Shoot or No Shot?

[WapitiTalk1]

35 yards. You're in a natural ground blind at the edge of this meadow right at the bull's 6 oclock (you are straight back from the "." in 6.85 on the bottom of the pic. He walked out from your right and stopped where he currently stands to listen to another bull bugle up on the hillside at the bull's 3 oclock.

Shoot or No Shot? Place an X or dot where your arrow is heading to if you say shoot.

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[Gypsumreaper]

Hold out for him

[Trophyhill]

Absolutely. Behind the last rib about 1/3 up. Watch him fall. Not technically savvy to use red dots with my iPhone

[Swamp Buck]

I know that shot is possible, BUT I would personally hold out for a little better angel... I would be too afraid my RAGE heads would skip right off those ribs...

[Steve G]

At my current skill level, no; but it would be painful to pass up. I would agree with Trophyhill but a little left and you're hitting ribs at an angle where there's not much space between them an a little right and you have a paunch shot. I don't yet have that confidence.

[stringunner]

I shot my first bull with nearly that exact angle. I'm shooting again.

Behind the last rib about 1/3 up.

+1

[Wyo67]

I'm at full draw, but I'm waiting for a better shot.

[WapitiTalk1]

Trophyhill; stringunner,

Are you two referring to something like this for shot placement? I'm by my computer so threw up a red dot for you.

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[BrentLaBere]

No way I am passing that up. I am looking a tad left of RJ

[Trophyhill]

Trophyhill; stringunner,

Are you two referring to something like this for shot placement? I'm by my computer so threw up a red dot for you.

elk11.a.jpg

That looks very close. I may go just a touch lower but that shot will Git er dead

Shots like these are why I don't subscribe to the "place all your pins on the elk" theory on broadside shots as some surprisingly suggest. I want my broadhead to split the spot I'm aiming at. Anything else is asking for bad things to happen even on a broadside shot IMO. And I don't want to start developing bad habits. I've got enough of those already

[Washington Wapiti]

Sheesh . . . and here I was thinkin' right here:

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But, that is only if I had my trusty suction cup broadheads. C'mon, you KNOW, it would be hiliarious!

Otherwise, I'm aiming top of the crease and just right of that front leg, around where Trophyhill was saying . . .

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[BrentLaBere]

I know....this is not an elk! But it is the same angle of shot. Very lethal and goes through all of the goods. You can see the exit wound inside the front shoulder. Arrow entered really close to where others have put the red dot.

[WapitiTalk1]

Nice visual aid Brent.. Thanks. Dandy WT!

[Washington Wapiti]

Niiiice!

[stringunner]

Close enough Phantom. I would hit go!

I completely understand those that say wait, the scenario says that bull doesn't know you are there so there is a likely possibility a different angle will present itself.

I have taken a bull with this angle, wished now I would have taken pictures. It entered very close to the point Phantom has put and lodged in the opposite side front leg, putting the bull down in less than 30 seconds. That shot was made at 11 yards...that is a lot different than 35 yards but my confidence level says I can make that shot again.

[ishy]

I'm waiting...good shot, but with him oblivious to me and looking oppisite of the direction of travel the angle is going to get better within a step or two and become the perfect shot. Now if he's nervous and is acting jittery I'm shooting before he moves.

[Triplebhunters]

I am a go with that one.

[Elkduds]

Wait for it. Wait...for...it...

[easeup]

I will wait for a more broadside shot. He is not alert to me so there is still time to bypass a risky shot.

[JJ Overkill]

I agree with brent on this one. taking that shot all day long

[elkaholic]

Wait for it. Wait...for...it...

x2

[JerryYong]

Yes..........and...........No! I took that shot on a bull at 30 yards a few years ago aiming where Brent put the dot. The bull was feeding and stepped straight away from me the instant I released. The arrow passed through between the shoulder and the chest cavity, missing the vitals. Unfortunately, that bull was not recovered. Assuming in this scenario that the bull is standing there like a statue, I'm taking the shot again, but more to the right where Phantom 16 put the dot (just in case!). If the bull is feeding or moving at all at that extreme angle then I'm waiting for a better quartering away or broadside shot.

[ElkNut1]

Yes, a perfectly placed arrow would do the job! Personally I'd wait, he will turn more broadside as he continues on his way, the direction is not an issue, it's fairly open to his going or leaving, I'd stop him with a nervous grunt if need be when the angle was right!

ElkNut1