Modern bows, like Ferebee's, have cables and pulleys that put more energy into the flight of an arrow, sending it forward at speeds of perhaps 300 feet per second. A traditional bow might shoot an arrow at 125 to 160 feet per second, Pope and Young's Hisey said.

"A bow will take down any big game animal in North America with a well-placed shot," he said.

Whatever the bow, hunter ethics dictate that an arrow not be shot unless the archer is virtually certain of killing the animal. Hunters who see game but cannot shoot with confidence should keep searching, said Aasheim of the Montana wildlife agency.

Bowhunters pursue an array of species, including bears and, more commonly, deer. For many, though, Rocky Mountain elk are the big draw.

"The animal, spectacular country, beautiful weather — it sort of defines Montana," Aasheim said.

Ferebee, a mechanic heading to Iraq in December for work as a contractor, would have been happy with a bull or cow elk the day he walked for several miles on the Continental Divide, his companion at one point erecting a decoy resembling a cow. Ferebee got neither. Still, it was a good day, he said.

"You get away from the rat race," he said. "It's kind of nice just to come back down to earth."