Game Plan #3

[WapitiTalk1]

Awesome stalk! You've spent the last 1 1/2 hours, ensuring you have the wind in your favor and pretty much crawling in on this nice bull. Thermals are gently moving (not much wind) in the direction of the yellow arrow. The bull has been hollering periodically from his mid day bed for almost two hours. You decided to keep your trap shut and see if you could ninja in, let things develop, and perhaps get a shot. You didn't expect to see antler tips from a bedded bull beyond Clara cow as you finished your low crawl on an elk trail up and out of the dry creek bed where you are kneeling now, but, there he is. What a story you'll have! You're located at the blue X, 40ish yards away from Bullwinkle.

9th day of your 14 day SW MT hunt. It's 20 September 2014, 2:00 PM in the afternoon. The bulls have been "very" vocal and you've been into them every day for the past 4 days in the early morning, and, an hour or so before dark.

A bit of a different slant for this one. You "are" shooting. You've had time to range the bull, 42 yards, are drawn back and are touching your release "NOW" as the cow you see is fixated on something besides you. Based on where you aim on the other side of the bull (where your arrow will enter), mark a spot where you think your broadhead comes out on this side. Nice shot by the way.

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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[Swede]

I am not sure I fully understand what you are asking. Most likely at 42 yards my arrow would not pass through the bedded bull. It has been my experience that if I hit a rib on either side, there will not be a complete pass through.

[zpd307]

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due to my angle, the arrow would go in a little farther back, but come out, hopefully, where my red dot is.

[WapitiTalk1]

I am not sure I fully understand what you are asking. Most likely at 42 yards my arrow would not pass through the bedded bull. It has been my experience that if I hit a rib on either side, there will not be a complete pass through.

Yes sir, a distinct possibility

[JPD350]

I don't believe my arrow will be exiting either, it will be embedded on the inside of the front leg shoulder bone and real close to the location of zpd's red dot or maybe a little lower.

[Toby]

I don't believe my arrow will be exiting either, it will be embedded on the inside of the front leg shoulder bone and real close to the location of zpd's red dot or maybe a little lower.

I agree with this. I know you said we need to shoot when he is bedded, if I had the option I would wait for him to stand.

[easeup]

not wanting to throw rocks at all, but this is a once in a lifetime event unfolding in front of me. My experience is things like this do not last long at all.
You got to make it happen; now. No way I wait for him to stand unless there is no entry into vitals from where I am at. At that distance, just an instant temporary change in a breeze and this party is over and everyone scatters.
Already drawn yes; checklist run; release and fly baby. And I do not expect the arrow to go through.

[ElkNut1]

From this side I'm shooting but back where the blue X is I'm not risking the shot, too far & it doesn't appear to have much of a lethal target exposed? I have to know I CAN kill him upon my release.

ElkNut1

[ishy]

I'm all over that, little back and lower than zpd307 though. I like it coming out on the back edge of the left scapula. With my two blade stinger even with a rib hit should still go completely through. Slightly quartering away from you there's lots of vitals exposed just make sure you clear that close elbow wich will be elevated. I videoed a buddy that hit a bear laying down in that elbow and maybe got 2 inches of penetration.

[Swede]

I agree with ishy here. Some have shot too far forward. You will likely miss one lung. Based on personal experience and reading expert opinion it is best, when shooting at a quartering away animal, to aim through the animal at the outside front leg. In this case, aim where you would expect the leg to be if it was pointed downward as when the bull is standing.

[zpd307]

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I placed a line so to show where the arrow would go.