The Challenge of Bow Hunting Elk

Elk hunting with a bow has always been a challenging sport. Many hunters find it requires just the right amount of technique, skill, and luck to bag a trophy. Many factors must be considered when planning an elk hunting trip.

The terrain must be assessed, a certain amount of practice and skill is required to call in the animal, and a great amount of patience is necessary in waiting for the elk to turn to just the right angle for the perfect shot.

Bow hunting for elk requires a hunter to get relatively close to the animal he seeks. Safety should always be the top priority as these animals can be aggressive and easily overpower a human. The hunter must know his terrain, and the seasoned hunter is able to sense when getting closer is too close.

Bugling is used to call and elk in, and a hunter devotes many hours of practice to bugling. Some hunters move closer to their target when bugling, others like to bugle and move away and bugle again, mimicking a cow on the move, and therefore leading a bull to a certain location. Many other hunters prefer to bugle and wait, not leaving their perfect location and waiting for the elk to come to them. One thing to be aware of is that elk are ultra sensitive to danger, so it's better to maintain distance and be safe, then get too close to the animal and be very sorry.

Choosing the right arrows will also aid the hunter on his elk hunting adventure. Because it is necessary to get closer to the animal, choosing strong enough arrows are necessary to insure a clean kill, piercing the hide, cartilage, and the internal organs.

Few hunters like to shoot the elk head on, aiming for the broadside of the animal, just behind the shoulders, is essential to increase the chances of success. This insures that both lungs will be pierced and the animal is brought down, rather than just piercing a single lung and the animal getting away.

A hunter can be in no worse position than being too close to an animal and only wounding it. Elk often intimidate even the most experienced hunters, and many underestimate their size and unpredictable personality.

Following these few tips, and most essentially keeping safety first, a bow hunter can better his chances of a successful hunt. And even if a trophy isn't brought back to camp, a great story will stay with him forever.