2024 Archery Harvest Thread!!! Post your pics and stories here!

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by getatmewolf

2024 archery antelope in the books, first buck to properly decoy. I didn’t have much luck with them charging right in, very timid. Very cool buck, by far not the biggest I seen but very happy.





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That’s a very unique goat!

Crazy bit of trivia… he will score better using the B&C scoring method than he will with the P&Y method.

B&C allows 3 circumferences below the cutter whereas with P&Y 2 must be bellow the cutters and 2 must be above.

LC

[Gun]

Unless things have changed since I was a measurer, Pope and Young was the same as B&C. Divide horn in four equal sections. You get an advantage w a higher prong as the third circumference is taken just below it.

I have been away from it for 15+ yrs tho

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Gun

Unless things have changed since I was a measurer, Pope and Young was the same as B&C. Divide horn in four equal sections. You get an advantage w a higher prong as the third circumference is taken just below it.

I have been away from it for 15+ yrs tho

Pope and Young 2 must be below and 2 must be above, that stipulation is not on the B&C sheet, this antelope will have 3 below using the proper placement for mass. Have a look.

This statement is on the P&Y sheet backside,
“Note D-3 must be taken above the prong. If D-3 falls on or below the prong, then take this measurement immediately above the prong.”

LC

[Rackmastr]

A lot of guys seem to get confusion with this one, and B&C can get 3 under, depending where the 'swell' of the prong starts and where the measurement lands in regards to the 'swelling of the prong'.

Not a ton of 'swell of the prong' on this one, would be interesting to see where numbers land.

From B&C:

D-2. Circumference at 1st Quarter

Divide Measurement C of the longer horn by four. Starting at the base, mark both horns at these quarters (even though the other horn is shorter) and measure the circumferences at these marks. If the prong interferes with D-2, move the measurement down to just below the swelling of the prong. If D-3 falls in the swelling of the prong, move the measurement up to just above the prong.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Rackmastr

A lot of guys seem to get confusion with this one, and B&C can get 3 under, depending where the 'swell' of the prong starts and where the measurement lands in regards to the 'swelling of the prong'.

Not a ton of 'swell of the prong' on this one, would be interesting to see where numbers land.

From B&C:

D-2. Circumference at 1st Quarter

Divide Measurement C of the longer horn by four. Starting at the base, mark both horns at these quarters (even though the other horn is shorter) and measure the circumferences at these marks. If the prong interferes with D-2, move the measurement down to just below the swelling of the prong. If D-3 falls in the swelling of the prong, move the measurement up to just above the prong.

Yup, High cutters mean less for P&Y than it may mean for B&C although 3 below doesn’t happen very often.

LC

[Rackmastr]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Yup, High cutters mean less for P&Y than it may mean for B&C although 3 below doesn’t happen very often.

LC

For sure. Really cool/unique bucks when they look that way and get them though!

[Lunch_box]

Got this Elk over the weekend. First season hunting for me and safe to say I'm hooked. Spent the first day hiking around trying to find the herd and at the end of the day located where they were feeding. Had a plan for morning of day 2 to get between their feeding area and a creek. As we were getting closer could hear a few of them buggling. Buddy started making some cow calls and we had 3 or 4 bulls coming into the call and 1 cow. Had a bull and a cow 30 yards down hill to the right moving into a shooting lane then heard this bull crashing through the trees to my left. He popped out at 20 yards and took my shot. Couple inches to far forward with the shot but got both lungs and he made it 100 yards before dropping. Amazing first experience and what a rush.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Lunch_box

Got this Elk over the weekend. First season hunting for me and safe to say I'm hooked. Spent the first day hiking around trying to find the herd and at the end of the day located where they were feeding. Had a plan for morning of day 2 to get between their feeding area and a creek. As we were getting closer could hear a few of them buggling. Buddy started making some cow calls and we had 3 or 4 bulls coming into the call and 1 cow. Had a bull and a cow 30 yards down hill to the right moving into a shooting lane then heard this bull crashing through the trees to my left. He popped out at 20 yards and took my shot. Couple inches to far forward with the shot but got both lungs and he made it 100 yards before dropping. Amazing first experience and what a rush.

Congrats....could only imagine the rush from start to finish and then some!!!

[Howard Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Lunch_box

Got this Elk over the weekend. First season hunting for me and safe to say I'm hooked. Spent the first day hiking around trying to find the herd and at the end of the day located where they were feeding. Had a plan for morning of day 2 to get between their feeding area and a creek. As we were getting closer could hear a few of them buggling. Buddy started making some cow calls and we had 3 or 4 bulls coming into the call and 1 cow. Had a bull and a cow 30 yards down hill to the right moving into a shooting lane then heard this bull crashing through the trees to my left. He popped out at 20 yards and took my shot. Couple inches to far forward with the shot but got both lungs and he made it 100 yards before dropping. Amazing first experience and what a rush.

