Game Plan #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Nice job! You've successfully called in this respectable satellite right by your current position (you're on your knees at the 6:00 o'clock position, 35 yards from the bull with good cover to your back). There are a good handfull of elk in this wide, semi open SW Montana draw, including one very large herd bull. Thermals are blowing gently downhill from your right to left; it's 0830 in the morning. Home boy has obviously had a mud bath in one of the several active wallows, further down the draw, on his way from the night time feeding area to the bedding area which is where he is heading now. This bull came in "quick" from left to right, bugling several times in response to your cow calls, stopped, and unfortunately you missed the opportunity to draw/shoot between the :02 to :06 mark on the VID (rats, now an easy shot became much tougher and... he's assumed the "who blinks first" posture"). That's all you get.. What is your game plan to possibly have the bull over for dinner later?

[easeup]

OK. I blew it. I should have already drawn.
But everything else in this story is still perfect.
He is still looking for that cow. I got nerves of steel and I am gonna play statue boy. He is likely to turn away to look for that cow again.
I will draw then. If he bumps out a little, I can call him back as he is clueless about my presence. I am going to get him before trophyhill shoots that herd bull and they all scatter!

[Relentlessly Unforgiving]

I'm going to let him settle down after his disappointment of not finding his cow. Once he turns behind the cover I'd reposition and give him some estrus whinny come here cow mews. If hunting solo, I would then close the distance between him and I keeping a rock in my pocket!

[Trophyhill]

Run him off with an aggressive bugle or grunt and go challenge the herd bull.

[poisonarrow]

With Poison Arrow decoy deployed you can draw while he is looking at you.

[JPD350]

Ha Trophy don't kid yourself, we all know you can't pass that shot up!

I agree that he will turn and look the other way again and then he will take another dirt bath

[Gselkhunter]

You have wind and he won't spot you because of the cover behind you. You can wait him out or run him off and go for the bigger bull or just kill him. If you notice the wind is moving the grass around so the cover behind you is moving. Draw your bow at that same speed and slowly raise the bow, put your pin on the obstruction and release. Dead elk. If for some reason he blows out, go for the bull you really want anyway.
David you would to shoot.

[Toby]

I'm waiting till he turns his head, then I would draw and try to nervous grunt stop him in the next opening.

[nippip]

Question about blinking. If an elk is looking at you from 35 yards and you blink are you more than likely busted?
Also how long on average will a stare down last?

[idahoghost]

I'd take the shot. Last bull I had like that, I drew on him twice and shot twice. He didn't even blink at the draw he was so busy looking for the cow. Maybe this time I'd even use the rangefinder hanging from my neck........