Opening Day Spike--Frontal Shot--Story!

[ElkNut1]

My son & I slipped into an area we knew from past years that elk liked to move through on their way to bed, with no calling we traveled the mile to sit & glass a bit to see what may happen. We got to getting to our so called lookout spot & only been there a few minutes when we heard a cow mew to our right that didn't sound to far away. We sat patiently for a few more minutes & this time two cows called to each other. We think these elk are aprox 150 yds away in the timber & brush. My son decides to call back to them with a cow call of his own, the cow/cows respond right back. After 10 minutes or so of this exchange they appear to be in the same spot as they are not moving much. I was going to be the shooter so I was out front 30 yds or so to see what may appear. After another 10 minutes of this back & forth light calling we move ahead 80 yds & watch the area to our right & below us, we had a good vantage point.

We had sat there with packs on for about 25 minutes with no calling from us. All of a sudden I catch a glimpse of an elk 175 yds away slowly moving below us that had come from the area of the cow calls earlier. It was moving away so I cow called one time, it stopped & looked around, about that time my son says it's a spike! I asked how big? He says not a bad one, so I figured what the heck let's attempt to call him over for a better look. The Spike appears to be feeding around so I called twice at him this time with low mews, he looks up & starts heading up the hill in a closer direction but not at us. At about the 100 yd mark he enters a very thickly brushed area & we lose sight of him, he seems to be in no hurry at all so not sure where he went as time goes by? About 10 minutes later we think we hear a light pop of a branch above us & to our left, Paul II is now the shooter & has an arrow nocked as he is 3 yards to my right, I called one time about 5 minutes before giving the spike a direction & letting him know the cow is still there.

My son & I are perched on a flat rock bench, 12'-15' above us is another small bench, there's 4' high brush from us angling up to the next bench so we have a bit of cover to hide & draw behind if the spike comes right at us or from above. We are both pretty much frozen as we think we can hear something above us but it is so slight of a sound we were not sure? Out of nowhere I see spikes a face & neck appear above where the sounds came from, I whisper to Paul II, there he is, he sees him too & draws while he has a chance behind the low brush. The elk is 23 yds above us & no shot, he's staring hard over the brush & getting nervous, all of a sudden he turns to his right & takes a step as to bolt, at that moment as I'm kneeling down I quickly turn away from the elk & give 2 quick low mews, the spike perks up & takes 4-5 quick steps right at us to 18 yards exposing his entire chest to Paul II. Paul settles top pin & punches the trigger I hear the arrow hit & know it's a frontal shot with the spikes position, he bolts away & piles up a mere 50 yards away. The Viper Trick 4 blade did a serious number on him. The arrow completely sunk into the center of his chest going out of sight! We have several tags between us & one is now punched!

ElkNut1

[Muskeez]

Congrats Paul and Paul ! Seeing success on any size bull gets me excited. Thank you for sharing, as I try to learn something from everything I read here and hope I can apply it when the opportunity finally comes. I just joined the site and just started elk hunting last year. We leave in 2 weeks for CO. I am wondering how often you guys take that frontal shot and if it generally ends well? I can just imagine that is a pretty common scenario, where a bull comes in, faces you, then turns 180 and bolts. So should we take that frontal shot? I am thinking for accuracy purposes I would not personally do it at over 30 yards anyway. Is that the key? Being able to drive that arrow up to the fletchings by hitting in the center of the front of him and not into one of the shoulders?

[Mikeha33]

I am wondering how often you guys take that frontal shot and if it generally ends well? I can just imagine that is a pretty common scenario, where a bull comes in, faces you, then turns 180 and bolts. So should we take that frontal shot? I am thinking for accuracy purposes I would not personally do it at over 30 yards anyway. Is that the key? Being able to drive that arrow up to the fletchings by hitting in the center of the front of him and not into one of the shoulders?

Can of worms, OPENED!!!


Congrats fellas!!! Awesome shot Jr!!!! That is gonna be a great tasting animal right there!!!

[baddaddy]

Congrats guys. Great shot.

[dtrkyman]

Awesome! looks like the shot was dead center and where the neck meets the chest, textbook for frontal shot! What is the rest of Paul 2s setup?

[Muskeez]

I certainly didn't intend for a controversial discussion, Mike, especially as a first time post. I have wanted to ask this exact question for over a year to someone who would give an intelligent answer without turning it into a soap opera. On another site I think I would get a lot of different answers from people that have never shot an elk or shot less than 10 of them. I asked Paul because from what I have read and heard he has a lot more experience and knowledge on elk hunting than the vast majority of us ever will. I likely won't take the shot unless it's in the 20 yard or less range since I am so inexperienced, but I can certainly see that it worked awesome for Paul II and I'd like to know if it generally ends well IF you put the arrow low and very near center?

