Two arrows or one?

[Nice Racks]

Just wondering what the right decision is.  If you felt you had just put a good hit on a bull, or cow for that matter with an arrow, and it only went a few yards and stood there wondering what had just happened. Would you try to put another arrow in it or since your first shot is a good one let it do the job? 

[WSU]

I can't see why 2 holes would be worse than 1.  I'd shoot it again.

[Smossy]

Just wondering what the right decision is.  If you felt you had just put a good hit on a bull, or cow for that matter with an arrow, and it only went a few yards and stood there wondering what had just happened. Would you try to put another arrow in it or since your first shot is a good one let it do the job? 

Two, for sure. Would never think twice, Its getting a second one. I want that animal down on the ground dead asap.

[h20hunter]

I'm flinging another arrow.

[jackelope]

2

[h20hunter]

One more arrow means double the blood loss.....you never know.....

[washelkhunter]

If you have the opportunity - double down!

[Shawn Ryan]

I shot a bull at 7 yards, double lung, pass through shot. He turned around and stood at 10 yards, apparently not knowing what happened.  I figured 2 arrows was better than one.  As I attempted to put another arrow on the string, he saw my movement and finally realized that something was up and took off.  If I would have just let him stand there, I don't think he would have run away.

He only made it about 100 yards.  After I found my partners and returned to the blood trail, he had been shot for 30 minutes or so. We found him down and barely alive.  I put another arrow through the lungs.  Don't think it made any difference.

My conclusion is that if you can put another arrow in without alerting the elk, then do so.  In a situation like I just described, which appears to be exactly what you asked about, I'd opt for sitting still and letting the first arrow do its job.

[Huntboy]

If you have the opportunity - double down!

 

[vandeman17]

Shawn brings up a good point. I agree that IF you can get a second arrow into him or her that you should try your best to do so. One risk, as he learned, is spooking the elk and sending them on a death run that could have them end up is some heck hole or even worse, you not being able to find them.

[724wd]

4, 5... whatever you can get away with!   

[D-Rock425]

Fling away I'd empty my quiver if given the opportunity. Wait I've done that already.

[steeleywhopper]

If they are still standing they aint dead. I had a guy in our elk camp shoot a spike at 40yrds with a .300win mag. It stood there and did the wobble wobble almost go down, guy did not shoot it again and it all the sudden got its legs and hauled arse outa there. 20 seconds later we hear boom! we follow blood trail to someone tagging and gutting the elk.  Moral of this story is this: If you spend the kind of money we do to hunt and fish you better shoot that animal till its dead dead dead or someone else will.
 I know this was about shooting more than one arrow so yes I would shoot it with every arrow I had if given the chance for good clean shots and placement.

[jackmaster]

i know this isnt an arrow but a guy i knew shot a huge bull moose, he hit it hard, it stood there not knowing what was going on, the guide said "no shoot again, no shoot again" he said screw that and shot again, that bull wheeled on them and ran straight at them , he got lucky and it stumbled over some brush and chneged his direction just enough, it died about 10ft from where they were standing..... during rifle season shootem till they quit moving, of course you ruin a ton of meat, as for arrows if its a perfect shot and they are gonna stand there and just go to sleep on their feet, i would let them, and you ruin less meat 

[TommyGun496]

I shot a buck a few years back and had a chance to put another round in him, I did not.  I watched him bed down in some brush and let him sit there to expire.  Went down to gut him or finish him and he took off while I was on my way.  Tracked him for what seemed to miles, then the snow came.  I lost his trail and never found him.  I hunted elk in that same area (so I could try to find him) and never did.  Moral of the story...don't stop until they drop!!!