Frontal shot on elk with a bow

[Gringo31]

I can't say I like that shot AT ALL.  I think showing shots like that only encourage others to be less responsible when it comes to shot placement.


I've never killed an elk and have to eat some good draw tags.  I've passed on several small bulls and had a few opportunites of BIG bulls that still haunt me.  I just can't shoot for the jugular......maybe that's why I've never notched a tag. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Gringo ...for the most part you are right ...It all depends on the guy releasing the arrow ...for most I would say pass on that shot ...That bull was quartering to him so that helped ...have to realize the shooter had a different view than the cameraman ! I think I heard enough stories in 35 yrs of bowhunting where guys swear they center punch one broadside and then say they lost it    this really gets my blood flowing ...I think I have lost 3 deer in 35 years ///knock on wood ...never an elk ...knock on wood ...and I think 2 of the ones I lost were hit high below the spine ...if a guy does not feel confident in his shooting ability I would say never take that shot ...but you see what happens when you can pull it off  just my 

[RadSav]

I just can't shoot for the jugular......maybe that's why I've never notched a tag. 

Neck or jugular shots are for fools.  But front on shots are heart/aortic arch shots.  No different than broadside heart shots.  Only difference is you have two shoulders to worry about instead of one.  I'll take it any day on an unaware elk at close range.  Better be dang close to straight on though.  Angle on that video would have made me pass and wait for him to give me something better.  Hard to do when your a young kid and excited as heck.

I'll never give grief to a guy who isn't comfortable with a shot.  If your not 100% sure a guy will probably mess it up anyway. 

Although I did give the wife some grief for not taking the front on shot on the last day of the season at 3 feet   It was the last freakin' day for goodness sakes!

[RadSav]

I did say she was at full draw and only three feet away, right?

[Dan-o]

At 3 feet I might be too busy peeing to take the shot.

[Gringo31]

I may disagree with some or I'm seeing it different but in my eyes that wasn't a heart shot. 

Jugular

[RadSav]

I may disagree with some or I'm seeing it different but in my eyes that wasn't a heart shot. 

Jugular

In the replay you can see the arrow turn to the left upon impact.  With that much blood loss that quick I'd be willing to bet the arrow made more than slight contact with the aortic arch.  Looks too low for a jugular impact to me.  Jugular is located between the esophagus and the spine.  Arrow doesn't look to be above the esophagus to me.  I think he got lucky the arrow turned left instead of right.  At least 26" of penetration probably got a few more things too!

I am watching it on a 24" monitor too.  So maybe that's why we are seeing two different things

[kentrek]

I may disagree with some or I'm seeing it different but in my eyes that wasn't a heart shot. 

Jugular

In the replay you can see the arrow turn to the left upon impact.  With that much blood loss that quick I'd be willing to bet the arrow made more than slight contact with the aortic arch.  Looks too low for a jugular impact to me.  Jugular is located between the esophagus and the spine.  Arrow doesn't look to be above the esophagus to me.  I think he got lucky the arrow turned left instead of right.

  while i try not to judge people on there own shot judgements, id say the kid got lucky..but I dont wana over shadow what is one heck of a cool moment for a young hunter...wish I woulda experienced the same this last year

[SemperFidelis97]

My bull last year was a non-intentional frontal shot.  I called a bull into a swamp I was hunting he came in at 35 yards broadside, when I released my string caught a willow leaf the bull heard it, and he turned into my arrow.  It happened so fast I didn't realize what had happened until I found him piled up with the arrow buried to the fletchings in the front of his chest 3 yards from where I shot him.  The arrow center punched his heart, and he died quicker than any elk I have ever shot.

[Giggles]

Can anyone tell if he was using a Rage broadhead? Kinda looks like it, but I really can't tell. Pretty good publicity for Rage if it is.

[RadSav]

Make it center to center low through that hole your pretty much guaranteed to hit the heart or arch.  Video reminds me of the wife and I getting our doublebang.  She has a bull and five cows at 55 yards barely quartering away.  She takes him through the arch and he doesn't make it five yards.  The cows are startled, but the bull went down so fast they don't know what is going on.  I ask Lorraine, "Should I shoot the cow?"  She snaps back quick and irritated, "You're going to spook the bull."  I grab her by the hat and look right into her eyes, "He's dead, honey!"  It happened so fast she couldn't realize he was not on his feet. 

"If you can kill her quick go for it.", she says, "We can't be blood trailing with this bull up here."  About then the closest cow comes right at me.  At 35 yards I put one right through the hole.  She barely makes it back to the bull and goes down herself.  Two elk down, no blood trailing, combined distance traveled less than 25 yards, and one heck of a long night ahead of us.  Made for an awesome picture!

[RadSav]

Can anyone tell if he was using a Rage broadhead? Kinda looks like it, but I really can't tell. Pretty good publicity for Rage if it is.

Silver ferrule and tapered blades.  Doesn't seem like a Rage to me.  More like a Shuttle T, but I've slow motioned it many times and just can't make it out for sure.  One time I think it has vents then next time I don't.  Definitely not a WASP or SlickTrick.  The kid is wearing a G5 hat and it says they are staffers of some outdoor thing.  So maybe it's a Montec or T3

[NOCK NOCK]

Interesting replies. Surprising how many approve of a frontal shot.
In an old thread about "Texas heart shots"(through the rear end ) most all disapproved.
Basically same chances with either. It's a small bullseye but if done correctly is very effective.

I have never taken a frontal shot, but can not say I never will...who knows?

[MLBowhunting]

Nice Radsav 

[tonymiller7]

I'd take that shot all day long with a rifle, but definitely not ideal with a bow, although as others have said severly hard to pass up.