Seeking Real Opinions on Elk Rifles

Fourbtgait said:
I know you will buy a rifle, but….
They make an arm guard that straps on. I used one on one bow, but didn’t need it on two others. I started with a Bear recurve, went to a compound like you shot because of the ease. Then went back to a recurve for simplicity. It was a takedown so had, 2 sets of limbs. 40 lb for casual practice 65 lb for hunting. Since it was winter and our basement then was open, I had a target set up 40’ away to train with it.
it was sighted in that I consistently broke knock points with the next arrow. Only once did I send the second arrow down the center of the previous shaft.
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For this year, yeah, I’m going to stick to firearms. But today I landed a gig that will pay for a bow, an armguard, and then some. Like fly fishing, the concept of hunting via bow appeals on a deep level. Plus, it’s something I sucked at and I hate to walk away from a challenge. It’s just gonna take me a while before I feel confident in my ability to humanely hunt an animal with it.

Here’s the bow I used today. Is it what you’d recommend or is there something else I should consider?: https://diamondarchery.com/bows/deploy-sb/
 
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Pescaphile said:
Use the slip-on type unless you don't care about devaluing the old rifle.
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For my long arms I installed recoil pads on several rifles to create the proper length of pull without altering the stock...as I did on this old Marlin 336 I refurbished that had been collecting dust in a corner of a gunshop. When I gifted it to a young man on the coast who wanted to start hunting coastal deer, I removed the pad and reinstalled the butt plate for his shorter arms.
336after.jpg
 
J Watrous said:
For this year, yeah, I’m going to stick to firearms. But today I landed a gig that will pay for a bow, an anrmguard, and then some. Like fly fishing, the concept of hunting via bow appeals on a deep level. Plus, it’s something I sucked at and I hate to walk away from a challenge. It’s just gonna take me a while before I feel confident in my ability to humanely hunt an animal with it.

Here’s the bow I used today. Is it what you’d recommend or is there something else I should consider?: https://diamondarchery.com/bows/deploy-sb/
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I can’t really say. I sold the compound bow back early 2000. Then switched to recurves. In 2006 the recurve was about 250, lot less money even then for a compound. Recurve is more like fly fishing as I feel a compound like a rifle.
Doing a quick search on 3 Rivers archery, I see Fred Bear bows are comparable in price to that compound. I really don’t remember the brand I had, but it was all wood.
Samick makes good metal riser bows, but so do a number of companies.
 
J Watrous said:
For this year, yeah, I’m going to stick to firearms. But today I landed a gig that will pay for a bow, an armguard, and then some. Like fly fishing, the concept of hunting via bow appeals on a deep level. Plus, it’s something I sucked at and I hate to walk away from a challenge. It’s just gonna take me a while before I feel confident in my ability to humanely hunt an animal with it.

Here’s the bow I used today. Is it what you’d recommend or is there something else I should consider?: https://diamondarchery.com/bows/deploy-sb/
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If you want to try bowhunting, go to an archery shop and speak with them.

Technology has come a long way in the last 20 years. The biws are remarkably better and if sized correctly you can become proficient quicker than you may think.

You can also get some excellent bows used. I bought mine for less than that diamond, fully equipped and it's a far nicer bow.
 
J Watrous said:
For this year, yeah, I’m going to stick to firearms. But today I landed a gig that will pay for a bow, an armguard, and then some. Like fly fishing, the concept of hunting via bow appeals on a deep level. Plus, it’s something I sucked at and I hate to walk away from a challenge. It’s just gonna take me a while before I feel confident in my ability to humanely hunt an animal with it.

Here’s the bow I used today. Is it what you’d recommend or is there something else I should consider?: https://diamondarchery.com/bows/deploy-sb/
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Correction. No, no I am not. Apparently I need a bow with a draw length between 34 and 35 inches.
 
J Watrous said:
Correction. No, no I am not. Apparently I need a bow with a draw length between 34 and 35 inches.
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Are you like 6'8" or something?
 
charles sullivan said:
Are you like 6'8" or something?
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6’7 with arms that are longer than standard.

I measure a 34.5-35” but according to a couple folks “could get by with a 34”.

But then I looked at arrows and they don’t seem to come that long.

I’ll see what the folks at Van Winkles say tomorrow.
 
J Watrous said:
6’7 with arms that are longer than standard.

I measure a 34.5-35” but according to a couple folks “could get by with a 34”.

But then I looked at arrows and they don’t seem to come that long.

I’ll see what the folks at Van Winkles say tomorrow.
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Nice guys in VW's. I went their once and got a little work done. They are friendly.

I am sure that there are options for anyone.