>>
Good for you! Did you ever figure them out in a hurray. Fantastic and great shot! Looks like it went in right above the shoulder blade. Beauty

[Lunch_box]

Originally Posted by Howard Hutchinson

>>
Good for you! Did you ever figure them out in a hurray. Fantastic and great shot! Looks like it went in right above the shoulder blade. Beauty

Thanks. Thats actually the pass through hole, but entry is pretty close to the same location.

[coyotekiller]

Was able to spot this antelope mid morning, spotted him about 300 yards out he noticed us about 200 yards out then bedded. Me and my 83 year old grandfather who was behind the decoy the whole time was able to close the distance slowly and got to what was we thought 35 yards. When he stood with a quick range he was actually 53 yards. After a 2.5 hour stalk with grandpa made a good shot and he went down quickly. Very special moment with my grandpa behind the decoy

[getatmewolf]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

That’s a very unique goat!

Crazy bit of trivia… he will score better using the B&C scoring method than he will with the P&Y method.

B&C allows 3 circumferences below the cutter whereas with P&Y 2 must be bellow the cutters and 2 must be above.

LC

And to add to the confusion of it, official Alberta record book scoring sheets use only Boone and Crockett scoring methods. Worked out well for me, this antelope was one of the rare ones with 3 mass measurements under the prong. He ended up going 75 4/8” gross and 73 5/8” net, green score of course.

[Brodhead]

Life has been busy for the last 10 years so I haven't bowhunted in far too long. Well this year I was determined to change that. There have been more and more elk hanging around the river valleys that I usually deer hunt the past few years so I've been spending every spare minute in the woods since mid September. A herd of around 12 elk with 4 legal bulls has been giving me the run around . No bugling and no real pattern to their movements.

I caught up to the herd one morning last week, but not in time for the cows or herd bull to be within range. I set up and did some calling but the herd bull didn't even look my direction as they headed for the bush. There were a few satellite bulls that seemed interested and 1 was a legal 4x4. I had decided that any legal bull would do, so I put as much emotion as I could into my lost cow chirps. The young bulls were interested and 2 of them started in my direction. Unfortunately it was a 2x2 that took the lead. He came in perfectly to about 25 yards and stopped to look for the lonely ladies he had heard. I was at full draw and waiting for the 4x4 behind him to come in as well but he hung up behind a tree just out of range. The 2x2 caught my wind and the busted. Bummer.

Well, a couple days later I was back in the area for an evening hunt but the elk were nowhere to be found. Much hiking and calling resulted in nothing, so I decided to pop over to one of my trail cameras to swap sd cards. With about 20 minutes of legal light I heard the sweet sweet sound of a bugle. The first one I had heard all season! I spotted tan and brown through the timber and across the river so I kicked it into high gear and ran ahead to where I figured I could cross the river. When I got there, I heard all kinds of chaos as a calf elk was in my side of the river and was running around lost and chirping back and forth to it's mom. The noise and confusion allowed me to sneak right up to the edge of the river. The herd was right accross the river from me. I ranged the bull at 62 yards. Pretty far but I was undetected and the noise from the river, wind and calf chirps had the elk distracted. I let loose a shot...right over his back. I was devastated when he spooked but fortunately none of the cows spooked and he stopped broadside again. Okay, calm down and give your head a shake I told myself. Don't screw up this opportunity. Ranged the bull at 70 yards. He was sniffing a cow and no elk were looking in my direction. I drew, stood up, settled my pin in the crook of his shoulder and let fly. I watched as the nockturnal lit up and flew perfectly through his ribs and out the other side. He took off running but didn't make it 50 yards before the wobbling and falling. He was dead within 10 seconds. I don't think I've ever cheered so loud after a shot. What a rush! I'm beyond excited with my first archery bull elk and very grateful for the meat that will fill our freezer this winter.

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[livinthedream]

Congratulations on a great archery elk! Thanks for sharing the story and photo.

[Lunch_box]

Great story and experience. What a shot a well, congrats.

[Jamie Black R/T]

Dang 70 yard bomb and a passthrough!...outstanding shooting on a nice bull.

[Lunkerhunter]

Beautiful elk and amazing story of your hard work to get it done. Can’t think of a more rewarding result for your efforts!


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[DRhunter]

Awesome elk, and to put him down at 70 yds is unreal! Congrats and thanks for sharing.

