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!!!

[Wiley]

Keep flinging until its dead!

[bowhunterforever]

Keep flinging until its dead!

[Elkstuffer]

This shouldn't even be open for debate! You owe it to that animal to put him on the ground as fast as possible.

I can't remember where I heard this but "A steak with 2 holes in it is better than no steak at all".

[724wd]

 

[smartazz171]

  always a second arrow.  I'll always attempt to nock a 2nd while they scurry then if they stop I'm nocked and ready

[biggfish]

I was taught if a second shot presents itself fire no matter what weapon you choose, if two hits doesn't kill it then it was too stubborn to die and you are going home with nothing.

[carpsniperg2]

We do this one every year and I always like to see people ideas. If I have a arrow left in my quiver and can get it into a animal, I always will. I have put many 2nd shots and even 3rd shots into animals that already had a fatal wound. Some shots may look good but turn out bad and if you have a chance, STICK THEM AGAIN!!!!

[IBspoiled]

Keep shooting.  I shot bullwinkle once with two lethel shots, one through the broiler and a follow-up texas heart shot. about an hour later I tracked him down only to have him stand up out of his bed and try to run away. Then I let the air out of him for good. Both were kill shots, yet he was alive. Elk are extremly tough cridders. Oh and I have killed some trees with my bow but one shot was enough for them

[dreamunelk]

Keep shooting.  I shot bullwinkle once with two lethel shots, one through the broiler and a follow-up texas heart shot. about an hour later I tracked him down only to have him stand up out of his bed and try to run away. Then I let the air out of him for good. Both were kill shots, yet he was alive. Elk are extremly tough cridders. Oh and I have killed some trees with my bow but one shot was enough for them

Funny I have the same story.  Well almost.  I shot the tree twice!  One over the top and one under.  Bull just stood there and looked me then looked at my arrows and walked away.  I sure he was thinking that fool is no threat.  That was over twenty years ago and all I can tack it up to was a bad case of elk fever and very poor distance judgment.  Before the new style range finders.  The really funny part it was only about 25 yards.  I did have the windage correct.  Just could not get the elevation correct.  I did make up for it.  Shot a rag horn a few days latter at about 12 yards. 

[Big P]

keep shooting till it drops or runs off!!!

[brew]

Keep shooting.  I shot bullwinkle once with two lethel shots, one through the broiler and a follow-up texas heart shot. about an hour later I tracked him down only to have him stand up out of his bed and try to run away. Then I let the air out of him for good. Both were kill shots, yet he was alive. Elk are extremly tough cridders. Oh and I have killed some trees with my bow but one shot was enough for them

not trying to create a p*ssing match but how "lethel" (sp) could either of those shots been if an hour later you tracked him down and it tried to run away ?  glad you finally killed it

[swwaoutdoorsman]

This definitely not a debate more is better! Shot a bull 5 times with the 4 arrows once.... 

[jstone]

I will shoot them again. They don't need to suffer. Had my clockum bull get up and run 50 yards got up to him and let him have it in the lungs 2 more times.

[turkeyfeather]

I'll keep shooting till its dead, outta site, or I'm outta arrows. 

[Mudman]

I may be wrong but when I know its a kill shot 100% I just sit back and wait in the bushes.  No need to spook em into running.  If unsure let em fly!

[Band]

I'm a strong believer in shooting a 2nd arrow if you can do so without spooking the elk.  If he doesn't know what hit him I think the worst thing you can do is alert him to your presence.

[Jonathan_S]

   though this is my first year hunting big game with archery tackle, I tend to agree with this logic.  If I had a good hit on an animal and it was looking around and standing there, I'd be happy to do nothing and not risk it.  Depends on the terrain though I suppose, if I were in reasonably open ground I'd probably try another shot 

[lokidog]

    

I once shot a bull five times... with four arrows.     First four were from the same spot as he just kind of circled me in the meadow after the first shot.  The fourth arrow doubled lunged him and fell on the ground as he walked over the crest of the hill so I went over, picked it up, knocked it after checking for straightness (aluminum) snuck up and shot him again.  The first one would have done the trick.

[Smossy]

    

I once shot a bull five times... with four arrows.     First four were from the same spot as he just kind of circled me in the meadow after the first shot.  The fourth arrow doubled lunged him and fell on the ground as he walked over the crest of the hill so I went over, picked it up, knocked it after checking for straightness (aluminum) snuck up and shot him again.  The first one would have done the trick.

Holy moly, That's one tough bull.

[Rainier10]

As many arrows as you can get in them is my thought.  After the first shot I always nock another one in case the opportunity to shoot again presents itself.

[pianoman9701]

I may be wrong but when I know its a kill shot 100% I just sit back and wait in the bushes.  No need to spook em into running.  If unsure let em fly!

Kind of what I was thinking. 

[elk247]

There are alot of factors at play on a given hunt. I think more blood the better but I will not ruin meat on an animal with a follow up gut shot. Kind of defeats the purpose imo. Bulls are tough as nails. Never assume you have a good enough blood trail. If you have an oppurtunity for a clean follow up shot then take it.

[nocklehead]

I'm a strong believer in shooting a 2nd arrow if you can do so without spooking the elk.  If he doesn't know what hit him I think the worst thing you can do is alert him to your presence.

I Watched painfully from about 100 yds as a friend shot a cow elk and hit it right in the spine, blood spraying everywhere, its on the ground rolling in circles, he just stood there and watched, well, the arrow broke free and that elk shot up and ran like heck to the next county, Ive never seen so much blood with no recovered animal.... ever since then Im a firm believer that if its still moving and your in range with a weapon, do it some justice and pop it again....

[smartazz171]

I'm a strong believer in shooting a 2nd arrow if you can do so without spooking the elk.  If he doesn't know what hit him I think the worst thing you can do is alert him to your presence.

I Watched painfully from about 100 yds as a friend shot a cow elk and hit it right in the spine, blood spraying everywhere, its on the ground rolling in circles, he just stood there and watched, well, the arrow broke free and that elk shot up and ran like heck to the next county, Ive never seen so much blood with no recovered animal.... ever since then Im a firm believer that if its still moving and your in range with a weapon, do it some justice and pop it again....