Shot placement on elk.

[atfulldraw]

To start I'm a bow hunter and there are shots you want to avoid. My question is can you shot an elk facing you or do you have to wait for it to turn and can you shoot through the front shoulder?  Shooting a 300 grain hornady bullet and 100 grains of 777. Thanks for the input.

[LOVEMYLABXS]

Depending on how close you are and how comfortable you are with your rifle aim small miss small I'd hold right under his chin and try to break the neck.

[Chukarhead]

Follow-up shots aren't really an option.  I've tracked wounded elk for miles/many hours, and don't wish to repeat that. A shot through the shoulder might work, or might not.  Best bet is to keep shot placement as you would with archery tackle, but with longer range.

[Damnimissed]

Follow-up shots aren't really an option.  I've tracked wounded elk for miles/many hours, and don't wish to repeat that. A shot through the shoulder might work, or might not.  Best bet is to keep shot placement as you would with archery tackle, but with longer range.

I agree, with the exception of the frontal shot. Most archery guys won't do it. I'll take a frontal shot up to probably 70 yards. Other than that is treat it like a bow with really long range.

[Sabotloader]

To start I'm a bow hunter and there are shots you want to avoid. My question is can you shot an elk facing you or do you have to wait for it to turn and can you shoot through the front shoulder?  Shooting a 300 grain hornady bullet and 100 grains of 777. Thanks for the input.

I would not have and have not had any problems with a frontal shot in the chest.  If your bullet creates the necessary 'hydrostatic shock' it is going to do a number on the chest cavity anyway you shoot it in there.  For you it might be the normal thing that you do in bow hunting. Take the shot and if it is a know good shot do not rush in - let the animal lie down.

[huntnnw]

With todays bullets that are legal here...I have no worries under 70yards hitting bone. I have done penetration tests with Barnes and all lead it is staggering the difference. I have seen Barnes blow thru front shoulders and exit!

[Big Horn]

With todays bullets that are legal here...I have no worries under 70yards hitting bone. I have done penetration tests with Barnes and all lead it is staggering the difference. I have seen Barnes blow thru front shoulders and exit!

[usmc74]

With todays bullets that are legal here...I have no worries under 70yards hitting bone. I have done penetration tests with Barnes and all lead it is staggering the difference. I have seen Barnes blow thru front shoulders and exit!

My Barnes 290 TMZ that missed, blew all the way through an 8" cedar tree.  I was a bowhunter also, and was worried about a shoulder shot......no worries anymore

[elkboy]

I know this thread is about elk, but I took a frontal chest shot on large buck deer (230 pounds) at 45 yards a few years ago.  It was with a 348 gr. lead Powerbelt, not the 300 gr. Bloodline I am shooting now, but it still downed the animal quickly.  I think if you are close enough to really hit the center of the animal's brisket, then it is an ethical shot on an elk.  Of course, nothing beats the broadside shot.

[BIGMIKE]

Shoot!

[usmc74]

The tree I killed this season

[usmc74]

This was the 290 TMZ recovered from my elk, 68 yard shot

[HntnFsh]

The TMZ I recovered from my elk.
 And the one that I recovered from the forleg of my elk that was completely healed over and encapsulated.

[HntnFsh]

Dont know if the last one is a TMZ but pretty sure its a Barnes bullet.

[usmc74]

Looks kind of like the SST to me