Shoot or No Shot 2014 - Episode 2

[WapitiTalk1]

Tale of the tape: 9 September 2014; 4:45 PM; NE Washington; any elk are legal area; early archery season. You've been watching/patterning a small group of elk that frequent private land. They seem to be feeding and using an active wallow on the private plot but do seem to come back on the public land using active game trails to bed. You've set up a tree stand a good 250 yards on the public land side close to two game trails that come down from the side of the hill and interect less than 30 yards from where you're perched. A few minutes earlier, you gave a few very soft cow mews and this little homer comes walking in, seemingly heading right towards your tree. As you draw, lean forward in your harness a bit preparing to shoot, your stand platform makes an audible "squeak" and Barney Bull slams on the brakes, stops, and looks up for the source of the noise. (EDIT: changed the area to "any elk are legal" to match the actual WA GMU).

Shoot or no shot here for you? If you say shoot, please place a dot or X where your arrow is heading.

Reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg and add the marked up pic with your post.

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[Fridaythe13th]

no shot, hope he turns for a better shot. ( Is it a legal bull ? )

[Swede]

I have killed elk in this situation. Shoot an arrow directly into the spine and the bull will stay right at the bottom of your tree stand. You will have zero tracking to do. I would shoot into the spine about 2/3 of the way back on the dark mane of the bull. If the bull turns and you have a shot that will go into the side, remember to shoot very high on the side. If you get down on the side a little the arrow will likely slide down a rib and not penetrate into the vitals. Make sure to hit high enough that your arrow will go directly into the chest cavity.

[rowdycwby1]

No shoot bad angle.

[jmez]

Wouldn't take the shot. Hopefully he continues on or turns to walk away.

[WapitiTalk1]

no shot, hope he turns for a better shot. ( Is it a legal bull ? )

Eric, I edited the OP to say "any elk is legal" so yes sir, this youngster is legal for the taking.

[Washington Wapiti]

I'm glad Swede said that above LOL. My first thought after seeing this pic was spining him. Did I say that outloud??

[Swede]

Washington, this shot opportunity reminds me of an old song by the Lovin Spoonful. The title was, "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?", and like the shot we have presented to us here, a line went, "It's not often easy and not often kind," referring to doing what was needed to be done.

[Elkduds]

Jump on his back, ride him to the truck.

[Steve G]

Well I am willing to take an educating on this but I think this shot is a good one. But this looks like a fair shot to me. If the arrow strikes where marked or an inch high, he gets spined and drops like a turd. If it is a couple inches low you really hit some vitals and might at that close range get a complete pass through and he drains like old oil from a warm engine. There is no reason the shot at that close range should be off. Now, if my understanding of elk anatomy is weak, please educate me.

[WapitiTalk1]

Jump on his back, ride him to the truck.

Winner! Watch them spikes when you drop down though

[ericleep]

There's a YouTube video of Jared Allen killing one in a situation like this with a spear. Mind you that was a high fence ranch, over bait, but it was neat nonetheless.

[Fridaythe13th]

no shot, hope he turns for a better shot. ( Is it a legal bull ? )

Eric, I edited the OP to say "any elk is legal" so yes sir, this youngster is legal for the taking.

I just thought you were trying to trick us with this one. ha ha

[Washington Wapiti]

Washington, this shot opportunity reminds me of an old song by the Lovin Spoonful. The title was, Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind? and like the shot we have presented to us here, a line went, "It's not often easy and not often kind," referring to doing what was needed to be done.

Haha, Lovin Spoonful knew what they were talking about!

[Washington Wapiti]

Jump on his back, ride him to the truck.