Shoot or No Shot 2016, Episode #5

[WapitiTalk1]

Yep, you have another chance at a Roosey here. It's archery season in the Oregon coastal jungle and you have decided you will take any bull on this hunt. Your buddy has done an exceptional job of calling (using both verbal and non verbal elk sounds) and just stopped this bull on a dime with a fine popping grunt! Your buddy is down to the left (left yellow arrow) about 40 yards and you (the shooter for this morning's hunt) are located straight down from the bull at less than 20 yards (right yellow arrow). You drew back as the bull materialized, quickly, and at this moment in time, you are at full draw with good cover behind you. You really have less than seconds until barney bull gets a full snout full of your stinky human scent and blasts off to parts unknown. Shoot or no shot?

ORRoosey.jpg (22.89 KiB) Viewed 10453 times

If you say "shoot", 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.

[Lefty]

No shot for me with archery,
Ill take that shot with a rifle all day long under 150 yards.
However overall I would wait for a better shot.

[lamrith]

You and your tough call scenarios!

This one for me would be 100% dependent on my hold at the time. 20yrds is super close and I know what I can shoot from various positions @ that distance. No brainer, dead elk. However the adrenalin rush is something I cannot predict, so I would have to make final judgement on the spot. If my pin was not bouncing from his nose to his tail (most likely situation) and I was able to float my pin like I normaly do in practice I would squeeze the release. Otherwise chucklehead gets a pass until he presents a larger happyspot.

[Swede]

ORRoosey.jpg (22.76 KiB) Viewed 10444 times

Considering where I am as a shooter, the bull is focused on the caller, and the distance: Whack.

[Fridaythe13th]

I'm with Swede and lamrith, "shoot taken" I don't like to bring arrow home even though I do every year.

[Osprey]

I'd shoot with my Archery set up. I use 2 blade fixed with heavy arrows out of my bowtech so I can get good penetration I plan to use it when I need it. I've never taken an elk with a bow however I've taken a many a whitetails front on with outstanding penetration the last one was a mature buck at 45 yds hard quartering to and burried arrow to fletchings and broadhead burried in the opposite leg bone deer ran maybe 40 yds piled up. I've never lost a frontal shot nor has anyone I know that shoots 2 blade fixed. I can't get pics up at the moment since I'm at work but I'd aim slightly left of where the others placed the dot but that depends on if your shooting the same angle the pics was taken.

[Dr. Rx]

No brainer..I've been practicing this shot all year..8 inch paper plate.dead center in the yellow zone...let it fly, high five and
Give props to the caller..

Kris

[bsshaver]

Dead Elk.

[WapitiTalk1]

On this particular thread, I always like to offer a very good article written for Outdoor Life by Aron Snyder (Kifaru Intl.), one of our sponsors. Read through it, check the shot placement out (think shirt pocket), and see if it may affect your thoughts on these types of shots. I know I have killed a few elk at this angle with devastating results. Reminder that in calling situations, oftentimes "this" is the shot you may be presented with. Just my thoughts on the topic. RJ

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/live-h ... ontal-shot

[Dr. Rx]

I like that Article Sir! Think shirt pocket!! That is where the carotid arteries are...It makes sense.. Slice the arteries and no more blood to the brain..not to mention where the arrow is going to end up smack dab through the lungs and heart...

I can see why he likes the frontal shot. 15 kills...Wow!

Kris

[Lefty]

Well done article.


That bull still has too much angle for me to take a frontal, slight angle shot with archery gear,
If he is fully squared up, Im taking the shot
If I already at full draw ,I would cow chip and hope he centers up a bit more.
Otherwise Im still waiting for a better shot

[Swede]

The key to a quick humane kill, with an arrow, is to slice through some major blood pipelines. You will do this effectively by shooting through the center of the chest, regardless of the path the arrow takes to get there. As the doc said, it is not shooting both lungs to let the air out. If that was the case, we could kill elk effectively with a field tip.

[Trophyhill]

they don't go far when you hit your mark.

[Coachcw]

Dead elk ! Just left of the last guy Mark ....imo one of the best shots. This angle is often presented when calling alone.

[WapitiTalk1]

Dead elk ! Just left of the last guy Mark ....imo one of the best shots. This angle is often presented when calling alone.

Welcome to the WT forum Coach! Thanks for swinging by. RJ

[welka]

Since shooter is to right, looks like it will almost be a straignt on so definitely taking the shot. 20 yards is limit for this one though as needs to be very accurate.

[Trophyhill]

Dead elk ! Just left of the last guy Mark ....imo one of the best shots. This angle is often presented when calling alone.

I took and made almost an identical shot on this elk uphill at 30 yards. My 390 gr arrow disappeared inside him. He stumbled for 10 yards before he tipped over and rolled down the mountain until his antlers hung up in the trees and stopped him. You are correct. A lone hunter/caller is oft times presented with this or similar opportunities.

[Swede]

Welcome to camp Coach. Pull up a chair or block of wood and feel free to join in the conversations.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

No shot!!! At 50 yards I shoot a tight 3 1/2 group. The problem is with a frontal shot is your sweet spot is small. Another thing is finding that mark on the dark hairy neck of a elk. If you miss your spot you will have hardly any penetration. He is in side 20 yards! I am going to wait hope he turns before he bolts. Note he is already looking at the caller so he might turn towards him to give you a broadside shot. If he bolts I am going to try and stop him with a soft cow call.

Back to the frontal shot I am talking from experience. A few years back stand hunting whitetail during the rut. I had a massive 160" to 170" inch buck come in nose to the ground. At 20 yards he got behind a tree and a came to full draw. For whatever reason he turned and faced me. With high confidence in my shooting abilities I put the pin on the openning. When that arrow hit everything felt great. He dropped like a ton of bricks. Then he got up running away to see my arrow hanging out. After a 3 small spots of blood and 100 yards of hard tracking I found my arrow with 5 inches of blood on it. I looked for another hour with no luck. It was the worst feeling I have ever felt. After that shot I always asked why didn't I wait. What would have 30 seconds have done. I never did see the deer again!

[lamrith]

Here is a nice head on shot video. (may be graphic to non hunters/kids, but if you are on this forum, should not be an issue..) Similar angles and devastating results.

Red dot in the still image is lighted nock at impact.

[Mike_Parson]

i am on the same page as Trophyhill. less than 50 yards and I have no issues with this shot. i practice shooting a 2" dot out to 50 and then i shoot a 3" dot at 60 and a 4" dot for 70 and 80. i am not happy if im not in the paint of the dot ever. put in in the spot and im getting ready to pack out my dinner.