. Then saw nothing but cows the rest of the hunt. This year I drew another archery bull Nov tag and I am not sure what I will do. Part of me wants to hold out for a big one and the other part of me says kill the first one I see. I have only been drawn 2 times ever for archery bull so I am yet to fill the freezer and spend money on a wall mount bill. For elk that is! Yoo many of my hunting buds tell me that if I shoot the little ones then I will never get the big one. I can see some truth in this but then the freezer is empty. I think it will be a game time decision but I am leaning more toward holding out. I think the hunt I drew is 10 days long and I will hunt the whole time. I hope to tag one this year. As for the comment on going in on full sheets for the draw, I am not sure if that helps or not. Every year but the last two I put in with friends to fill the 4 spots on the application. We were never drawn. The past two years I decided to put in alone and I was drawn both years in a row. Maybe luck but I would rather be lucky then good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joeybari Report post Posted July 6, 2009 how can you have this painfull discussion your killing us i havent got a elk bull tag in 10 years your all killing me but if i had one i whould be the first one to chime in (IF I HAD ONE ) what does that tag even look like if i ever get that tag i would have to call game and fish like 20 times to see if were realy true LOL so have fun Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catclaw Report post Posted July 6, 2009 I have had 15 bull tags since 1983. I didn't use my tag in 2007 and 2008. I passed bulls in 07 and a LOT of bulls in 08. It's all about the hunt. I don't really have a place to put anymore horns so my goal last year was a very SMALL 5x5 that wasn't broken or a 380 class bull. I saw NO 5x5s that weren't broken or big and I missed my one shot at a 380 bull. Not a single complaint from me. I even took a couple of days off from my unit 10 hunt and helped a guy kill a bull in 9. Elk are a lot of work when they hit the ground, I am not so inclined to kill one just to kill one any more. I have killed all my bulls during Nov rifle hunts. If you draw the right unit, they can be fantastic hunts. In 1994 I guided two guys from Mesa. We glassed up 55 bulls opening day that were 5x5s or better. Both killed 6x6s the first day and were tickled to death. Horses and mules got a good work-out. It is really fun seeing all those bulls together. Not the same as calling them in, but very gratifying to me to find a big ole bull in his brushy lair and snake him out. A November rifle hunt would be a lot tougher to pass anything up! Have fun Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted July 6, 2009 I drew a Unit 27 November Archery bull tag that reported a 0% harvest ratio last year, so my expectations are not high. That being said, my main concern is to have a good time in a high quality unit with only 24 other hunters to compete with At that time of year, most of the good bulls are in a pretty rugged and roadless areas, and I look forward to the challenge as I should be able to hunt the full 2 weeks, and I know the area very well. I will shoot at what ever bull that I can get within bow range, and will not measure the success of my hunt based on anlter size, even though that 380 bull still haunts my dreams and would look great on the wall Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
standman Report post Posted July 6, 2009 Hey guys..... I once again find myself without a tag.... and green with envey. I'd like to share a thought with all you lucky Ladies and Gents that have tags.... Don't get too wrapped up in the numbers games... half of the folks out there that are pitching the big numbers around are tape stretchers in the first place. Hunting is just like fishing...The phrase First Liar Doesn't Stand a Chance!... is one of my favorites about the numbers game. If you saw a Great 320 bull the next guy saw two 350s and the next guy saw a two 400s... etc, etc.... Set goals and try to visuallize what your "No Brainer" is, so that when you see it, your only thought is Shooter! Don't allow that numbers game to deminish your outdoor and hunting experience! If you are like me and love the chase as much or more than the harvest than it is not hard to go home empty handed.... but to others filling the tag is the measure of success and that is great too! Whatever your personal goals are be sure they are yours and not someone else's preconceived notions of what your hunt should be. Remember, in reality.... a 400 incher is like a supermodel... there are a few of them out there but we are not all going home with one tonight! Live the dream, enjoy the hunt, get bloody, and measure your success with Your tape measure....not someone elses. Best of luck to you all and maybe we will see you out there! Best advice I heard in a while. Couple years ago drew a 3c archery bull tag. Hunted everday of the season but one (funeral), called in 32 bulls under 30 yards and never fired a shot the whole season. Best archery hunt I have ever been on. I had people think I was an idiot for passing some of the bulls I did, but none of them fit the picture of the bull I wanted in my mind. Never regretted it. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck and enjoy and have the time of your life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azbownunter22 Report post Posted July 12, 2009 Gine you are right on the money, very well said. BML- I lost my hunting partner 4 years ago, my brother. I've had 2 bull tags since, one of which I was able to score on a very nice bull. I would give it all back to have one more chance to hunt with him. Cherish your time with your Dad and Brother. For all of you with tags in your pocket, congrats. As I said above, I've had 2 archery bull tags. The first tag, I scouted 22 days. I had 2 really nice bulls in the 375 range located. I hunted very hard, pushing myself to kill one of those bulls. By the end of the hunt I was worn out physically and mentally. You see, I had put so much pressure on myself, I couldn't possibly achieve the goals I had set for myself. My second hunt was vastly differant. I did not scout at all. Instead I took my wife and beautiful daughter on a nice relaxing vaction. I get back, load up and head for God's Country. My only goal going in to this hunt, was to try to call in as many bulls and I could and when the time was right and I found a mature 6x6 who was ready to die...I would kill him. For you first time archery hunters, know that you are going to have many close incounters where you will be unable to shoot. Keep the faith, stay confident, and have fun! It's all about finding a bull who is ready to die. Also, don't get cought up in the, I saw this 390 and that 400 crap. The way some people talk, these types of bulls are behind every pine tree. Here is a news flash, THEY ARE NOT! GOOD LUCK, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
