Shooting elk in its bed

[D-Rock425]

I'd shoot one dropping a dues.

[Atroxus]

I would never shoot an animal that was taking a dump.  I would shoot them after they finish.

I would never shoot an animal while it's getting a little sweet luvvin'.  I will shoot them once it's over.

I would never shoot an animal that was birthing/clearly pregnant/nursing young, though I think that should go without saying.

Other than those rules, I think it's pretty much game on.  Did I miss anything?   

Edit*- in regards to big game only.

I agree with most of the above. I would probably shoot a deer that was dropping a deuce though.

[huntingfool7]

I consider it an accomplishment,  big game animals pick there beds so they can have wind and visibility both to their advantage.  If you can harvest a big game animal from his/her bed without them knowing you are there, you have reached the pinnacle of hunting prowess in my mind.  Especially, if you can get under 50 yards from them.  Being able to repeatedly accomplish it, means you understand the animal/species you are hunting. 

Disclaimer: I hunt the westside in the thick and nasty reprod jungle, so shooting something in their bed generally puts me under 30 yards.  Also note a solo bedded animal IMO is harder to approach than a group/herd.   

Exactly how I view it!!!

[Huntboy]

I have no problem shooting a big game animal out of it's bed. As far as I am concerned there is nothing unethical about it... 

 

[alwinearcher]

I see nothing unethical about shooting big game animals in their bed...
I actually shot a bedded bull a couple years back with my bow.. That hunt also aired on Sportsman channel and I was surprised to get a couple emails questioning my ethics for shooting a animal in its bed. I still see no reason not to though.

[vandeman17]

Although I have never done it, I have no problem shooting a big game animal in its bed as long as I was 100% confident it shot availability and placement. I would have to be under 20 yards where I can hit a baseball to do it. As for ducks, I am a little different. I won't shoot a duck on the water that surprised me and just landed or something but I have shot a few that I worked and worked and worked and ended up coming in hot over my decoys and behind my jerk cord. Just as they landed I let them have it and am ok with that because sometimes I think it is harder to get birds to fully decoy then just pass shoot them. 

[asl20bball]

agree...nothing wrong with shooting deer/elk in their bed as long as you have aclean shot to the vitals.

However, don't shoot a buck/bull during the rut when he's "servicing" a doe/cow...let the guy finish for pete's sake. Besides, there could be a future buck/bull in the making.   

[WSU]

Nothing wrong with it.  I shot whitetail buck in its bed once.  I managed to stock within about ten yards of it bedded along a creek.  To me, that is more of an accomplishment than shooting one out in the open while feeding, after it was pushed, or whatever.

[carpsniperg2]

I have never had a problem with it.

[PolarBear]

I would never shoot an animal that was taking a dump.  I would shoot them after they finish.

I would never shoot an animal while it's getting a little sweet luvvin'.  I will shoot them once it's over.

I would never shoot an animal that was birthing/clearly pregnant/nursing young, though I think that should go without saying.

Other than those rules, I think it's pretty much game on.  Did I miss anything?   

Edit*- in regards to big game only.

I might include eating out of a feeder or bait, though that can spark some real debate on here as well.  Its just not something I would do. 

High fenced hunt, unless it was for freezer only such as possibly a bison if I was to go look for a freezer full of meat.   I would not consider it sport.

 

I have always made the buck stand up before I shot it but that is because I was within 15 feet and didn't like the angle.

[Special T]

I don't have a problem with shooting beded elk/deer and i don't have a problem shooting ducks sitting on the water. I do think that in both cases it is easier to get a clean kill if you hit them  good standing or with wings out stretched.

I would guess that some of those "ethics" have to do with making good clean kills. 

[JLS]

I don't really care what the animal is doing, so long as it is unaware of my presence.  The caveat to this is archery hunting, a bedded shot is a very low percentage shot under most circumstances.  I have taken it one time, on a cow elk that I had hit the night before.  There was a very narrow target window, and I had to put the arrow through the near scapula.  She died within seconds, but I wouldn't take that shot unless I absolutely had to.

I've swatted a few ducks on the water on slow days and didn't lose any sleep over it.  Upland on the ground is a no no so I don't shoot my dog.  It's funny though, I've watched chukars frustrate the most puritanistic wingshooters into a grade A Arkansas wingshooter.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Gettem where you gettem!

[724wd]

BANG!!!  Sorry, what did you say?  Let 'em stand up?!  WHY?! 

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've shot several deer, elk and antelope in their beds rifle hunting, and like that shot.  I do not like it for archery, but solely due to the small target, if you have a good percentage shot on a bedded animal, great. 

As for chukars: run like a rabbit, die like a rabbit.  That's all I'm saying.