Plan My Hunt - What Would You Do?

[CiK]

I finally have enough vacation time and the wife's permission where I can spend a good amount of time in the elk woods if I wanted to. I have a Wyoming General Tag and I have 3 weeks of vacation I can use for it. My wife is telling me to bring home my first elk this year. Easier said than done.

Any thoughts on how I should split my time?

- 3 week all archery
- 3 weeks all firearm
- 1 week archery / 2 weeks firearm
- 2 weeks archery / 1 week firearm
- 1.5 weeks archery / 1.5 weeks firearm

Just wondering what everybody else would do if they were in my shoes. If I have to make 2 separate trips, that is ok (according to my wife). I am planning on hunting the same unit for both archery and firearm. I could be convinced otherwise.

Tony

 

[icebreaker12]

This one is all on you! How important is killing your elk? How much do you like chasing elk in the rut?

I think you answer those two questions and you answer which option you should choose.

 

[Coop]

If it were me, nothing sounds more appealing than three weeks in the elk woods with a stick and string chasing bugles...but your trip, your call!! Must say I am jealous, though...

 

[elkduds]

If you are hunting the same unit both times, I'd say 50/50 split of time between hunts. You are scouting for rifle hunt during archery hunt. Good luck, this is a good problem to have.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

I personally would do 2 weeks archery and 1 week rifle. I love hunting elk in the rut but I do also enjoy getting out with a rifle every now and again. Two weeks of archery in late September, with the chance for redemption in October? Sign me up for that.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I agree with wannakillabigbull, you need more encounters to be successful with archery so I would do 2 weeks and 1 week. For both trips I would arrive before the season opens and do some scouting.

 

[LCH]

I'd do 1 week archery, 2 weeks rifle.. But that's because I know after 2 weeks I'd probably be ready to pack up and head home.

Now if my kids were older and I thought I could stand being gone that long, my answer might be different.

Good luck!

 

[HighDesertSage]

I would only go once to save money. I would take a rifle over a bow if harvest is important to you. I have knocked down way more animals with a rifle than bow. In all fairness I am a terrible and impatient bow hunter.

 

[icebreaker12]

For the record there are a few areas that would allow you to hunt until the end of September with a bow and then switch to rifle hunting on Oct 1.

Good luck with your decision. You have a great predicament to be in!

 

[Ryan2782]

Three weeks straight of hunting can be tough chasing animals. Physically and mentally, sure you can take a day off and rest. Personally I'd split it up. 2 and 1 or 1 and 2.

 

[CiK]

I think I have to take separate trips. The area I am looking at has a 10/1 firearm opener. I have commitments the first week of October that I will not be able to get out of most likely. If I can't make the opener of firearm, is it best to go back the 2nd week or wait until the end of October?

 

[CiK]

I think I have to take separate trips. The area I am looking at has a 10/1 firearm opener. I have commitments the first week of October that I will not be able to get out of most likely. If I can't make the opener of firearm, is it best to go back the 2nd week or wait until the end of October?

Disregard that. The week I am booked up is the first week of November. Looks like I can make the firearm opener if that is what I want to do.

 

[Pagosa]

I would take your wife someplace nice for dinner, and do lots of projects around your house. It shouldn’t take 3 weeks to kill an elk, unless things go really bad.

 

[Fatrack]

one trip. go mid Sept and come home when you have your bull. bring both your bow and gun. You'll know the area pretty well come Oct. 1st and if you don't arrow a bull, you'll know right where to be at first light Oct. 1.

 

[CiK]

I would take your wife someplace nice for dinner, and do lots of projects around your house. It shouldn’t take 3 weeks to kill an elk, unless things go really bad.

I owe her. I know. I hope you are right about the 3 weeks. This will only be my 2nd attempt at chasing elk. Trying to make the most of it.

 

[Nick87]

one trip. go mid Sept and come home when you have your bull. bring both your bow and gun. You'll know the area pretty well come Oct. 1st and if you don't arrow a bull, you'll know right where to be at first light Oct. 1.

Thats likely what I would opt for.

 

[BrentD]

It may not take 3 weeks to kill an elk but it might to kill the right elk and definitely, it can take three weeks until you figure it's time to kill an elk. I guess I would hunt archery until I got tired of it, or killed something and then come back for rifle (or fishing if the tag is punched).

I spent a week in Wyoming hunting antelopes and came home with a dink. But was a spectacular hunt looking for just the right buck and then, not finding him, filling the freezer on the last hour of the trip. It was perfect.

 

[CampRipleyLF]

You have a pretty great wife. I'd typically say 3 weeks archery but that's what I like to do and plus 3 weeks straight is a long time to be away from the wife (at least mine doesn't like it). If you want to do both (if you have too) then I'd typically say split it but you may also be able to figure things out and have a better archery hunt if you have 2 week of it and 1 week of rifle!

 

[jvanhoy]

one trip. go mid Sept and come home when you have your bull. bring both your bow and gun. You'll know the area pretty well come Oct. 1st and if you don't arrow a bull, you'll know right where to be at first light Oct. 1.

This sounds like a great plan to me.

 

[Muskeez]

If you can do it mentally I like Fatrack's plan. But, I know the toll it takes mentally on me and I couldn't do it for 3 weeks straight. Only you know the answer to that or you will find out as you go. Don't be afraid to take an afternoon off, go to town for a meal and a shower and get back out and give em hell the next day.