Jump the string?

[navet]

I was reading on a forum about WT deer jumping the string and it got me wondering. Are elk quick enough to jump(duck) the string? I always aimed a little low on WT deer because they seemed to duck(drop) when the arrow was released. I have not shot at an elk with a bow.

[UtPreacher]

No experience with bulls but haven't had any cows or spikes jump the string on me.

[Swede]

I have no doubt they are quick enough, but I have never had one react to the sound of my bow and "jump the string". I have heard others say the elk they shot at jumped the string, but I suspect the elk just decided to move at the same time they released. I have had that happen. I have certainly never had one duck down.

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

Saw it happen on a video once. That bulls belly almost drug the ground because he ducked so low. Personally, I have never had one do it to me. But I shoot a very quiet bow!

[WapitiTalk1]

I have no doubt they are quick enough, but I have never had one react to the sound of my bow and "jump the string". I have heard others say the elk they shot at jumped the string, but I suspect the elk just decided to move at the same time they released. I have had that happen. I have certainly never had one duck down.

This ^. I called a nice 6 PT in one time. We were very close to him and his cows and he was livid. Came off his cows two different times in a rage and I got a shot at 25 yards. Problem was is that he lurched forward exactly when I released the arrow. Wasn't the string noise that scared him, he was just nervous cause he couldn't see me (the bull) and happened to move forward at the same second I shot. I got a bad hit on him, not in the paunch but in the right hind quarter! The arrow fortunately came completely out after he crunched off through the brush. I'm sure he was sore for a while but guarantee he healed up just fine. The bugger kept bugling to keep us located as he headed down off that high saddle.

[cnelk]

The bull I shot that I got on video ducked the string.
I went frame by frame and marked where his shoulder was before I shot and when the arrow hit him.
I was surprised to learn the he ducked almost a foot.
Lucky for me I held a tad low.
But then again, I was 47 yards away, shooting a bow that isnt real fast, and only kinda quiet

[stringunner]

This is why I shoot a Mathews Bow! They never jump the string with a Mathews!!!!

...ok carry on with the productive conversation....

[rowdycwby1]

The cow I shot this past year ducked right before my arrow hit hear but she was already nervous and had just turned 180° right before I let it fly but lucky I was holding a little low.

[mtnmutt]

Yes!

Opening morning of my first time ever hunting of anything, I called over a 4x4 to a perfect 16 yard broadside. I was sitting in a hole, he was staring at me. He could not figure out what I was. After I stopped shaking: I pulled back very smoothly, aimed way too high (about 5 inches down from shoulder), released, bull ducked, arrow barely cleared the top of shoulder.

I had a loud slow bow then, however, the bull was alert. I did call him back after the shot, but he was now dead downwind at a weird angle. He eventually got my scent and bolted.

If I had practiced on 3D and aimed at the correct lower spot, the arrow would have hit the upper part of the vitals when he ducked.

That was my one and only legal elk shot opportunity in my 4 years of hunting. I still kick myself for the rookie mistake. Now in summer, I practice 2-3 times a week on 3D hitting the lower spot (heart/lung) from different shooting positions.

[tdirks]

I have always aimed almost 2/3rds of the way down on Whitetail. If I am going to miss I would much rather it be low than high! My personal opinion is that a high percentage of those who say the animal jumped the string just missed high!

[Huntrgathr]

Try to jump with your knees locked. Doesn't work. Most, if not all, animals " preload" their legs when they have to evade danger. They drop down to do this. Their reaction time is quicker than your bow ( or the sound of it). If you have a super fast bow you might fling a hunting arrow at 300 fps. Sound travels at 1126 fps so the sound reaches the elk roughly 4 times faster than your arrow. Even at 25 yds the elk's reaction time is fast enough to trigger a flight response, causing the elk to drop down a clean foot before the arrow gets there. It's not really all that hard to miss ...

Although the topic is hotly debated, some guys feel that elk ( and deer) are more likely to "jump the string" when the shooter is closer rather than further away. It makes sense if you think about your own reaction to an unexpected noise. If it is really close you're probably more likely to instinctively "flinch " than if the sound if 150 or 300 feet away ...

I missed a muley this year at 35 yds that simply was not in the same place when the arrow arrived at the location where the heart should have been. I know, without a doubt, that I made a perfect shot. I KNEW that I killed that deer when I shot. But a pinch of hair was all I had to show for my "perfect" shot. They may not do it intentionally but they dodge the arrow nonetheless.

[Triplebhunters]

It's not really all that hard to miss

Huntrgathr. Awsome quote. Think I will put that on my cold shot target, a lil xtra thought to focus with.
And you are right.

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

Try to jump with your knees locked. Doesn't work. Most, if not all, animals " preload" their legs when they have to evade danger. They drop down to do this. Their reaction time is quicker than your bow ( or the sound of it). If you have a super fast bow you might fling a hunting arrow at 300 fps. Sound travels at 1126 fps so the sound reaches the elk roughly 4 times faster than your arrow. Even at 25 yds the elk's reaction time is fast enough to trigger a flight response, causing the elk to drop down a clean foot before the arrow gets there. It's not really all that hard to miss ...

Although the topic is hotly debated, some guys feel that elk ( and deer) are more likely to "jump the string" when the shooter is closer rather than further away. It makes sense if you think about your own reaction to an unexpected noise. If it is really close you're probably more likely to instinctively "flinch " than if the sound if 150 or 300 feet away ...

I missed a muley this year at 35 yds that simply was not in the same place when the arrow arrived at the location where the heart should have been. I know, without a doubt, that I made a perfect shot. I KNEW that I killed that deer when I shot. But a pinch of hair was all I had to show for my "perfect" shot. They may not do it intentionally but they dodge the arrow nonetheless.

Perfect. Great explination!

[JGH]

Yes ...

First year hunting, I was sitting in a ground blind near a wallow with a friend. A cow came in and I took the 20 yard shot.

She dropped ... the arrow stuck in a bank of dirt behind her at the "correct" height.

We were both shocked ... we were already packing out meat in our minds.

That said, I haven't shot at that many elk with an arrow (3). 1 ducked, 2 just stood there. I don't think I can make any conclusions from this. Personally, I think the cow that "ducked" saw a second cow react to movement (me) just in the nick of time. I don't know for sure ... we were both looking at the cow I was shooting at. In other words, I think she was "warned".

Whitetails? ... Pronghorn? ... now we're talking about jittery critters!

It's like Huntgatr said ... the animal needs to "load" their "springs". Ever been on a young horse and have them spook at something? It's as if suddenly there is no horse under you ... like those cartoons we used to watch as kids have come alive, and the main character is left motionless, suspended in mid-air as he starts to understand: "I'm about to fall."