How long did it take for your first elk?

[jbh3hunts]

Started elk hunting at 50 yrs old. Have hunted Kentucky once, Colorado twice and New Mexico once. All public land. Connected on a nice bull the third year, in New Mexico. Have learned a lot with a whole lot more to learn.

 

[blacksheep]

2nd season. 23 minutes of the first day of 1st rifle 2021. A nice 5x5 in north central Colorado.

 

[buckbull]

Shot a raghorn 5 days into my first year. More luck than skill. Was walking in to a place to glass and was taking a break and looked up on the hill side and the rag horn was staring at me broadside 80 yards away.

 

[marshman]

4 years. First was a 5x5.

 

[Rie Bread]

Hunted the archery season every weekend and with a few after work evening scouts/hunts and shot a bull opening weekend of rifle.

 

[MarvB]

First elk…one year, first bull…three years! Archery tackle

 

[Wisco94]

Was successful on the first two trips (one rifle & one archery). More dumb luck than anything.

Went 1st rifle in NW Colorado last year and never saw an elk.

 

[yakimanoob]

I was able to tag out my first two years hunting. The first was absolute blind luck. The second was just regular luck.

Then 4 years of nothing .

DIY public land elk hunting is very difficult, especially in spike units.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Three seasons. First season I passed on a shot at a cow. Second season I let my friend shoot a young bull, while standing next to him. The third season I shot a bull while by myself. All on public land.

 

[witski65]

First year. Hunted a general MT unit for archery. Had a bull @ 20 yards full draw, but there was a log blocking his vitals. Went back for rifle season and shot the same bull on a different ridge close by.

 

[clint0481]

I've only gotten to go elk hunting one time and that was for a cow. I was successful on my fourth day, but I had someone super familiar with the elk in the area with me.

 

[Bmor19534]

4th year, moved different places and got there on first day of season

 

[glass eye]

1st elk was a raghorn on opening morning rifle in CO.

 

[MilesnMiles]

Two years into archery with no elk yet. Few blown opportunities but hoping this will be the year.

 

[c0d95]

Two years into archery with no elk yet. Few blown opportunities but hoping this will be the year.

Good luck brotha!

 

[EastTNHunter]

I hate to say it, but I killed a 5x5 bull within the first 6hr of my first day of my first elk hunt. I almost had a bigger bull within the first half hour but couldn’t get a shot through the tight aspens. Kinda bittersweet

 

[OverlordBear]

Like the title says, how long did it take you to bag your first elk? Bull or cow. 2023 was my third year hunting them and I have yet to get one. I've had encounters often but in the part of Washington I'm in its true spike only and I only encounter cows and big bulls. I'm putting in for a bull tag in my preferred unit, not counting on drawing, but I definitely feel like I am still just "paying my dues." How long did it take you?

I started elk hunting in 2010. I didn’t kill my first elk until a cow elk in 2015 with a rifle.

I got my first bull in 2017 with a rifle.

After that I have harvested another cow and 2 more bulls with a rifle. I did not harvest my first six point with a rifle til 2023.

I have been skunked with all 7 archery seasons I have hunted. I had a couple of heartbreaking misses and shot opportunities but still have yet to seal the deal on any archery elk.

I know a lot of other people have had way better beginners luck than me, but I have enjoyed the challenge and emotional payoff that eventually success has brought me. The places elk motivate you are to go are unreal and amazing. No regrets on continuing this pursuit.

 

[popeyoung12]

1975, thorofare out of Cody, 2nd day, .270, 6x6. 16yo.

 

[sigpros]

This year will be 30 years and my 9th or 10th elk hunt. Still chasing that first one, hope it works out in Wyoming this year

 

[Black Elk]

I have had 4 cow elk tags and have been lucky enough to fill all 4 tags. All were on private land and was a test of shooting vs hunting. No hunting or stalking had to be done. Regular depredation hunts on friend's land.

My first ever bull elk tag was a spike tag in Utah. I spent a total of 6 hours walking mtn bike trails and called it a season. Never had hunted elk before and didnt know where to start. A few years later, I had my next elk tag in pocket. 4 solid days hunting before I stuck an arrow into the bull in my profile picture. Shot was 12 yards!