Shot placement

[Mikeha33]

OK guys, be honest. We all know where the best kill shot is on an elk, but that spot gets smaller and smaller the further you are away. What I am wondering, with the size of the vitals on an elk, do any of you guys "cheat" back on the elks vitals, rather than aiming for a heart shot, intentionally make the shot more forgiving by aiming 2-4 inches back and up, and focusing on a different spot, with lung shot anticipation? At 50 yards, I am confident that I can drill my spot and not worry about hitting 3 inches too far forward and possibly hitting a leg bone. But stepping back to 60+, there is a lot more room for error, all on my part. At a further distance are any of you aiming at lungs, a much bigger target, yet still a very fatal shot, or are you all, all the time, aiming 1/3 way up in line with the front leg? I'm not talking about a questionable shot, I mean a broadside, leg forward, relaxed animal shot. Ideally, I won't have to ponder this, but it was something I was thinking about while shooting last night.

[Screaming_btf]

I am aiming at the same spot if I have the option, on a longer range shot i may adjust slightly higher up. If I am nervous about if I can hit that spot i am not shooting. Imo when you start thinking about adjusting your shot because you want to have a larger margin of error then that leads to poor shots, at least for me. Plus I wan't a quick kill so I don't have to track a long ways, much of what I hunt is thick brush and that can make it very hard to track a poor shot.

[planebow]

I never aim for a heart shot with my bow, always aim for the center the vitals which gives more room for error.

[Swede]

Most of my shots are from a tree stand, so I hold high, knowing the arrow is traveling downward. I have no problem shooting for a double lung shot.

[Toby]

On close shots at calm elk. I want to squeeze the arrow in straight up the leg and about 1/3 of the way up the body. On more distant shots I will move back and up a little

[Trophyhill]

I aim for the center of the > on all distances on a broadside shot and it pays off every time.

[timberland]

I never aim for a heart shot with my bow, always aim for the center the vitals which gives more room for error.

+1 lung shot is just as lethal as a heart shot.

[Toby]

Where do you consider the center of the vitals to be on a broadside elk?

[Trophyhill]

Where do you consider the center of the vitals to be on a broadside elk?

Straight up the leg about 1/3 up

[ishy]

Seems I'm one of the more outspoken ones on here about shooting for center of the vitals. Seems more guys want to go in front of the leg all the time, not me I'll stay behind the leg to get a couple extra inches away from the humerus. I've never had an issue with elk but I hit a bear just in front of the leg line 1/2 way up out of a tree stand on film and never recovered it after tracking a day and a half over a mile uphill. If you look at any 3d target my shot would have been a top of the ten ring, so now I'm a little shy about going into V in front of the line straight up the leg that many like to aim for and that most of the 10 rings are placed for targets.
I aim a couple inches back from the line 1/3 way up on a broadside elk. Quartering away aim at the far leg.

[ctdad]

I tend to agree with ishy. More room for error if I'm straight up the leg and back a couple inches.

[brun]

There is no proper place to aim at an elk at 60+ yards. Don't shoot.

[Lefty]

Years with a rifle I heard in-the-crease and save the meat was drilled into me ,for forty years. for some reason with a bow and Im guessing it is from forums pounding it into me I haven't been cheating

[Stick]

I tend to agree with ishy. More room for error if I'm straight up the leg and back a couple inches.

X2 I always try to stay back from the leg myself never had a problem. An elks vitals are BIG!

Now to open a can of worms I disagree with my man that says 60 is to far. I'm sure it was at one time but with today's bows that is a thing of the past. This is probably not the best way to put this but it will get the point across if my horse was standing at sixty yards I would not shoot at his head, know why, cause I would hit it (plus I like my horse) the same reason I wouldn't shoot at my horse is the reason I would shoot at an elk. You don't shoot you don't kill!!! before someone says they wait for everything to be 100% right before they shoot there is no such case in the wild there will always be variables!! That's just my opinion! You let him walk and send him my way!!

[Indian Summer]

For starters:

There is no proper place to aim at an elk at 60+ yards. Don't shoot.

X2. I know I know... "I can shoot a flea off of a fly at that distance"

Instead of hunters telling themselves what they are capable of which comes from experience mostly shooting at targets I'd like to see them ask what could go wrong and.... if so what are the consequences. Any new elk hunters, or those who have had picture perfect kill scenarios can't imagine how hard it can be to find marginally hit elk. Not to mention how depressing it is not to find them.

To answer the question: I never even think about a heart shot. My goal is a double lunger. it's just as deadly but the big thing is there's more room for error meaning less chance for anything to go wrong. I don't aim straight up the leg but in line with the rear of the leg 1/3 of the way up. If it's a little bit on the far side for me which is 45 yards... which means less margin for error... or more likelihood for "things" to happen I'll aim halfway up.

