If you haven’t bow hunted for elk yet, beware of the Archery Elk Flu…. it is a growing epidemic sweeping the West! If you catch it, you’re gonna need to know some archery elk hunting tactics. These include: learning how to hunt mature, age class bulls and ambushing strategies.

Advanced Archery Elk Hunting Tactics

• Get away from people.
• At the end of the day the wind is key to everything “elk”. Control your scent and learn how to use thermals.
• Mature bulls bugle regularly all day. Remember that, and practice with your elk calls during the off season.
• Know your hunting area intimately.
• Some hunters feel that bedding area is sacred and not to be messed with. Bold hunters will get on the same elevation and sneak in on a bull in his bed if the wind is right.
• Chasing a bull is a waste of time. Be patient, they aren’t going anywhere…. unless you are hunting agricultural area or there is a lot of pressure.
• Every bull will come in screaming if you hit him at the right time.
• Use your nose. When you smell a bull, get your bird dog on and use the wind.
• Be ready for any and every opportunity.
• Be set up prior to any calling settings. Check lanes so you don’t get caught with your pants down.
• Bugle to find bulls as opposed to cow calling.
• Match your bugle to the class of bull you are targeting.
• Listen to podcasts to learn archery elk hunting tactics from seasoned hunters.
• When you get close, use the “far away bugle”.
• Stop calling once they get so close that you’re going to get caught (if you are solo hunting).
• Learn how to ambush elk.
• Having the right elk hunting gear is important, but nothing will replace time in the field.
• There are some very affordable, high success guided archery elk hunts out there.
• Hopefully, now you’ll need to learn patience so that you can wait on your taxidermist.

Bowhunting Gear