So, as a newbie bowhunter, changing the way I hunt has been a challenge. I hunted with a gun for a long time, mostly unsuccessfully I might add. But I hunted the same type of area at the same type of season- Colorado mountains in the late fall, then Oregon dry mountains in late fall, lots of hunter pressure at a very short time.
Now, it seems like the wheelly culture is putting a lot of presure in the late summer, and the main reason those guys have a wheelly is to get out before the rifle guys but hunt the same way- shoot from as far away as possible.
So how do you- and how would instuct me- to change my cold/fall, rifle, and rocky valleys (7000-8000 ft?)to where I'm at now- warm (80-90 during the day in mid august) with herd animals at 9000 plus and on rolling plateus?
Also, how do I scout now given the presure and changes in weather (more t-storms, cooler nights, less water)?
I have the opportunity to hunt in Minnesota this fall. How to I change my current tactics for that area, given I've never spent much time there?
I'm more interested in general ideas than my specific circumstances, so post up how you adapt to changes in hunting areas and season, and how you scout in different seasons.
Well if possible delay your hunt until September and hunt the rut. Animals will still be on or near the summer ranges and as the rut approaches for elk they will herd up in small groups and the bulls will hide the cows in small draws and basins.
Get out and scout in July and August and you should be able to pattern the cows. Later the bulls will be with them.
Good luck with the transition.
Mike
Just as I prefer to practice my golf on the course I prefer to scout while hunting...to shoot an animal with a stickbow you need to get close to as many animals as possible and let them school you on how they will react...may as well have a bow in your hands while you are doing that...when you made the choice to change from a gun to a tradbow you decided to focus more on the experience than on the results...enjoy the experience and the results will come
DDave
Find water, watch it morning and evening, gently follow to bedding. Find the rohute, ambush
Glass and scope the cool areas andwatch for them to move back into the shade as the sun moves. Fawns give away bedding as they play. Do not look for a whole deer, just parts.
Locating them is one thing, closing for the shot is another.
Good luck,carry lotsa water, walk out and in in the dark