Shoot or No Shot 2026, Episode #3

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Third Week of September, 2026/5:42 PM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Solo Hunt
Tag: Archery tag; any bull.

After hunting with your partner off and on for the past week and a half, working many avenues of your hunt (run/gun, some tree standing, some ambush sites on travel routes, etc.), you find yourselves at the last few days of your hunt. For some odd reason (as it sometimes does) the elk have decided to become a bit choked up over your presence in their neck of the woods and have gone almost completely silent for the past two days. WTH, it’s the third week of September! This evening’s plans are for you and your buddy to each head to a separate spot where you know the elk have moved to or through, at the witching hour (right before dark). If they’re not vocalizing, you may as well split up and maximize your efforts in ambush attempts, right? As you sit at your chosen spot (you’ve been here before and know there are elk that move into/through this spot right before dark almost every night) thinking about all that has transpired on your hunt and what you may do the following morning, you see a nice bull move directly toward you into the small opening you’re sitting at the edge of and holy hell, he's a dandy!. He comes in from the direction you’d hoped he came in from (wind in your favor) and commences to drop his head and sniff the ground for that sweetest smell that tells him a cow in estrus has been there! Of course you’re at full draw by this time with your bow, and now is the time of this hunt to make the CALL. I will tell you that you’ll have approximately 30-40 seconds to decide if you’re gonna touch off an arrow at this bull “but” the crux of the biscuit is……. you’ll have 5 various angles (images I’ll provide) in this short span of time to shoot. The bull is 25-30 yards away and you my friend, have chosen your background to sit in front of well (perfectly breaking up your background), and as mentioned, you have the wind vs. your opponent. This is the first bull "full stop", angle number one of five, in the next 30-40 seconds (it all happens pretty quickly so its up to you to decide which shot you'll take)... he's not gonna be there forever sniffing the dirt. For this first angle/image....Shoot or no shot here?

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Remember, if you say "shoot", save the above image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[Tigger]

I think I am rolling the dice and waiting. Since he is facing you and unaware, he will need to turn one way or the other.

[Swede]

I would wait and bark as soon as he was giving me a better view of his vitals. I think he is killable where he is, but he is likely to see movement and bolt when I squeeze the trigger.

BTW: It looks like Lefty has two of his arrows in him already. He probably did not get good penetration due to the rubber suction cups where broadheads are attached.

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

See that dark spot at the base of his neck where it connects to his body? (BINGO) Have you ever heard of the lady that swallowed a razor blade? She got a free tonsillectomy, an appendectomy, a complete hysterectomy, and circumcised her boyfriend as it passed thru. That shot will take out just about everything if you choose to take it! But, it's up to you! You mentioned I have 30-40 seconds to make up my mind. That's a long time if you sit there and look at your watch. I think I may just wait for a little better angle.

[Elkhunttoo]

At 25-30 yards I’m using all of my remaining muscles to hold at this point

[WapitiTalk1]

A few seconds after the bull arrived on the scene as shown in first image, he shifts a bit and drops his head to sniff the ground. Thermals are still hitting you in the face, your concealment is still working well, you're set up in a "quiet spot" with soft dirt/vegetation under you, your bow is whisper quiet when drawn, but...this bull is not gonna be around much longer.... Barney Bull looks to be a bit over 25ish yards from where you're kneeling. Shoot or no shot here?

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Remember, if you say "shoot", save the above image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[Elkhunttoo]

Nope

[Tigger]

waiting waiting waiting

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

Nope!!!!! I'll keep waiting.

[WapitiTalk1]

And… the bull shifts his position again to sniff another wet spot on the ground..... As of now, he's been well within shooting range for 15-20 seconds (but probably won't be for much longer) and has offered you three angles. He's also moved a bit more into the open and out of the shadows to where he is positioned now to your 12 o'clock. You feel he's gonna continue off to the left (your left as you're looking) and down an elk trail that leads to another small meadow at any time. He's right at 25 yards from your position. My, isn't he a fat, tasty looking bull. Shoot or no shot here?

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Remember, if you say "shoot", save the above image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[RanchoSueno]

Dead as dead is dead
I would be enamored with the opportunity

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

I'm not that hungry. Think I'll wait !!

[Swede]

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I would prefer to hit on the left side of my yellow mark.

[Elkhunttoo]

I feel like you definitely need to hit your mark if you are taking this shot….what is the total “kill zone” at this angle? Maybe less than half of what a perfect broadside shot would be or present? Just thoughts for conversation but let’s say I take the shot aiming close to these marks but end up hitting 4-5 inches to the left? Is this still going to get both lungs? No lungs? One lung?

[RanchoSueno]

I feel like you definitely need to hit your mark if you are taking this shot….what is the total “kill zone” at this angle? Maybe less than half of what a perfect broadside shot would be or present? Just thoughts for conversation but let’s say I take the shot aiming close to these marks but end up hitting 4-5 inches to the left? Is this still going to get both lungs? No lungs? One lung?

Aiming at swede's mark if you hit left you clip the back of the closest lung, liver and guts. The cool thing with this short, fresh coat is you can see all of the anatomy. The scapula is very visible as is the humerus. You have about 8 inches of vital space aiming at swede's mark going right before you hit bone/shoulder. Which is why I ran my mark a little forward, dead center of still having good vitals 4-5 inches left or right

[RanchoSueno]

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[Swede]

but end up hitting 4-5 inches to the left?

If you are hitting that far off, you are shooting too far or the conditions were wrong.

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

Quartering to is a NO GO for me. There is always a chance at a one lung hit. And, if the bull has a full stomach of grass, that would be like hitting a bale of hay and slow down penetration plus, you may not get an exit wound. The results could be a one lung hit with little to no blood trail resulting in a long trailing job with a chance you may not even be able to recover him.

Swede: I thought you were a tree stand hunter. Your mark is way to low for shooting at a downward angle. JMHO!

[Swede]

Swede: I thought you were a tree stand hunter. Your mark is way to low for shooting at a downward angle. JMHO!

You are correct for a tree stand shot. Before posting above, I reread the initial input on this and decided I must have come upon the bull on my way to the stand. I would expect to hit both lungs. If I have miscalculated, which is always possible, the arrow would pass through the liver. I am cautious on going after an elk when it is shot from this angle. It is easier to determine what to do if I see the spot the arrow went in. If it is one lung and the liver, give it four hours before looking for it. It won't be spoiled and should be down within 100 yards.
Last season I shot over a large log at the bull. The arc of the arrow allowed the arrow to stay in sight through mixed light and shadows until it was past the log. I could see that the windage was perfect but had a little doubt about the elevation on the bull. In that case I waited a couple of hours before tracking. The two hours gave me time to round up some younger help.

[WapitiTalk1]

And..... he's moving off to the left as you suspected he may do, probably gonna head down the trail that leads through the thick stuff to another meadow. Nose down again, he does a quick check to see if just maybe, a potentially receptive cow has been there. He's still very intrigued with his smelling mission, but time's a wasting folks! That is a damn nice bull that many have chosen to wait to put an arrow into. He’s standing about 25 yards from your position. Shoot or no shot here.

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Remember, if you say "shoot", save the above image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[Elkhunttoo]

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My arms are a bit shaky from the hold but I will now touch the trigger off

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

I'll take Elkhunttoo's little black spot any day!