Elk Tactics 2017 - Episode #5

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: 15 September, 2017/8:45 AM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Solo Hunt
Tag: Archery tag; any bull

So far, so good. You marked two vocal bulls about 500 yards up the hillside from where you started at daylight this morning. You decided to not make an elk noise yourself until you get much closer. As you got closer, working up through the pine hillside using available elk trails, it sounds like there may be a satellite and possibly a herd bull. Within 60 yards, you make the determination that it may be too thick to do a calling setup (minimal openings/shot lanes) and decide to just crawl in, using the thermals to your advantage, and see what pans out. As you get within 40 yards, you hear what sounds like a few cows and again, two bulls. Now, you hear what sounds like a bull raking a tree and crawl towards that sound. At the point you see antlers knocking the beegeezus out of a small tree, you quickly get within 25 yards of the commotion. You are now at this point in time, on your knees, with the top/front of the bull visible and continuing to rake the tree (you can hear cows up a bit on the hillside but cannot see them). If you slowly stand up, you will have the visual/angle on the bull you see now. Thoughts on how to proceed here to possibly have a successful hunt?

White – Wind/Thermals
Yellow – Vocal Cows
Red – Hunter

Raking.jpg (128.43 KiB) Viewed 6027 times

If you're shooting, save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, then place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg or png and add the marked up pic with your post.

[saddlesore]

With Muzzle Loader or rifle either one of the two.Both Rifle and ML are zeroed to 100 yards,so 25 yards they should be within an an inch too.

Both shots will put the bull down immediately as the spine will be hit
The shot on the left must be precise or only the top of the vertebrae will be hit or low and the esophygus. Shooter should be ready for a 2nd quick shot if that one is chosen

Raking.jpg (213.55 KiB) Viewed 6019 times

[Swede]

Raking.jpg (127.75 KiB) Viewed 6016 times

Since standing will change the picture to what is posted, I am going to remain kneeling. That way I do not risk spooking the bull with unnecessary movement and I can shoot under the limb. I am estimating the limb will appear higher than shown so I can place an arrow beneath it. I'm shootin, but may adjust just enough to go beneath the limb.

[>>>---WW---->]

You mentioned a possible herd bull and a satellite. So which one is this in the picture. No shot here but a portion of the (>) is showing. This guy is raking and moving around. So it would be risky at best.

But there are possible three ways to get it done with archery.

1) wait it out for a possible better and clear opening.

2) A nervous bark will make him raise his head and hopefully open something up.

3) You can try calling his cows to you. This ought to tick him off enough to make things happen.

All three are ( maybe/if ) situations. But any one of them have possibilities. But as it stands from the picture, I see right now, I'm holding off on this one. Besides, he is putting on quite a show. I think I'll just sit back and enjoy the show for awhile.

[>>>---WW---->]

Here is a picture of the (>) and shot placement if you want to try it. Hope it works. First time I have tried this paint feature. HMMMMMM! Maybe I'll take the shot after all!

[WapitiTalk1]

>>>---WW----> » 02 01, 2017 • [Post 5]

You're quite the artist >>>---WW---->, I like it!

[>>>---WW---->]

Kinda squiggly lines, Don'tcha think!

[Wyo67]

It's an archery tag, I'm not taking that shot.

With the cows and potentially another bull in the area, I suspect he's trying to assert his dominance with the tree raking. When rakes, he'll close his eyes and ears for the raking. I'll wait until he drops his head to thrash that tree again, move to the right to see if I can get a better shot angle to clear that branch. Draw, shoot, and start the timer before starting to track.

[Heartwood]

I'm with Wyo67. I would draw my bow then make the move to get the angle and plug him. Can't wait till this scenario presents again. In the past I have had similar opportunities but was not aggressive enough to get it done. If he did happen to bust me I would hit him with a nervous / popping grunt and plug him.

[lamrith]

Zero to 25yrds I am not to worried about that vertical window other than what it is covering. I like WW's shot placement, I might shy a little low and left, maybe an inch or so.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

It's an archery tag, I'm not taking that shot.

With the cows and potentially another bull in the area, I suspect he's trying to assert his dominance with the tree raking. When rakes, he'll close his eyes and ears for the raking. I'll wait until he drops his head to thrash that tree again, move to the right to see if I can get a better shot angle to clear that branch. Draw, shoot, and start the timer before starting to track.

A bulls eyes are not always closed while raking. If you look closely you can see this bulls eyes are open and is raking the tree. I would take that shot just a little farther back from ww.

[Tigger]

I think a key to this whole thing is the distance. 25 yards. Most people have a 20 yard pin, a 30 yard pin, or both. So first decision is which pin to use. Second is what is the arrow doing in flight? If you aim a little low with the 30, how are you going to guess the arc of the arrow. If you use the 20, you will have to aim a whisker high and will be aiming at the branch.

I think my move is to S L O W L Y slip to the right a step and open up my options. If he is really going at that tree, he wont notice super slow movement. Time my draw when he is busy mauling the tree and auger him.

As footnote, I would probably stop by the forestry office and complain about them not trimming that branch in the first place. I mean, we pay them good money to manage our forests, right? And they leave that branch to obstruct our shot?

[ishy]

I'm just dropping back down a few inches to open the window between branches putting Swede dot right between them and hitting that spot. Depending on how distracted he is I might take a step to the right if I feel he's really into destroying that poor tree.

[lamrith]

It's an archery tag, I'm not taking that shot.

With the cows and potentially another bull in the area, I suspect he's trying to assert his dominance with the tree raking. When rakes, he'll close his eyes and ears for the raking. I'll wait until he drops his head to thrash that tree again, move to the right to see if I can get a better shot angle to clear that branch. Draw, shoot, and start the timer before starting to track.

A bulls eyes are not always closed while raking. If you look closely you can see this bulls eyes are open and is raking the tree. I would take that shot just a little farther back from ww.

When they are raking and moving you would be surprised what you can get away with even if eyes open. I know a certain cat on this board that sat in the open and reloaded a second arrow this year with an elk 18yrds away and the elk did not spook out, though it did finally stop and give him the stink eye when he drew the second time.

Mathews post though does remind me of another practice item for "the shot" I will go add to that thread...

[Lefty]

Hmm I might do something and regret it. good wind, busy bull. I moving left then moving in just to see how close I can get,,.. if Im not shaking too bad,
My point of aim will be slightly lower than Swedes I, crawling back and aiming lower should take off the top of the heart.

[Swede]

The problem we all have here is that we really don't know what the sight picture is like in our kneeling position. I am probably saying a short prayer so I can draw and shoot without being detected. Still, why would we stand? We don't have that information. It could be RJ gave us the information just to say what the cameraman was seeing who was standing 20 yards behind us with a telephoto lens. Maybe we would need to stand to get clear of some brush in front of us. If everything is good, I would shoot from the kneeling position, but I am guessing here as to what I can see. Certainly with my vivid imagination it is a clear picture of a dead elk and a short pack to the truck.