DR


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[Howard Hutchinson]

X many on the 70 yard arrowed bull! Good shot, wowzers..Very happy for you
Nice pronghorns too fellows, very cool to do it up that way

[58thecat]

Wow some beauty successful hunts

[Gun]

Congrats everyone. 70yds! That's when I start sneaking.

I just got back from 5 days Moose hunt. Never even saw one. The extra cow tags handed out over the last few years must be working. A shame. At least I made the most of the glory years. Local outfitter went 1 for 10 clients.

I stand corrected on the Antelope. I dug out my old scoring manual (1983) and you guys are right.

[Brodhead]

Thanks folks, I'm still on cloud nine. The 70 yard shot was a risk for sure that I won't be trying again but it's good to know what the setup is capable of in the right conditions. Looks like my decision to switch from mechanical broadheads to small diameter fixed blade was the right one for elk. Mechanicals still have their place in my quiver but these grim reapers will be with me for elk and moose hunts from now on. This is the broadhead that killed him and it's still razor sharp and undamaged

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[ramonmark]

Chirped this beautiful girl in. I was heading out to my area super early in the morning and I had a really cool encounter with a bull elk. I could see his eyes as he was feeding towards me illuminated with my green LED headlamp. He was just close enough that I could make out the white tips of his tines on his rack. Maybe 50yards. So I just stepped off the trail to the downwind, so that he could feed on his way and not get bumped. It was unreal! It was pitch black and he walked right by me. I couldn't even see him but I could feel his presence and just hear him breathing heavy. He was so close you could feel his foot falls as he walked by. I'm guessing he was about a little south of 10 ft. About and hour later it was bright enough I could move on without fear of bumping anything else. I hiked into where he was heading to. Lots of cows mewing so I decided to do a few chirps myself. Didn't hear any replies and about an hour later this one snuck in at about 15 yards. The shot was a little high and I'm super thankful that I had 200 grain single bevel iron wills with really heavy arrows. Punched straight through the scapula, double lung and lodged itself in the other scapula. She ran about 50 yards and tipped over.

[Howard Hutchinson]

Ramon, another super story. Thank you for sharing the details as things wee going on with that bull passing you. You sure drilled her, wow!!!

[Lunkerhunter]

Originally Posted by ramonmark

Chirped this beautiful girl in. I was heading out to my area super early in the morning and I had a really cool encounter with a bull elk. I could see his eyes as he was feeding towards me illuminated with my green LED headlamp. He was just close enough that I could make out the white tips of his tines on his rack. Maybe 50yards. So I just stepped off the trail to the downwind, so that he could feed on his way and not get bumped. It was unreal! It was pitch black and he walked right by me. I couldn't even see him but I could feel his presence and just hear him breathing heavy. He was so close you could feel his foot falls as he walked by. I'm guessing he was about a little south of 10 ft. About and hour later it was bright enough I could move on without fear of bumping anything else. I hiked into where he was heading to. Lots of cows mewing so I decided to do a few chirps myself. Didn't hear any replies and about an hour later this one snuck in at about 15 yards. The shot was a little high and I'm super thankful that I had 200 grain single bevel iron wills with really heavy arrows. Punched straight through the scapula, double lung and lodged itself in the other scapula. She ran about 50 yards and tipped over.

What a thrilling experience to be so close to the laboured breathing of that big bull elk. Loved reading your write up felt like I was right there experiencing it all. Congratulations on a hard earned elk!


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[goldscud]

Great stories all. Well done

[X-Treme]

Wondering if some/all of you guys would mind also posting your bow, arrow and broad head specs. I’d be very interested to know these details in addition to all the wonderful stories and amazing pictures.

[Brodhead]

Originally Posted by X-Treme

Wondering if some/all of you guys would mind also posting your bow, arrow and broad head specs.

I shoot an Elite pure, 70#, 29 inch draw.
Easton axis micro diameter 340 spine arrows
100 gr grim reaper micro hades fixed blades.

I knew I would be hunting moose and elk recently so I went into Jim bows with every intention of upgrading to heavy broadheads, stiffer arrows and inserts, but the staff all recommended sticking with small and fast for penetration rather than heavy. I'll admit I was doubtful since the trend lately seems to be heavy for penetration, but I had a complete pass through at over 70 yd on my elk.And the broadhead hit the ribs on both sides so can't argue with those results

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[Lunch_box]

2024 Bowtech Commander (30.5" draw at 70lbs)
Victory Gamer arrow (300 spine with 100 grain QAD exodus full broadhead)

Mine shot was only at 20 yards, but a pass through with no issues also taking chunks out of the ribs. Going to change the arrow setup for next season to a micro diameter arrow.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Managed to fill an elk tag last night, solo elk hunts are a load of work!



LC