What would you have done? Reloaded II

by **cnelk** » 05 19, 2013 • [Post 1]

A few years ago, my buddy and I were easing around the edge of an old timber cut. The regrowth was 10-12ft high and thick.
The adjacent timber was typical with visibility of 50yds +/-

It was early afternoon, wind was in our face. We come around a corner, and 25 yds away is a nice 6x6 feeding straight away.
We stopped.
We saw the rack sway back and forth as he ate.
He was so straight away, his testicles were about the only item that was un-obstructed

What would you have done?

by **Da White Shoe** » 05 19, 2013 • [Post 2]

Well, I know a couple guys that would shoot him right up the old wazoo... but, I ain't one of 'em.
I have no doubt that I could kill him that way... I have a lot of confidence in my arrows penetration, my aim and my ability to stay calm.
It's finding him that I would be worried about.
I would suspect that the grass-filled stomach of an elk is more effective at stopping arrows than a bag target.

by **JohnFitzgerald** » 05 19, 2013 • [Post 3]

That's a tough one. I probably would have drawn back in hopes of a shot. Being that close, one peep from a call, he would have looked back and been gone in a heart beat. I don't like those Texas Heart shots.

by **Trophyhill** » 05 19, 2013 • [Post 4]

25 yards feeding away and you have the wind? i'd sit tight and bide my time waiting for him to turn one way or another and attempt to stop him for a quartering or better shot with my diaphragm. if he doesn't turn for a shot i am going to follow him until he does turn for a shot. was it a calling situation? maybe but being so close and he has no idea you are there why alert him?

by **ElkNut1** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 5]

I would have let him continue on in his natural feeding movement hoping he presented a better angle & ready to draw in a split second without being noticed. If his feeding away started to get to the 40yd range & still no shot I would first draw then hit him with a mid range nervous grunt, chances are very good that you have a pile of elk meat to deal with shortly! (grin)

ElkNut1

by **>>>---WW---->** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 6]

Another trick that may have worked would be to have your buddy move back about 50 yards and make a few sounds. Hopefully that might turn him just enough for a shot angle. Other than that and Elknuts option, just play it out and see what happens.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 7]

Who's turn is it to shoot? It's his game to play. Shooter stays in the shadows/cover, and tries to stay within 30ish yards of the bull feeding away, waiting for a quick shot opportunity. Caller/buddy stays that far behind the shooter. If bullwinkle starts to head east or west into the timber or reprod, caller throws out a nervous grunt trying to freeze him for a second. Kind of a combination of a few mentioned above.

by **tdiesel** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 8]

I'm thinking along the lines of WW. Trot back a ways and it doesn't even have to be a vocalization simple raking of a tree soft mew almost anything would probably get the bull to turn . Shooter be ready to give nervous grunt should he start walking away without turning as he would most Likly turn to see who's giving the grunt.

by **cnelk** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 9]

Thanks for the replies guys!

One thing that happened while were were crouched there was that my buddy didnt have his release on!

As bulls do, he sensed something wasnt right and turned to look at us.

BUSTED

But it made for a great memeory

by **JohnFitzgerald** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 10]

I don't know, 25 yards away is really to close to a bull to do any type of major movement. The outcome was exactly how I invisioned it.

My 2-cents.

jf

by **Swede** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 11]

I always have some strong nylon cord with me. Since your buddy did not have his release on, I would have handed him one end of my cord. and had him tie his end onto the bull's testicles. The other end I would have tied to one of those 12 foot tall trees. Hopefully the bull would have given my buddy time to get his release on right then and there. If the bull pulled the tree out of the ground, at least we could have tracked him down.
You see the solution is simple. It is obvious the failure there was due to you not being ready with a strong cord. So don't be blaming your buddy for your failure.

by **JJ Overkill** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 12]

Swede wrote:I always have some strong nylon cord with me. Since your buddy did not have his release on, I would have handed him one end of my cord. and had him tie his end onto the bull's testicles. The other end I would have tied to one of those 12 foot tall trees. Hopefully the bull would have given my buddy time to get his release on right then and there. If the bull pulled the tree out of the ground, at least we could have tracked him down.
You see the solution is simple. It is obvious the failure there was due to you not being ready with a strong cord. So don't be blaming your buddy for your failure.

LMAO, thanks for that mental image

by **welka** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 13]

Most of the time, when I unexpectedly come up on a bull that close, he has already figured out what to do (get out) before I can come of with a couple things to try! I agree with THill and Elknut about hanging around and being ready for a quick shot. If you can get away with it and have one handy, might also try to throw a rock to left/right about 20 yards from the bull to see if he might move.
Funny story about a close encounter from a long while back... We come up over a short rise and a cow stands up. There is a small 4x4 and a couple other cows. The guide turns back and whispers to us "do you want to shoot a cow or small bull?" My buddy and I look at each other and kind of shrug our shoulders. To which the guide says "well you better f____ figure it out quick!" We let them live. I LMAO every time I remember that close quarters encounter as you usually don't get enough time to have a discussion about it. Good luck to all if you come up on one quickly - you need cat like mental response.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 05 20, 2013 • [Post 14]

Swede wrote:I always have some strong nylon cord with me. Since your buddy did not have his release on, I would have handed him one end of my cord. and had him tie his end onto the bull's testicles. The other end I would have tied to one of those 12 foot tall trees. Hopefully the bull would have given my buddy time to get his release on right then and there. If the bull pulled the tree out of the ground, at least we could have tracked him down.
You see the solution is simple. It is obvious the failure there was due to you not being ready with a strong cord. So don't be blaming your buddy for your failure.

Interesting tactic Swede Got any footage of that particular method, LOL..

Cracked me up.

by **cnelk** » 05 21, 2013 • [Post 15]

Thats Swede's definition of 'bagging' an elk....

by **>>>---WW---->** » 05 21, 2013 • [Post 16]

Swede: You are a cruel, cruel man! PETA won't be sending you a Christmas card this year!

by **pointysticks** » 05 21, 2013 • [Post 17]

first thing i would have done would be to turn to my hunting partner and whispered, "awww NUTS!"

25 yards is close! i would have stayed put and prayed for him to turn.

i did however watch a tv personality talk about the effectiveness of a femoral artery shot. my anatomy class, i slept thru..i wouldnt take it.

by **Swede** » 05 21, 2013 • [Post 18]

--WW-->: As you know, PETA has had an issue with me ever since the bear that walked under my tree stand got urinated on. Do you think I could get back on their good side by giving them a healthy contribution? LOL
I am planning to get a Go Pro Hero this year, well before hunting season. Since folks seem to want pictures of me "bagging a bull", maybe I can get a video. Lets see, I still have my cord.

by **JohnFitzgerald** » 05 21, 2013 • [Post 19]

pointysticks wrote:first thing i would have done would be to turn to my hunting partner and whispered, "awww NUTS!"

LMAO!!!!!!!!!

by **cnelk** » 05 21, 2013 • [Post 20]

Swede wrote:--WW-->: As you know, PETA has had an issue with me ever since the bear that walked under my tree stand got urinated on. Do you think I could get back on their good side by giving them a healthy contribution? LOL
I am planning to get a Go Pro Hero this year, well before hunting season. Since folks seem to want pictures of me "bagging a bull", maybe I can get a video. Lets see, I still have my cord.

Since we are talking bulls and videos, I think the 8 second rule should apply....