Your Move - Situation #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Three point or better area; solo bow hunting this fine morning; 21 September, 2016. You're smack dab in the middle of your two week MT hunt. Through glassing and their vocalization the evening before, you've located a small herd with a nice 6 point, at least one satellite, and a handfull of cows. After an early morning camp departure, you've worked your way up to the group and decide you can get no closer with what the terrain offers, and, am thinking the wind is starting to swirl a bit. You set up with cover to your back, 60-70 yards away from where you believe the herd is, nock an arrow, and before you finish a few soft cow calls.... crash, Crash, CRash, CRAsh, CRASH! And he's right there, stopped at 25ish yards, screaming in your face.. You did have the presence of mind to come to full draw in those few seconds.. Your move, what's your plan?

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[Tigger]

My move is no move. Nothing other than pray I can hold long enough that he turns or comes forward or something. This situation just became a test of endurance. No shot for me here. Curious to what others have to say.

[Swede]

No shot for me yet either. I will hold and pray with Tigger.

[rowdycwby1]

No shot hopping he'll turn broadside before I have to let down!

[Lefty]

20 and If Im steady Im shooting.
Dang,.... 25 ish,.. probably not. how long can I hold, will he bust? am I in the shadows? does he know Im something? Do I chance a slight movement? mew? squeak? Can I hold for 10 more seconds or a minute and 1/2

Great scenario.

[B.Sentman]

20 or under and I'm going to shoot just inside his right front shoulder where his main starts. At 25ish I'm going to hold until he makes a move. My reed better be in my mouth so I can mew as he turns if needed.

[Luckyman]

Reminds of this video of the 13 yo. 25 full draw, I thought from past responses on similar scenarios, no one would hesitate?

https://www.google.com/search?q=13+year ... k+with+bow

[JKaboom]

What a great harvest; could have easily gone otherwise though. If I still bow hunted I would have waited, then trembled from holding the shot and he would have been out of there...

[Lefty]

After posting on the situation earlier today I went out and shot tonight at 25ish,.. maybe the best Ive ever shot in 45 years: 1 arrow, five times on an 1 3/8 inch dot breaking the line at 9:30 position all 5 shots could have been covered with a nickle. Tonight I was hot, the elk would have been dead,... So maybe next fall Im taking the 25 ish shot,.. but not 30 yards. Not yet

My daughter killed her doe this fall with that exact shot, without horns and bugling

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I am not shooting yet but it appears the tree to his left really close. So hopefully he turns right to leave. When he does i will hit him with a nervous grunt followed by a sharp broadhead.

[T.B.]

From the comfort of my recliner its easy to take my time and study the shot....in real time real world excitement I'm not sure what I would do. Good to have situations like this presented so I can possibly be sure if I have this shot opportunity .
in my experience over the years usually if I feel unsure or not 100% positive about a shot or situation that is a sure signal to not shoot

[ishy]

I'm waiting. So I've never done the frontal shot yet, I would imagine it more of a straight on thing. At what point do you guys hold off if something is quartering to you. I know you'll probably get some of the main arteries, but this angle looks like you could get one lung tops even if you hug that left shoulder.

[Mike_Parson]

well i guess im different, cause im taking that shot. i feel very comfortable at that distance so im letting it fly. he is busy screaming so i expect that i can release while he is screaming and he wont hear or see an arrow until its to late and its zipping right thru his chest.

[Wyo67]

well i guess im different, cause im taking that shot. i feel very comfortable at that distance so im letting it fly. he is busy screaming so i expect that i can release while he is screaming and he wont hear or see an arrow until its to late and its zipping right thru his chest.

I'm with you Mike. I'm taking that shot. I don't want to debate the pros and cons of a frontal shot, but I've done it and would be comfortable taking this one.

In my opinion, if you're going to be hunting solo and "running and gunning" by calling the bulls to you. it is best to be prepared for a frontal shot. That bull knows exactly where that call came from and you don't have the benefit of a caller behind you to pull him past for the classic broadside or quartering away shot.

ishy - I think if you hug the shoulder (my aiming point would be just to the right of the mane from my POV), you'd clip the left lung, hit the heart or other major arteries and get the right lung. Major trauma to that area will ensure he won't go far. See the video Sentman put up. Just imagine the bleeding that's going on inside as well.

[Swede]

by Mike_Parson » 05 17, 2016
well i guess im different, cause im taking that shot. i feel very comfortable at that distance so im letting it fly. he is busy screaming so i expect that i can release while he is screaming and he wont hear or see an arrow until its to late and its zipping right thru his chest.

Mike, and Wyo, I am glad you said that. I agree, except I am concerned that the bull would see the movement. If he does not see me, and I assume he doesn't, I would expect a better opportunity. I have learned over the years that expecting is one thing, but getting is another. Take the first good shot you get. There may be no other opportunity. No doubt the shot should be quick and lethal if that critter doesn't move. Will you guys depict with the dot where you want to hit him? I think he would look good with an arrow low and right behind that front leg.

[Mike_Parson]

My aim would really close to the green dot. Just to the left of the left shoulder of the elk. try to slip it in thru the front of the left lung, thru the heart and then thru the right lung and out the ribs on the right side. should be a short bloody track to a dead bull.

if i shot behind the left front leg i would worry about only clipping one lung and then guts and that is a long track in my mind, that i dont want to take.

[Wyo67]

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Hey Swede/Mike... Guess we're all online about the same time. My shot is a little higher than Mike's. I'm wanting to avoid the sternum. Skeleton pic stolen from Bowsite. As an added note, the key for me in the scenario, was it stated I was already at full draw. If I hadn't drawn yet, then I'd be waiting.

Mike

[Swede]

I'm with you guys on this, but I am not so concerned with a one lung shot when my arrow passes near or in the heart. The key is to cause massive bleeding. In all of these cases, the shooter needs to be rock steady and have ice water in their veins.
I was camped with a fellow last September that could not draw on a 5X5, from his tree stand, because he was too nervous. There is no shot here for that hunter. He is a nice guy and I hope he can get his nerves under control. Unfortunately he was talking of quitting.

[Lefty]

I was aiming 2 inches lower then Wyo67 red dot,..
But after shooting this morning maybe Im not taking the shot

[ishy]

Thanks Swede, that answered my real question. You aren't so concerned with getting both lungs or the heart so much as trauma from the great vessels taking him out. I'm not anti frontal, just have had broadside and quartering and that you have to get both lungs and or the heart pounded in my head for all my life. I can't see anyway to hit the heart in the pic more quartering angle. The video is much closer to straight on and results are pretty amazing.

[Swede]

Shooting down on an animal is certainly a different perspective. I really don't care if I get both lungs. I want to cause massive bleeding. The area around the heart is about the size of a basketball. It does not matter what angle you hit it from, just as long as you pass through or deeply into it. When shooting down into that vital area you have as big of a target as from the side. That quartering to shot means there is bone covering part of the vital area. Your margin of error is smaller.

[ElkNut1]

I'm taking him where he stands with Wyo67 shot placement at 25 yards, he'll be lucky to make it 100 yards. Yes, I've taken bulls with that same shot!

ElkNut1

[Dr. Rx]

This is a no brainer... I'm letting that arrow fly.. right where the dark hair and light tan hide come together. I believe it will be an ethical shot as well.

Kris

[twinkieman]

Red dot, dead bull