Spike elk with a bow?
 

Hey guys

Even with the bow, no spike bulls, only 3 point or bigger (same as during the rifle season), correct?

Thanks

If the regs say 3pt or larger,thats exactly what it means.

Depends where you are hunting and what the regs for that specific area/WMU say....some are 3 point, some are 6 point as well.

The regs are a great little way to find out CORRECT answers to your questions...:)

LC

Thats what I thought and I did read the regs but someone was trying to convince me otherwise.

Thanks boys, happy hunting.

WMU 410: antlered or anterless

Which WMU are you asking about?

LC

Page 40 0f regs indicates that Antlered is more than 4". SO in an area where its Antlered, a spike bull of over 4" is legal. Far as I read it.

WMU difference
 

There are to many WMU specifics when reading the regulations so be careful in how you interpret your findings.
Some archery seasons are antlered or antlerless.......... some are Antlered with a point specification 3 or 6 usually.
Some units are draw for one or the other.
When in doubt call the powers that be, and be careful cuz there is some bad information that i've seen passed about on the AO threads in the past.

I'm sure if you do the proper research you'll find the answer you're looking for.

In the Bow zone your allowed to shoot spikers

Maybe he was one of the 3 guys heading home from 358 last season with 3 spikers proudly displayed on their truck. Dunno if fish and wildlife caught up to them or not. 358 is a 3 point zone.

How long were the spikes? Under 4" ?

One spike per side, smallest one I would estimate at 12 inches or so!
R u suggesting it's legal?

If its a 3 point zone the single spike could be six feet long and it would still NOT be a legal bull.

LC

Thanks lefty,
That's what the game cops said when I called as well!

Please tell me you weren't one of those guys with the innocent little spikers!
Oh please oh please

Not me no! Have never shot an elk!

If they are less than 4 inches is it not an antler less?? That's how I read the regs.

:) But the question is what if all points are on 1 side and say nothing on the other? OR do they have to be 3 per side or just 3 total :)

regulations read that a three point elk is an elk with 3 points on AN antler.

a six point elk can have six points on one antler, and a spike on the other and still be a legal bull

So then a 3 point elk can have 2 on 1 side and 1 on the other and still be legal ?

NO...all 3 points must be on one side or the other or both, less than 4 inches is antlerless.....more than 4 inches and less than 3 points in a 3 point zone is illegal...

LC

Re-word the OP's Question
 

I would like to re-word the original question as this was something we dicussed at elk camp this year.

In a 3 point zone (General season), we were hunting with the Bow which the regs say Antlered or Antlerless piror to Sept 17th. Question is, is a spiker bull legal with a bow piror to Sept 17th?

I am of the opinion that a spiker is legal (over 4") with a bow piror to Sept 17th but due to the fact there was a difference of opinion around the camp fire, spikers were not hunted on our trip.

What say you all?

Whether you shoot it with a bow or not makes no difference.

If you took a spiker with less than 4 inches....you are ok. Although very rarely would a spike elk have less than 4 inches.

If you took a spiker with more than 4 inches.....you have shot an animal out of season (not a legal animal to take)

LC

LC I think you are missing a bit of info there. If during a bow only season it says antlered or antlerless there would be no point restriction. The restriction would only start during the general season (after sept 17). After that point it wouldn't matter rifle or bow it would be 3pt or larger. Before the 17th it would be just antlered or antlerless with no point restriction with the bow in the bow only season.

Again would have to know exactly which WMU and when to answer the question.

I agree with you Donkey Oatey. The zone I hunted this year was 358.

It's pretty straight forward in the regs. In some of the 100 and 200 zones it states antlered or anterless which means you can shoot spikers or whatever. In zones such as 358 for an example in the antlered box it says 3 point min. which means it must have 3 points on at least ONE of its antlers and even then it must be a certain configuration. It's all in the regs. and not that hard to figure out.

Maybe you could be right, the specific area I hunt elk has not point restrictions during archery only or general season....but I would ask F&W to clarify, the WMU was not mentioned in the post, but a 3 point zone was..... but I will look at the specific regs.

EDIT***

I stand by what I said....same rules apply for "antlered" elk both during archery and general. If you found a "spiker" with under 4 inches then you are legal....

Elk Antlered (3-point or larger)2

Archery Only
A25 - S16

General
S17 - N30

326, 328, 330, 339, 340, 342, 344, 346, 347, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360


LC

From what I see 358 antlered is 3pt regardless of season. No spikers allowed there.

Glad I asked...

Are there any zones that fall under the scenario you posted above???

LC