[twinkieman]

Now to open a can of worms I disagree with my man that says 60 is to far. I'm sure it was at one time but with today's bows that is a thing of the past. This is probably not the best way to put this but it will get the point across if my horse was standing at sixty yards I would not shoot at his head, know why, cause I would hit it (plus I like my horse) the same reason I wouldn't shoot at my horse is the reason I would shoot at an elk. You don't shoot you don't kill!!! before someone says they wait for everything to be 100% right before they shoot there is no such case in the wild there will always be variables!! That's just my opinion! You let him walk and send him my way!!

This will always be a topic, for disagreement. While you feel you are fully capable of a shot a 60, many are not. It is the same as long range shooting with a rifle. While elk have been killed at distances over a half mile, the majority of rifle hunters 400 yds could be too far. how far we can shoot will always be an individual choice. I agree that bows of today do allow us longer distances, rifle scopes with adjustable turrets to specific yardages, allow us accuracy at extreme distances, and technology in all equipment is better today, than decades ago. All of the changes still have not changed how far I will shoot at game animals. The very reason I got involved in archery was more time in the field, and having to get close to the animal I am hunting. That is my personal choice, and will differ from many others.
My fear is that, those who are not capable of longer shots see success in others, and extend their range, without becoming competent at it. Not all who hunt do as much as those of us who post on this forum, they shoot a few arrows 2 days before they hunt, and believe they are ready. They go out and shoot their rifles on a lead sled at 100 yds., and are ready to go. Are these hunters ready for longer ranges, most likely, NO! My point is yes, the equipment today is more capable today, than ever before. But most hunters, whatever their weapon of choice is, are not capable of performing to the level of their equipment.

[Gypsumreaper]

I think with a distance shot ur brain needs to override ur testosterone level, can I hit my hips target at 80 yards consistently? Yep I can, but let's add in the hunters tale factors..... We all have heard the stories most are true some are not but I think everyone has stretched the truth a touch, he was 72 yards in thick pines I had a 6 inch hole at 45 yards I had to sneak in the bull was on high alert and I had a cow breathing down my neck, yadda yadda. But me 60 yards is kind of my max I shoot out to 80 for practice but there's to many factors in the woods, so 60 is my max under perfect conditions, I think every ones brain needs to over ride their testosterone, so I'd rather say I passed on a long shot cause I didn't feel right taking the animal under the conditions, than I shot him at 70 yards but the wind pushed my arrow into his briskit or into his ham, or he jumped and I hit his leg, cause a for sure shot is better than a guess shot

[phall]

low lung and always behind the leg for me. antytime a animal "jumps the string" they tend to dip or lurch low so by aiming for low lung or a lucky heart shot i still have a couple inches of vertical forgiveness

[ishy]

I think with distance it's extremely personal, do you shoot everyday with broadheads on all year and practice out to a hundred yards, then you probably are more proficient at 60 than the guy who bought a new bow in August and screwed his broadheads on his way out of camp on the opener. I actually have a rifle hunter aquaintance that just bought a bow last week that is hoping to go archery hunting in three weeks. I didn't discourage him, but said you better get practicing.

[spookinelk]

Straight up the the leg about 4-6 inches above the "elbow" of the humerus. I aim further forward than the center of the vitals, my reasoning is that elk hardly ever back up but I have had one move forward which resulted in a gut-shot that has haunted me for years.

[Trophyhill]

Straight up the the leg about 4-6 inches above the "elbow" of the humerus. I aim further forward than the center of the vitals, my reasoning is that elk hardly ever back up but I have had one move forward which resulted in a gut-shot that has haunted me for years.

Exactly! If you figure the distance of a step made by an elk, aiming a few in he's back now becomes a gut shot.

[POk3s]

Straight up the back of the leg and 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up is where I live too.

This is the quote I've said for years and I've yet to see/hear any argument that made any sense. "Distance is definitely a personal choice. I practice out to 90 yards just in case that 70 yard opportunity arrises. I would love nothing more than shots at elk from 1 to 20 yards every single year. But if that 70 yard shot arrises I am prepared and ready to take it."

That's not to say that the guy who bought the bow in August has practiced for an ENTIRE month out at 90 yards is ready for a 70 yard shot on elk but if archery has been your ritual for years I see no reason to limit yourself unless it's just simply personal preference. I can't knock a guy for that either. Everybody hunts how they want to hunt. It's the beauty of HUNTING. It's YOUR time.

[BRazz]

This is the quote I've said for years and I've yet to see/hear any argument that made any sense. "Distance is definitely a personal choice. I practice out to 90 yards just in case that 70 yard opportunity arrises. I would love nothing more than shots at elk from 1 to 20 yards every single year. But if that 70 yard shot arrises I am prepared and ready to take it."

