Can You Use a Bow for Elk Hunting?

September 3, 2025

Hunter with a bow, using a bow for elk hunting concept. — Photo courtesy of Grizz Media

When hunters start planning for their first elk hunt, a significant consideration is selecting the right weapon for the job. As one of North America’s largest game animals, weighing between 700 and 1,200 lbs., aspiring bowhunters wonder if they can legally and ethically use a bow for elk hunting.

Certainly!

Archery elk seasons are legal in most states and, when used correctly, can offer a humane and challenging way to harvest this iconic backcountry big game animal. Here's what you need to know about using a bow when hunting elk.

Big bull elk bugles, bow hunting for elk concept.

Why Use a Bow for Elk Hunting?

One of the primary benefits of bow hunting for elk is a longer season.

Most states start their archery elk season in August and run through November. This early start gives bowhunters first access to unpressured herds before rifle hunters take to the field in October. This early start provides the bowhunter with more access to unpressured herds and opportunities to get in close to a targeted bull or cow elk with less chance of getting discovered.

Early-season bowhunting also means fewer hunters in the field. Unlike rifle season, where it’s not uncommon to see more hunters wearing orange vests than elk, archery elk season attracts fewer hunters. This means less competition for the same animals and often makes elk more responsive to calling.

Successfully harvesting a large animal like an elk with a bow also requires extreme focus, patience, and skill to make a lethal and ethical shot. Since you are launching a razor-sharp projectile that relies on massive blood loss to be effective, you need to be close to your target and have the confidence that your arrow is going to hit the mark.

What Type of Bow Should You Use?

While deciding which type of bow to use is a matter of personal preference, here are a few key breakdowns on the types of bows used for elk hunting.

Compound Bows

These bows dominate archery elk hunting based on their combination of power, speed, and accuracy.

Compounds typically enable the archer to take longer shots of up to 80 yards. New archers usually prefer a compound bow due to the mechanical advantage it provides. Accessories like stabilizers, sights, and mechanical releases also dramatically increase the bow's accuracy.

Hunter with compound bow for a hunt. — *Compound bow (Grizz Media)*

Traditional Bows (Recurves and Longbows)

Recurve and longbows don’t have the same mechanical advantage and performance hardware as a compound or crossbow. Those “limitations” mean ethical shots are limited to 20-30 yards for most hunters.

However, these old-school weapons offer an elegant simplicity and lack of gadgetry that appeals to many of today’s hunters.

Woman draws a recurve bow. — *Recurve bow*

Crossbows

A crossbow is a hybrid between a rifle and a bow, making it easier for beginners to use during their first elk season. However, many states restrict crossbows to rifle season and hunters with physical limitations.

Close-up of a hunter with a crossbow, bow for elk hunting concept. — *Crossbow*

Pro Tip: States typically set a minimum draw weight for hunting bows (ranging from 40 to 60 pounds) to ensure a humane and ethical kill. Many states have requirements on broadhead design, while states like Washington also have rules for minimum arrow length and weight.

A bull elk in the trees, bow hunting for elk concept. — *Grizz Media*

Bowhunting Tips for Elk

Although there are many ways to define success when it comes to bow hunting for elk, below are a few of the top skills you’ll need.

