Poll: Elk or Deer? What Weapon

Bull elk during the rut is my favorite. I have got 2 bulls with a bow and 2 bulls with rifle. Now I need to get one with the muzzy!

Elk hunting during the rut with a bow is hard to beat, however big velvet mule deer with a bow is what I enjoy most. Maby it’s because I have killed a couple of nice bulls but am still searching for that big velvet mule deer.


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so far my favorite method of take for each is the one i can get a tag for. it's easier to get a tag for deer with a bow and it's also more exciting for me to take a deer with a bow. general elk tags are unlimited with archery and the 3 season tag gives you the choice of all 3 methods. just don't wait to buy the tag because those tags are pulled from the rifle numbers and they sell out these days.

Archery elk in Sept. Then a late season cow tag gets a second.

I guess I'm partial to Elk, but I'll try deer anytime I can get a tag. I'm not picky, I just want a gut pile and game meat in my freezer. If I could draw an LE tag, it would be Muzzy Elk.

General Elk season I did rifle for several years, but have since switched to Archery and Muzzy. Last year I did a multiseason spike elk and filled it on opening day of the archery hunt. This year I plan on buying another multiseason spike elk on the presumption that I just got REALLY lucky. That and I can't make up my mind which season I like the more, Archery, or muzzy. I just know I'm not a fan of rifle season, and I'll take any tag that will give me an excuse to spend more time in the mountains.

I love elk. I love where they live, I think they're graceful and suave when they move through the timber or just jog over rolling hills. They're social and curious, they'll talk back to you a good portion of the time(especially cows and young bulls). They are the coolest animals!
I think I favor the muzzle loader, but just because of when the season falls.

not me Muzzy deer - Love the chase and the challenge of finding a big mature one is unmatched

DanSaldivar1 said:

I think I favor the muzzle loader, but just because of when the season falls.

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That's where I'm at with general deer and LE Elk if I ever draw a tag. Late september, when the colors change, not too hot, not too cold, and not too crowded where I was. Great time to be out in the mountains.

General season Elk muzzy, at least the year before last year in the manti, was waaaaaayyy more crowded then I expected, but I like the weather. Nice and cool, with a snow dusting or two.

Elk Archery, it was hot, a fair amount of hunters off skyline, but I managed to get away from all of them and fill a tag, so i can't complain much. That said, I thought it too warm during Archery season last year.

August deer/elk with a bow...I'll chase either with pleasure.

Good question - I'll go with both!

There is nothing like hunting elk in the rut. Bugling bulls, cooler temperatures, and changing colors!

But . . . a big muley chasing a doe around with some snow on the ground is pretty darn neat too!

Elk hands down!

I'm a sucker for muzzleloader elk in November. I love chasing elk on the windswept ridges in a foot of snow with temps under 20F.

Elk. Doesn't matter what weapon or season.

i'm leaning muzzy on both, too much of a circus on the rifle these days it seems on deer and elk.

270win said:

i'm leaning muzzy on both, too much of a circus on the rifle these days it seems on deer and elk.

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Unless I'm on a multi-season tag, I'll never buy or put in for a rifle tag anymore. It was always a zoo, but in the last 4 year's it's also become a circus, as well as a zoo. The way I see it, the orange army saved me $600 dollars on a bolt rifle. What a waste of money.

270win said:

i'm leaning muzzy on both, too much of a circus on the rifle these days it seems on deer and elk.

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Funny...I was just thinking how much tamer and less crazy the rifle hunt is these days to when I was a kid in the 80s.

To me, the archery hunt has become increasingly crazy and frustrating...

wyoming2utah said:

Funny...I was just thinking how much tamer and less crazy the rifle hunt is these days to when I was a kid in the 80s.

To me, the archery hunt has become increasingly crazy and frustrating...

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I agree here, you haven't seen crazy until you see close to 300,000 hunters out in the field at the same time.

Now days it is a cake walk compared to when the DOW issued that many tags.

Elk are something to hunt when you don't have a deer tag. Kind of like a turkey. Something to do in the down time. They are a big yellow critter that stands on a side hill and scream "look at me".

Mule deer are my favorite. Hard to beat a mule deer rut hunt with any type of weapon.
I like to rut hunt them with a bow, not a fan of velvet, orange bucks. I like to hunt them with a rifle. ML is my favorite- I prefer a side lock and black powder.

I've killed my share of mature bulls and mature bucks. Just something about mature mule deer bucks that wins the day. (Although whitetails in the plains and Sitka Btails in the alpines of Alaska are a great hunt too)

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