Shoot or No Shot - Episode 6

[WapitiTalk1]

7 SEPT, 8:20 AM, Western Washington, 3 PT or better, bull only area.  You're set up along a couple of very good travel/transition trails between feed and bed using a portable blind.  Specifically, you are using one of the Elk Mountain Gear Slip System's with camo cover.  As this huge Roosey bull (grin) approaches your position, he stops and looks to his right, providing you with the shot you see here.  You're located 29 yards in front of the elk in the direction of the yellow arrow.   

Are you shooting? If so, put an "X" on the spot your arrow is heading.

Reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg and add the marked up pic with your post.

[D-Rock425]

I wouldn't shoot.

[Broken Arrow]

may question myself a 1000 x's over....but i have to wait for a better shot. I know i can thread that needle...but just too iffy for me, he looks like he is going to bold or jump at the sound of a bow shot.

[pianoman9701]

I'm not good enough to thread that needle - no shot for me.

[D-Rock425]

If I had to take that shot I'd shoot straight up from your arrow mid body.  Shoot where the dark neck hair turns to light brown body hair.

[Ccortez]

Awe it's cute to shoot I would have to pass. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Wait.  He is either gonna continue on, reposition, or bolt.  All three scenarios will offer a better shot than this.  Unless you can't stop him with a cow call if he bolts.  Worth waiting in my book.  If I had to take that shot, your mark is about right Phantom.  I love these scenarios Phantom!  Keep em coming!

[WapitiTalk1]

If I had to take that shot I'd shoot straight up from your arrow mid body.  Shoot where the dark neck hair turns to light brown body hair.

So, if you had to shoot...... something about like this? (Weird, I posted this a few minutes ago and it disapeared.. this is a repost... probably something I did).

   

[Shawn Ryan]

No shot for me. I'm with BLRman, something will change in the next few moments and I'll take my chances on it getting better.  I'm glad I am hiding behind the Slip System because I don't like his approach angle.  If possible, I want him to pass me so that I get the broadside or "going away" shot angle, instead of the "quartering slightly to" angle.

[Shawn Ryan]

D-Rock, BLRman, and Phantom, you all discuss the "have to shoot" scenario. What conditions make you have to shoot?

[WapitiTalk1]

D-Rock, BLRman, and Phantom, you all discuss the "have to shoot" scenario. What conditions make you have to shoot?

I get your point Shawn (good point).  Nobody has to shoot, well, not unless they are a starving pilgrim in the old wild west  .  Perhaps "decided to shoot" would be a better phrase than "have to shoot". 

[northwesthunter84]

I would love to see a bull like that this season.  I would wait.  Making a bad shot on an animal no matter how big is not worth it to me.  The second he gives me an opportunity though.  I'm gonna put one in his boiler room.  Not even a question.

[Shawn Ryan]

Phantom, I tried not to be judgmental in that question; apparently, I didn't succeed.  I've been compelled to take shots that I thought better of after the moment.  Fading light, end of the season, adrenaline, I can't believe he's getting away from me this time, basically, the "if I don't shoot now, I won't get a better or another chance" situations. 

None of those ended in wounded elk, luckily, but I have shot arrows into elk that I have not recovered.  I hated those situations and they made me sick all over, but they were good shooting situations at close range and darn frustrating to figure out why I couldn't find the dying elk and/or why I didn't have a double-lung shot. 

Those have all helped lead me to "aggressive hunting, conservative shooting."

[Karl Blanchard]

When I say have to shoot it is ment purely for the sake of the discussion.  Like if the question was, "this shot has to be taken!  Where would you aim?  I am personally NEVER taking a quartering to shot with a bow. Just for the record, It did not come off judgemental Shawn.

[kentrek]

Nothing like getting back home from a hiking trip in this heat to have phantom throw a shoot or no shoot scenario out there

I'm tired.....I'm really hot..... Ummmmm il hold my draw till he is 100% looking at me....then maybe put it where phantom said... If not il see what else he gives me