Shoot or No Shot 2016, Episode #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Wow, that was a fine bit of stalking! It's the end of October 2016, rifle season, SW Montana and you find yourself on the 3rd day of your 6 day hunt. That Headin' West Hunt Consulting hunt plan you worked out with Indian Summer earlier in the year has more than panned out. Your combination of still hunting and spot/stalk methods this morning has put you at the edge of this high meadow with you know who bedded down straight away as you reach the opening. He's about 150 yards away. Shoot or no shot?

If you say "shoot", save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg and add the marked up pic with your post.

elk10.jpg (4.36 KiB) Viewed 4464 times

[Fridaythe13th]

Joe's a hell of a guide. For me "shot fired" 150 yards with the 300 ultra mag. The way the back round looks plenty of time for a follow up shot if needed.
Sorry no MS Paint. Put the cross hair a 15" down from the left ear.

[Indian Summer]

Actually nobody bought that plan this year. I talked to several guys and 1 girl about it but they had trouble convincing their partners that a hunt plan was worth the investment. So I hunted it myself and here I am... safety off at chip shot distance looking at a 6 point bull who is completely unaware that I am here. Puh pow!!!

shoot.jpg (23.13 KiB) Viewed 4448 times

.300 Remington Ultra Mag 200 gr Nosler Accubond through 2 ribs, through the diaphragm, right up the middle of both lungs and on into the neck with whatever energy is left. He will never even get up! But wait! What was that off to my right. A bigger bull. Way bigger. Just standing there broadside at only 100 yards. Take me now Lord take me now! Mama told me there'd be days like these.

[Dr. Rx]

I just love this forum. Learning everyday from you guys.

Thank you

Kris

[cohunter14]

I agree with Eric and Joe...take your time, make a good shot, and pull out the knives

[welka]

Nope. Looks like plenty of light left to wait for him to stand. Too risky for a non-lethal shot on a nice bull as predicting where the vitals are when laying down is pure guess work. If he gets up and walks straight away with no shot, then he will be bigger next year!

[Indian Summer]

Greg... are you serious! He said "rifle". I have definitely made a note of which way that bull's head is facing and his neck is turned. There is no major bone in front of the vitals. In fact everything I ever worry about hitting is either on the other side of the vitals or to the right and left of them. This is THE perfect angle. I've always been a huge fan of quartering away shots because there's nothing in front of the boiler room. You have to have at least some knowledge of animal anatomy and definitely need to consider the position of the entire elk. That said this bull is toast.

[Swede]

For me that is such a good opportunity I was not even going to post. A well placed bullet, like where Joe points out, and just get the pack frames. We have work to do.

[huntnfolk]

If I can get a good rest and keep the shakes to a minimum it looks like it's time to send a bullet where Indian Summer marked, or may just a smidge lower. Knowing how tough elk can be, if he manages to stand up, it looks like the meadow is open enough to get a quick follow up shot and put him down for good. I prefer standing shots, but at 150 yds. and that angle there isn't any big bones to get in the way.

[welka]

Joe,
Wouldn't touch it. Your chance of a double lung at that angle are zero and as we all know they can go for miles on one. Miss the heart is very possible as you just don't know where it settles when he sits. I put a second arrow in a giant whitetail years back and I put the arrow around the same spot as your dot(ya ya I know a whitetail is not an elk - just making a point). Damn thing got up and ran away with the arrow in it. Found it later that day and it was above all the vitals at about the half mark of the body. Throw a rock, break a stick, rake, mew, bark, whatever if you don't want to wait, but get him to stand . Fun stuff.

[ElkNut1]

A shot where Joe has his dot from a 150 yards out with a solid rest on your pack or bipod would explode both lungs with traumatic shock & severe additional damage, that bull would be lucky if he got up, if he did another round would be at the ready as he stood on uneasy feet.

If decision is to wait him out & he gets up leisurely that too could work looking for a broadside shot, but, I've seen elk get up from a similar spot in the open as that bull is & be on the move as his instincts kick in telling him something isn't right, when this happens in most cases no grunt or mew will stop him as he heads for cover. When this happens a hunter can feel desperate being the last day & do his best to still get lead in him. Tough deal at that time.

ElkNut1

[Pop-r]

You shoot that elk at that angle with a .300 & hit anywhere in the realm in any direction of Joe's mark & as Paul said he'll not likely get up & if he does he ain't going far. As good as or better than a broadside shot!

[ishy]

Just for fun with a half conscious bull if the winds steady and good, I'd scoot a little closer and to my left as I crawl making sure your ready at any moment if he decides to get up. Just cause I'm shooting a rifle doesn't mean you can't make it exciting!

[Lefty]

Im shooting lower and slightly left, I want the lower lungs and some of those big arteries.
I might watch that bull and the wind, I may just close the distance A swing a bit more up wind/left. Im arrogant enough to think I would kill him if he stood to run.

I put a stalk on an antelope with my daughter, Shes 15 yards behind me. I m trying to "pose" for some pics I was 8 yards from the antelope acting stupid for a photo,..
Just for kicks I might move in