Editor’s Note: In the world of archery, Arizona is one of the most-recognized names in the history of competition shooting and hunting elk with a bow. Randy Ulmer has used his tournament skills to become one of the most-efficient and accurate trophy elk hunters ever. This week Ulmer will help you learn how to get in close to a big bull elk with a bow.

Once Randy Ulmer knows a monster-sized bull is holding in a region, he lets the wind dictate the hunt. “If I can’t approach the bull from downwind, I leave the area and plan to hunt the animal on another day,” Ulmer emphasizes. “If the wind changes while I stalk and carries my scent to the bull, I’ll back out and return another day. When you hunt the biggest bull in the country, you must realize that to take the animal, you need an almost-perfect hunt. If you spook the bull, you never may see him again.”

Ulmer carries a small, plastic bottle with unscented talcum powder to use as a puffer to test the wind. Throughout the stalk, he constantly squeezes the puffer and checks the wind’s direction to ensure that his human odor doesn’t spoil his hunt. He anticipates the animal’s line of travel and attempts to set up an ambush point where the elk will walk within 20 yards of the stand site. Ulmer realizes the best-laid plan may not work, and that he may have to move in closer in his stocking feet for a shot.

“I’ve compared the success my friends have had hunting in stocking feet with the success of those hunting in boots,” Ulmer says. “The stocking-feet stalkers consistently take more and bigger elk than the sportsmen who hunt wearing their boots.”

To learn more about hunting elk successfully, check out John E. Phillips’ book, “Secrets for Hunting Elk,” available in Kindle and Audible at  https://www.amazon.com/. You may have to copy and paste this click into your browser. (When you click on this book, notice on the left where Amazon allows you to read and hear 10% of the book for free). On the right side of the page and below the offer for a free Audible trial, you can click on Buy the Audible with one click.