Shoot or No Shot 2026, Episode #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Let's get some of these going again during the loooooong off season.

Date: Mid September, 2026
Location: SW Montana
Hunt: Archery partner hunt; branch bull tag
Situation: Nice job being patient! You have set up as shown and did an advertising session for a good 25 minutes. You (shooter) catch movement from your 2 o'clock and here comes this fine fellow. Your partner (caller) sees him also and gives a nervous grunt stopping the bull in his tracks where he stands now, 25 yards from you (shooter). You're at full draw with good cover to your back...... Shoot or no shot?

ground blind elk mark up.jpg (189.74 KiB) Viewed 197 times

If you're shooting, download the image (Paint works well for this), place a "dot" on the pic where you're shooting, and repost the pic in your answer.

[Lefty]

It all depends.. But I wish my partner would have waited just a moment longer on that grunt of had been facing the tuber away .

Otherwise I let him take a few more steps forward to draw. And for as better broadside shot archery shot, or maybe put his head down or was I already at full draw? Partner goofed

[WapitiTalk1]

Agree with you Lefty, partner barked too soon in this scenario.

[RanchoSueno]

Wait, you'll either get a couple more steps forward or catch him on the spin when he turns back

[>>>---WW---->]

Agree, your caller barked too soon. Should have let him take a couple of more steps.

[six]

I'm going to wait for a couple more steps forward or if he turns around to leave.

[Qwhacker18]

Gotta wait for a step or a turn


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Swede]

Think about the direction the bull will turn if he is spooked by you. If the elk can see me shoot, he can see me let down. I would let my bow string down by squeezing the release. I would aim about 1/3 of the way up the body just behind the front leg. If I can hold, I will wait for him to look away a little more. If the bull sees me shoot and turns away, he will still get the arrow in the vitals.

[>>>---WW---->]

There is a possible good quick kill shot just in if front of the shoulder bone in the lower neck area. But you better have ice in your veins to pull it off. Still your best chance is to let him take 2-3 more steps forward. But if the caller stopped him with a nervous bark, it's hard telling how long he will remain froze before he takes those next few steps. So how long can you remain at full draw?????

[Swede]

The ice water in my veins has formed into slushy muscles. I used to draw and hold 70# for a very long time. Last September I had to detune my bow so I could draw it when I was cold in my stand. Still at 40 yards the arrow penetrated to where it stuck in the hide on the offside.

[Lefty]

Wait, you'll either get a couple more steps forward or catch him on the spin when he turns back

Neighbor kid did that. Dad got it on video, total high butt shot, bleed out and died in the phone video

Im going to chance a wait ,, maybe for 2 steps forward or for the last week,, unless of course its close to the truck

[RanchoSueno]

Wait, you'll either get a couple more steps forward or catch him on the spin when he turns back

Neighbor kid did that. Dad got it on video, total high butt shot, bleed out and died in the phone video

Im going to chance a wait ,, maybe for 2 steps forward or for the last week,, unless of course its close to the truck

I'd have a heart attack if I did that on an elk I watched my arrow bounce off a pine limb I hadn't seen behind my pins on a little buck years ago. Shish kabob'd the hams. He thundered out of there like a bat out of hell. I was immediately sick over it. Gave it an hour and walked in the direction he hoofed it by headlamp. I got 40yds into the woods and it was like a murder scene. Blood highway 3ft wide for 15yds and at the end of it, my buck. That femoral artery did a number but definitely nothing I ever want to repeat

[Elkhunttoo]

IMG_0276.jpeg (83.33 KiB) Viewed 110 times

Wait and hold for me…..wait a minute….im a keyboard warrior right now….fire away right at the mark….how did I do? Will I kill this bull or wound him and never recover him?

[Lefty]

Wait, you'll either get a couple more steps forward or catch him on the spin when he turns back

Neighbor kid did that. Dad got it on video, total high butt shot, bleed out and died in the phone video

Im going to chance a wait ,, maybe for 2 steps forward or for the last week,, unless of course its close to the truck

That femoral artery did a number but definitely nothing I ever want to repeat

Dad got a great video,, maybe a bit gruesome for some. Blood flying, then the bull tipped over

[Lefty]

IMG_0276.jpeg

Wait and hold for me…..wait a minute….im a keyboard warrior right now….fire away right at the mark….how did I do? Will I kill this bull or wound him and never recover him?

I wouldn't take that shot ,, well maybe if it was 5 yards away I would like the arrow a bit lower ( and maybe would be using my first pin, I want top of heart ,, then lungs.. Rifle muzzle loader every day,,,
But if theresa a bigger bull behind him Ill pass

[>>>---WW---->]

IMG_0276.jpeg

Wait and hold for me…..wait a minute….im a keyboard warrior right now….fire away right at the mark….how did I do? Will I kill this bull or wound him and never recover him?

There's a lot of stuff right there to make that bull bleed out in a hurry. But I'd still like to see your dot just a little bit lower. Not much, maybe just an inch or two. That's where the ice in your veins I was talk'n about earlier comes into play. Dead elk either way if you are good enough to make that shot.