[Daved270]

Congrats! Great story!

[mjblowers]

Thanks for the story...

THAT BEING SAID, please tell me where you got that ASAT backpack from......

[Duck-Slayer]

Congrats.... It's still got velvet too.....
Matt

[Elkduds]

Congratulations on getting right to it this season! That spike should be fine eating. Good story, really illustrates how calling can make all the difference.

[IdahoKel]

Congrats, great story & very nice spike!

[ElkNut1]

Daniel, thanks! Paul II shoots 72# Energy Elite 28" draw with Easton Axis (skinny) 340 spine arrows 27-1/2" long with 100 grain Viper Trick-- 425 grains.

Muskeez, no sweat asking questions, heck we welcome them! We've taken many Elk & Deer with that shot, we like 25 yards & under, after that too much crap can happen. It's been a highly successful shot for us in the past. Paul II has taken 6 bulls with it & 2 cows. I've taken a few as well. We both have lost one animal to that shot as they turned right at the arrows release, both bulls were under 20 yards. Point is it's a good shot when placed correctly. Thanks!

The Asat pack by Exo Packs is one we both are using this year, so far they are awesome & one of the best all purpose packs we've used, it's great for all day hunts & very nice for packing meat. The one in the photo is a 3500" pack at 4#-10 oz. Thanks!

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

Awesome guys, and congrats What happened to at least a 5 or 6 point bull? You have told me before that Paul II loves spike meat, and you have to spook the spikes to keep him from shooting them, were you guys intending to kill him, or just call him in?

[easeup]

congrats from down here also!

[Wyo67]

Congrats guys! September 13 can't get here soon enough!

[Lefty]

Way to do it right, shot went right where it should.
Kind like to peeled back skin pic,.. Im surprised the arrow stopped where it did, and you didn't have further penetration.

[foxvalley]

Congrats guys, good job!

[ElkNut1]

Marc, we have several elk tags this year, (purchased NR ones) so we knew we were looking for a couple of "delicious" ones! Anything in the spike to smaller raghorns were on the hit list! So yes we called him in with every intent of taking him. That was Paul II 22nd archery elk, all OTC elk. Most are 5's & 6's so when he decides on spikes that's ok with me! (grin)

ElkNut1

[elkmtngear]

Congrats to your Son, Paul! Nice work by you guys.

And thanks for the "autopsy pic"...it really shows how effective that frontal shot can be. Paul II obviously hit "the pocket" perfectly on that bull.

This is about the third frontal kill I've seen already this Season...would be cool to have a "frontal shot meat pole" thread.

[ElkNut1]

Hey Jeff I actually like the idea of a "Frontal Shot" thread! Hmm? This could be very educating, great idea!

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

Paul I figured you probably had extra tags, just thought I would check . Now Paul II can focus on killing a really big bull, nothing wrong with that! Get after em and best of luck the rest of the season.

[ElkNut1]

Thanks! Good luck to you too sir!

ElkNut1

[Rizzy]

Good job Paul II !

[Trophyhill]

Great job Paul and Paul Jr! So there is a time and place for finesse

[JPD350]

Helluva shot! Congrats.

[slim9300]

Way to get it done boys!

[Vanish]

it generally ends well IF you put the arrow low and very near center?

You don't want dead center. The pocket is slightly off center, to avoid that large brisket bone.

[ElkNut1]

I will have to respectfully disagree, you want dead center, the brisket bone is no more than a rib bone in thickness. Nearly any poundage bow will blow an arrow through it if need be. As a sidenote that bone is pretty low in the chest ones shot should be a bit higher. Hit where the two colors of hair meet or up to a few inches higher & bingo!

ElkNut1

[elkaholic]

Awesome story Paul! Congrats Paul II.

[WapitiTalk1]

Sweet! Nice job Elknut crew.

[Vanish]

I will have to respectfully disagree, you want dead center, the brisket bone is no more than a rib bone in thickness. Nearly any poundage bow will blow an arrow through it if need be. As a sidenote that bone is pretty low in the chest ones shot should be a bit higher. Hit where the two colors of hair meet or up to a few inches higher & bingo!

ElkNut1

As I've never taken the shot, I stand corrected and better prepared for the future. I swear that "just off center" is what I'd read time and time again, but thank you.

[lamrith]

Great read, congrats!
Sounds like the shot was angling upwards?
How would aimpoint change if standing same level as elk?