To be a successful, a hunter must educate himself in all things about his subject. This is particularly important with bow hunting, as the hunter must get very close to the animal. Being sure he has all the right supplies will be essential before he even heads into the field; a hunter often gets just one chance at the perfect shot, and if faulty equipment foils it, the chance can disappear.



Elk feed primarily in meadows on wildflowers and seeds and prefer areas with at least 25% vegetative cover. Many can be found in mountain top meadows feeding as they prefer slopes of 15-30%. Slopes facing south are preferred in winter to gather as much warmth from the sunlight as possible, and northeast slopes are preferred in the summer because they retain moisture. Heavily wooded evergreens are where elk tend to bed town as these areas provide much cover from the wind and rain, or hot afternoons. On warm summer nights elk often bed down in wide open areas.

There are some tips and tricks that every hunter should know before heading out in the field in search of a trophy.

1. Aim for the lungs. Aiming for the broadside of the animal, just behind the shoulder is the best place to insure a clean kill. Shooting straight on may only pierce one lung, only wounding the animal, while aiming broadside offers a better chance at hitting both lungs and killing the animal quickly. If pink, frothy bubbles are present at the wound, the lung has been hit.

2. Know the wind. Knowing which way the wind is blowing is an important factor to be taken into consideration when bow hunting. Taping thread to your bow, and tying a feather to the other end will always alert you to which way the wind is blowing, without ever revealing your cover.

3. Bugle the Kill. Many hunters use this trick to keep the animal coming towards them after it's been shot. This saves time tracking a blood trail through the woods looking for your lost kill.

4. Partner Up. Use your partner to bugle the elk in while you move closer to the spot where you expect the animal to be. Depending on the distance, positioning yourself half way between your partner and the elk is usually a good distance. Be sure to practice hand signals, that way if one of you spots the animal, the other can be notified.