It may be more difficult to get used bows at that size.
 
J Watrous said:
6’7 with arms that are longer than standard.

I measure a 34.5-35” but according to a couple folks “could get by with a 34”.

But then I looked at arrows and they don’t seem to come that long.

I’ll see what the folks at Van Winkles say tomorrow.
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It took a lot of research to find which specific spined arrows did the best for me. Ended up with one set because was wrong spine.
I bought uncut aluminum arrows, very easy to cut to my specific length, install inserts, nock points.
But yes, your draw length will present challenges.
 
J Watrous said:
EDIT: I later tried out a bow one of my new acquaintances has, and completely fucked up my left forearm when the cable (when did bows lose their string?) whacked the crap out of it on my first and only try. Bows are some seriously space-age looking things these days. Cables, pulleys, and all sorts of dangly bits.
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They call that "getting bit by the string" and it is quite an eye-opener the first time it happens! It's more common when using a release, but can happen shooting fingers too, it all depends on your individual body geometry. They sell fore-arm protectors that you can use to prevent getting bit. Or if you're hunting in a long sleeve coat the sleeve is often enough to soften the bite.
 
Went to a range today and tried the LRH but couldn’t get it to work for me as well as I’d like. Ended up trying and falling in love with a Fierce Firearms Carbon Rogue (these gun names!) bolt action with a 22” barrel, chambered in 7mm PRC.

Tomorrow I go to Van Winkles to figure out what my bow options are. Have about $2000 left of the $4500 budget I set for a new rifle (sold some camera equipment and got a photo gig), so that should get me all/most of the way to a decent bow (my options are fairly limited by my wingspan) and the rest of the kit.

Looking forward to the new setups and the ability to practice with a bow in my back yard—never had or played with a bow before, so I feel like I’m scratching the Robin Hood itch. Kinda wish I still had chickens so I could practice on those damn raccoons and mink.
 
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J Watrous said:
Went to a range today and tried the LRH but couldn’t get it to work for me as well as I’d like. Ended up trying and falling in love with a Fierce Firearms Carbon Rogue (these gun names!) bolt action with a 22” barrel, chambered in 7mm PRC.

Tomorrow I go to Van Winkles to figure out what my bow options are. Have about $2000 left of the $4500 budget I set for a new rifle (sold some camera equipment and got a photo gig), so that should get me all/most of the way to a decent bow (my options are fairly limited by my wingspan) and the rest of the kit.

Looking forward to the new setups and the ability to practice with a bow in my back yard—never had or played with a bow before, so I feel like I’m scratching the Robin Hood itch. Kinda wish I still had chickens so I could practice on those damn raccoons and mink.
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As big as you are, you will have less options. You may need to do some custom d-loop and release work.

Van Winkles can help. Riverside in Skagit County can too.

Used bows can save a lot of money too if you can find a good one. The rest, sights etc. all add up quickly when purchasing new.
 
charles sullivan said:
As big as you are, you will have less options. You may need to do some custom d-loop and release work.

Van Winkles can help. Riverside in Skagit County can too.

Used bows can save a lot of money too if you can find a good one. The rest, sights etc. all add up quickly when purchasing new.
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Thank you!

I was thinking about extending the D-Loop, but we'll see what they say in a little bit.
 
There is absolutely no lack of challenge in hunting elk with a rifle..
Shorter days, worse time of year, can't call them to you. Animals hidden in worse terrain and more competition for hunting space nearly all of it void of elk.
 
My elk hunting future is dependent on my friend's wife getting buttered up enough to let me cull one from the herd that goes through their property in the Columbia River gorge. I think I'm getting closer though.
 
Rob Allen said:
There is absolutely no lack of challenge in hunting elk with a rifle..
Shorter days, worse time of year, can't call them to you. Animals hidden in worse terrain and more competition for hunting space nearly all of it void of elk.
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Agreed. Fortunately I know some folks with productive private property.
 
J Watrous said:
Agreed. Fortunately I know some folks with productive private property.
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Losing this is pretty much what killed my big game hunting. I had PRIME private access until around 2008/2009. Due to a schism in the family, a large network of properties I once got access to via a now ex family member went away for me. Haven't bought a tag since. I occasionally put in for some controlled hunts here in OR for both deer and elk, but have yet to get anything I actually want to do.
 
J Watrous said:
Well, this thread got expensive in a hurry. Ordered the rifle yesterday but also ordered a Hoyt Highline bow with various doodads that totaled slightly more than the rifle.
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I had a feeling you'd go with a highline. Seems like that and the Mathews Atlas were made for longer draw length fellas. Neither brand is inexpensive.
 
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