Joe Witmer

First ever Elk hunt for me, I've always wanted to do an elk archery hunt, I shoot a Matthews, so early July I dialed in my shooting & the bow for 60yds, practice, practice & practice. When we arrived in CO early Sept & met Joe M, he explained the property details, water holes, dark timber etc...provided a map & reviewed the rules very well to start us off. Weather was cool in the mornings but got in the 80's during mid day, This hunt was amazing to say the least, my first morning hunt & my first ever bugle & a bull answered back down ravine about 300yds, I hit the cow call & another bugle & he responded again, 40 min later he was walking by, out at 80yds & no shot for me but wow, what an experience. We had this kind of action almost every morning & evening,
1 bull was within 25 yds in the brush thrashing a tree, sticks cracking, bugling but never came out into the open enough for a bow shot.
Although I did not harvest an elk, It was a Very exciting week.

It was very similar to turkey hunting, you need to understand what makes them respond & when to close the gap.
I would recommend to the next person, learn the elk language, many different bull sounds that I knew nothing about, I think this could of made the difference. It's much more than a bugle & a cow call.

Every day is different, that's why it's called hunting, try different setups, calls etc...but keep the wind in your face!