That's not to say that the guy who bought the bow in August has practiced for an ENTIRE month out at 90 yards is ready for a 70 yard shot on elk but if archery has been your ritual for years I see no reason to limit yourself unless it's just simply personal preference. I can't knock a guy for that either. Everybody hunts how they want to hunt. It's the beauty of HUNTING. It's YOUR time.

Sorry if I ruffle feathers, but I want to be frank. Consider how long it takes an arrow to travel 70 yards - nearly a full second? I've hit an elk high because he loaded up to spook while my arrow was in flight from half that distance. I understand that certain folks are extremely capable of hitting their target at long distances. But it doesn't really matter how accurate your shot is if the target moves after the arrow is in the air. I believe we owe it to the animals to make every reasonable effort to make a quick and humane kill. In my opinion, a 70-yard shot from a bow is unethical. Too many variables outside of our control.

[Stick]

Consider how long it takes an arrow to travel 70 yards - nearly a full second?

Are you shooting a recurve????

[mongopino915]

I think with distance it's extremely personal, do you shoot everyday with broadheads on all year and practice out to a hundred yards, then you probably are more proficient at 60 than the guy who bought a new bow in August and screwed his broadheads on his way out of camp on the opener. I actually have a rifle hunter aquaintance that just bought a bow last week that is hoping to go archery hunting in three weeks. I didn't discourage him, but said you better get practicing.

I know what you are saying. Had a friend who just bought a brand new bow (1st bow), sighted in at 20 yards during set up at the shop, showed up at camp, screw on the G5 Montec and was ready to go elk killing. You guessed it, a nice 5x5 just happened to come into the calling and was shot (at 30 yards) high and further back than intended. Very little to no blood trial and the worse nightmare just begun.

While there is no such thing as a guaranteed clean shot, as hunters, we owe to the big game/small game to know your equipment, capabilities, and make a genuine effort to be prepared for that moment of truth.

[BRazz]

Consider how long it takes an arrow to travel 70 yards - nearly a full second?

Are you shooting a recurve????

Most bows these days are flying around 300 fps, which is 100 yards per second. So 70/100 is close-ish to 1.

[toasty tiger]

I always aim for a double lung. Only thing I know of that can take it and keep going is a hog. As far as distance goes, I dont really think that a lot of people really understand just how far 60-70 yards is. Most people on here do but the masses might say they would take the shot but on the ground it looks like a long way. Just like taking a 1000yd shot. I have and know what it takes to make a head shot at that distance....lots of practice and math. I really agree with the comfort factor and opportunity. From the posts that I have read on here i havents seen anyone that I think would take an unethical shot on an animal. If I were to take the shot over the 50 that I am comfortable with - I would have enough time to get over the fever and settle down enough to make sure I was taking the right shot.

[Trophyhill]

I always aim for a double lung. Only thing I know of that can take it and keep going is a hog. As far as distance goes, I dont really think that a lot of people really understand just how far 60-70 yards is. Most people on here do but the masses might say they would take the shot but on the ground it looks like a long way. Just like taking a 1000yd shot. I have and know what it takes to make a head shot at that distance....lots of practice and math. I really agree with the comfort factor and opportunity. From the posts that I have read on here i havents seen anyone that I think would take an unethical shot on an animal. If I were to take the shot over the 50 that I am comfortable with - I would have enough time to get over the fever and settle down enough to make sure I was taking the right shot.

Distance can be deceiving when dealing with elk. Due to their massive size, they can actually look much closer than they really are to the untrained eye. Just something to ponder for those who haven't seen many elk. Especially when they are in the open.

[toasty tiger]

I have to second that statement. I have not drawn back on an elk but I have on its cousin the Red Stagg. The stagg is just a little smaller than the Elk but not by much when it comes to the bulls. Not understanding that distance equation cost me a shot of a life time.

[jensenrw.2000]

This is a really good post on bowsite from the author BB that I just saw last month. This article really made me rethink shot placement. I've killed one bull with this placement, it died 5 seconds and 40 yards away, I thought I'd hit it way to far forward.

http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/t ... 09&forum=5

[jensenrw.2000]

This is a really good post on bowsite from an the author BB that I just saw last month. Really made me rethink shot placement. I killed one bull with this placement, it died 5 seconds and 40 yards away, I thought I'd hit it way to far forward.

http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/t ... 09&forum=5

Ps...... Scroll down till you get to the pictures

[ABQ_Chica]

Thank you, Jensenrw.2000. I'd seen that post ages ago and haven't been able to find it since. It's made me rethink my shot placement---I'll be hunting from a tree stand for the first time this year, so I'm a bit more nervous about it than usual, but the photos in this post helped a ton. Thanks!

[jensenrw.2000]

3 bulls in our camp killed in BB's triangle in 2014, average travel= 25 yards, average time to death = 10 seconds. The vitals are further forward than you think!