Real Life Scenario - WWYD?

[cnelk]

What would you do?

Real life scenario...

One hour until dark.
Chance of rain 100%

An elk was hit with an arrow.
After the shot, it layed down 30yds away but got back up

Carefully followed blood trail and marking it.

30 min til dark...
A bull is bugling really close

Starting to sprinkle
Bull is bugling less than 100yds away

Still finding some blood...

What do you do?

[elkmtngear]

More info please...any idea/ clues as to where he was hit?

[cnelk]

The shot was 9 yds from a tree stand
Just behind the shoulder, a bit low

[bnsafe]

I keep looking. depending on how long he layed down at 30 yds would determine my next course. only because it is raining if he only laid there for a minute or so I would very slowly go after him. if he laid there for any longer I would go back to camp, have a miserable night, an go looking on trails and around the direction he went. sounds like a one lunger, but imo if you shoot you look til you cant find anything.

[BRazz]

but imo if you shoot you look til you cant find anything.

Agreed. I keep looking until there is no hope.

[FemoralArchery]

Is it a different bull that is bugling?

And are you considering going after the bugling bull instead of looking for the other bull, which will likely not be found due to rain and poor hit?

[cnelk]

The elk that was hit is a cow. [Not that it matters]
Do you think the cow hooked up with the bugling bull?

[elkmtngear]

I think she would probably lay down soon. Whether she'll have the strength to take off if you bump her is a crapshoot.

Last cow I one lunged went about 70 yds sidehill/ uphill, and laid down. I was able to sneak in and watch her expire.

Slam dunk hit (mortal)...I would slowly look for her. Marginal hit (guts/ liver)...I would back out quietly. There's a good chance that animal will lay down and die very close by.

[elk-n-walleye]

but imo if you shoot you look til you cant find anything.

Agreed. I keep looking until there is no hope.

I agree also. that is the commitment you make when you decided to take a shot. I couldn't justify chasing a bugling bull while I have another animal out there that I've shot and not given every effort to find. If a person did they could have two animals out there bleeding out with 100% chance of rain and dark approaching.

[Buglemaster]

but imo if you shoot you look til you cant find anything.

Agreed. I keep looking until there is no hope.

I agree also. that is the commitment you make when you decided to take a shot. I couldn't justify chasing a bugling bull while I have another animal out there that I've shot and not given every effort to find. If a person did they could have two animals out there bleeding out with 100% chance of rain and dark approaching.

BINGO. Before taking on another, I would have to exhausted myself trying to find the (sounds like) mortally hit cow. One exception. If I carried a second either sex tag , it probably wouldn't hurt to let the cow set for awhile & work on the bull.BUT, certainly go back & do all I could to recover the cow. A lot of guys here in Colo pick up a second cow only tag. Put meat in the pot, then try to find something to go on the wall.

[otcWill]

I'd probably wait a bit or until morning depending on temperature. I wouldn't expect she'd go far assuming a lethal hit. You'll find her not far or not at all. Good luck

[ElkNut1]

At 30 yards I put a 2nd arrow in the elk. I get on that elk pronto & run him down until he stops or dies, no messing around here, no waiting period with guaranteed rains coming in. The other bull bugling would get no attention with one already needing your full attention because of limited daylight.

ElkNut1

[easeup]

regarding the bull bugling and your temptation to hunt another elk.......

you gotta step up and convince yourself the cow is down and you will find her; end of story. if you let the temptation win you over, there will never be serious look for the wounded animal. it is kinda like a good dove hunt where you bang bang bang and got several birds on the ground and they just keep piling in to you. it is hard to lay down that shotgun and go find those birds first otherwise if you keep on shooting, after a few more shots and action you don't really remember where they fell. then you lost them.

[Curtis C]

Depends if I was hunting an extra cow tag unit.

If so and I had two tags I would try to get a look at the bugling bull.

If I only had one tag I would try to bump him out so I could look for the cow. After waiting 30 minutes and with the rain starting I would get on the blood trail and follow it for a bit. The findings on the trail influence further decisions on whether to continue.