Your Move, Episode #5

[WapitiTalk1]

Hunting journal: September 19, 2015; solo elk hunt in W Washington; day 5 of your 7 day hunt; 3 PT or better bull only tag. The bulls in your area have started to get pretty vocal over the past few days so you decide to set up and try an advertising sequence. After doing a quick distance range in several directions, but before you rake a tree, stomp some dry sticks, or throw out the first bugle, you hear a bugle coming from your right, next, you hear elk moving. Arrow knocked, you determine they're are in fact coming from right to left and up over the small rise comes a cow, another cow, BULL, and another cow in tow. They are walking, not running, and obviously are heading somewhere (probably from feed to bed you think). At any rate, from the ranging you did minutes before, they are passing in front of you a bit over 30 yards.

Your move. 



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 (if you decide to shoot).

[Jonathan_S]

Draw...they'll stop and if not, I'll grunt and send one through his lungs.  Sorry I can't put an X on there.  It'd be 30 yd pin aimed 3" above the heart.

Assuming "a bit" means like 32-34 yards.

[coachcw]

by the time he got to that spot id already be drawn and have my top 37 yard pin settled just bellow centerline of his front shoulder . I'd give him one little meow if he stopped id move right five inches and shoot if he continued to walk the arrow would fly pin on rear half of shoulder . that's a dead bull ! Draw early and kill often !

[lamrith]

Assuming "a bit over 30yards" means Def less than 40yrds, guessing the tree he is in front of is the 40yrd mark, you did range that tree too right? 

I am putting my 40yrd pin on the red mark and throwing a nervous grunt to freeze him as I release.  Hope being that air/wind in their ears turning their heads masks my bow string and arrow is 1/2 way home before they are on alert.

Pin placement is so that lowest point I hit is still in the boiler room and getting good vitals, as is the high point of the 30yrd pin in yellow. Anywhere in between is just gravy..
 

[Shawn Ryan]

My strategy is the same as lamrith's but with my point of aim a tad bit to the left. The bull is turned just a slight bit away, but not enough that I think I'm missing the far lung at that point of aim. If the nervous grunt doesn't stop him (when doesn't it), then I'm either not shooting or I'm leading him by 10-12" from that point of aim (lead distance depending on his speed).

Not to derail this thread, but as an aspect of this shot:  When I use my voice or mouth reed to throw a nervous grunt, I do that with some movement of my chest, throat, and mouth. My anchor point is just past my mouth and my hand touches my cheek. The action of the grunt, moves my aim just slightly such that I have to wait a fraction of a second for my body to calm again and my aim to settle.  I assume that happens to everyone else, too. Does it? Or do you release, then grunt, or do you grunt and release at the same time? If at the same time, how do you keep your aim steady? I can grunt with less chest  and throat movement and my aim point moves much less, but the grunt is not nearly as realistic.  I know some guys step on a Hoochie Momma to throw a cow call to solve the issue.

[Jonathan_S]

My strategy is the same as lamrith's but with my point of aim a tad bit to the left. The bull is turned just a slight bit away, but not enough that I think I'm missing the far lung at that point of aim. If the nervous grunt doesn't stop him (when doesn't it), then I'm either not shooting or I'm leading him by 10-12" from that point of aim (lead distance depending on his speed).

Not to derail this thread, but as an aspect of this shot:  When I use my voice or mouth reed to throw a nervous grunt, I do that with some movement of my chest, throat, and mouth. My anchor point is just past my mouth and my hand touches my cheek. The action of the grunt, moves my aim just slightly such that I have to wait a fraction of a second for my body to calm again and my aim to settle.  I assume that happens to everyone else, too. Does it? Or do you release, then grunt, or do you grunt and release at the same time? If at the same time, how do you keep your aim steady? I can grunt with less chest  and throat movement and my aim point moves much less, but the grunt is not nearly as realistic.  I know some guys step on a Hoochie Momma to throw a cow call to solve the issue.

1)  Grunt
2)  He stops
3)  I shoot

[Elknut1]

Yes sir, I would do my best to already be at full draw then use the nervous grunt to anchor him & let it fly. There would be a short tracking job & that Exo Pack would be put into use once again! (grin)

ElkNut1

[huntingbaldguy]

Try my best not to get busted by the cows and let fly after a grunt.