Understand Elk Behavior: You can’t find elk unless you know where they’ll be. Conduct pre-season scouting to better understand an elk's preferred terrain, feeding habits, bedding preferences, and travel patterns. Elk are most active at dawn and dusk, so this means you need to get up early and stay out later.
Get Good at Glassing: Learn how to find good glassing spots to use your binoculars or spotting scope to find the herd or solo bull elk. Come up with a consistent search pattern (grid, segments, or alternating “M” and “W”) that works best for you.
Know How to Read the Terrain: Once you’ve spotted your target elk, know how to identify terrain features and translate them to a map to plan your stalk.
Master Elk Calls: Know how and when to use a bugle and cow call to attract elk during the pre-rut, rut, and post-rut.
Know Your Effective Range: A good rule of thumb is to cut your maximum effective practice distance in half. For example, if you can consistently hit your target at 60 yards at the range, drop your maximum hunting distance to 30 yards in the field. Most hunters keep their shots below 40 yards.
Aim for Consistent Shot Placement: Although an elk presents a big target, precision still matters. Aim for consistent shot placement within a 12-inch circle, or smaller. Your arrow needs to impact the heart-lung area, so a good point of aim is the bottom third of the chest, about 1-2 inches behind the front shoulder.
Control Your Scent: Although you can minimize human odor with scent control products, you’ll never totally hide your smell from the highly developed nose of an elk. That’s why you always need to hunt with the wind in your face and be mindful of the prevailing winds, thermals, and swirling currents.

Lastly, position yourself for success. As a bowhunter, you must get in close and be within the animal’s “bubble.” You have to be skilled at using natural cover and remaining hidden until you have a clear shot and can draw your bow without being seen.

Close-up of a hunter carrying compound bow.

Safety Considerations When Bowhunting for Elk

Since elk hunting often takes place in remote areas with steep terrain and rapidly changing alpine weather, take steps to keep minor issues from escalating into life-threatening emergencies.

First, create a communications plan that starts with trusted family and friends knowing your hunting location, where your vehicle will be parked, and your expected return time. Include pre-set check-in times (if possible) and protocols for next steps if you miss a check-in.

Since elk tend to hang out in rugged terrain and open country, you’ll need the ability to navigate during the hunt successfully. Always carry a GPS device along with a backup paper map and compass. Know how to use both.

Remember: You are not the only predator in elk country, so make sure you are bear aware while hunting. That means keeping an eye out for kill sites, gut piles, tracks, and other signs of bear activity. Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and understand its limitations.

Mountain weather likes to change in a heartbeat. Since clothing is realistically your primary shelter against the elements, wear a quality base layer and have access to multiple layers of insulation, wind blockers, and rain gear to help you quickly adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

You may have to be your own first responder if things go sideways on a backcountry hunt. Carry a first aid kit that is appropriate for your abilities and have the tools and materials with you (not at camp) that can enable you to survive for 24-48 hours if you need to wait for help to arrive.

Also, if you’re hunting from a tree stand, make sure you know how to set up and use the stand safely. Always maintain three points of contact with the tree when ascending and descending, and use a Fall Arrest System.

And last but not least, take a hunter education course to enhance your basic field and safety skills. Many states require hunters to complete a state-specific hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license.

Bull elk on the side of a mountain, use a bow for elk hunting concept.

Know the Regulations Before Your Hunt

Staying in compliance with federal, state, and local hunting regulations can help keep you out of legal trouble and also protect hunting opportunities for future generations.

State laws vary when using a bow for elk hunting. Know your state’s regulations defining archery season dates, minimum draw weights, as well as approved bow types and broadhead designs. Some states dictate minimum cutting diameters for broadheads, and others restrict the use of mechanical broadheads.

With elk hunting gaining in popularity in recent years, tag opportunities are frequently changing. While some western states still offer over-the-counter tags to nonresidents, most now require early applications, purchasing points, and use a lottery system.

Hunter walks through water carrying bow. — *Photo courtesy of Grizz Media*

Be Ready for Elk Archery Season with ilearntohunt

Using a bow for elk hunting can be one of the more challenging and rewarding pursuits you can undertake as a hunter. Having the proper gear, preparation, skills, and mindset are just a few of the critical factors you’ll need to create the outdoor memories of a lifetime.

Before you grab your bow and head into the mountains, make sure you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals when it comes to hunting safety and fieldcraft. You can do this by taking an online, state-approved hunter education course through ilearntohunt.

Your course covers animal behavior, first-aid, basic field skills, game processing methods, and will help you create safety protocols to complement the archery skills you need for a successful elk hunt.

Before the season starts, take the ilearntohunt course for your state!