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Author Topic: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!  (Read 10403 times)

Offline Pigfuz

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Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« on: September 20, 2015, 08:48:37 PM »
Tonight just at last shooting minutes my wife shot a cow elk quartering towards her at 20 yards.  :IBCOOL: We have not gone to look for it yet but I do have questions about how good of a shot it was.  As far as quartering to shots go, it was perfect placement.  The problem is that penetration was only about 10 inches and one of the blades on her Hunga Munga broadhead did not deploy, so only two blades actually functioned.  There was bubbles in the blood on her arrow which makes me think that she hit at least one lung.  Would 10 inches of penetration hit both lungs??? Will it die with only one lung hit???  How long would you wait before looking??? Would you wait till morning? It is supposed to get down to 48 degrees tonight.
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Offline JJB11B

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2015, 08:53:25 PM »
My :twocents: is get on it first thing in the morning
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Shane Falco

Offline 92xj

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2015, 08:53:59 PM »
Quartering to, 10 inches with two blades, good shot. One lung, maybe liver. I'd wait at least 5 hours, especially after tracking and bumping a single lung and liver shot this past week. Luckily it ran only 40 yards and bedded right back down, died and we found it in the morning. What you have going for you is the arrow came back out leaving an open wound channel to bleed from. Id wait at least 5 hours or to first light. You might lose some rib meat but nothing else.
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Offline TheHunt

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2015, 08:54:39 PM »
My :twocents: is get on it first thing in the morning

I would agree.  I hope you flagged the location of the shot and the elk.  Start looking at first light. 
275 down 2

Offline buglebrush

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2015, 08:54:57 PM »
I would leave it until morning, and be on it at first light.  You should be good.

Offline billythekidrock

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2015, 08:55:08 PM »
If it is raining there, I would give it a couple hours and then get on it. If it is not raining I would wait until morning.




Offline fastdam

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2015, 09:08:59 PM »
It will start to sour if you leave it all night and its dead. I would get on it right now. I have seen them sour overnight when it was snowing.

Offline The scout

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2015, 09:14:12 PM »
I would not worry about it souring over night, with one lung it could go a long ways or be dead within a couple hundred yards. I would wait till the morning, sounds like you should be able to find her with that shot

Offline Bob33

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2015, 09:18:24 PM »
It will start to sour if you leave it all night and its dead. I would get on it right now. I have seen them sour overnight when it was snowing.
If it is dead now it is very likely the meat will spoil by morning. I would risk bumping it rather than risk having it dead and lose the meat.
. :twocents:
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Offline sled

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2015, 09:49:16 PM »
It will start to sour if you leave it all night and its dead. I would get on it right now. I have seen them sour overnight when it was snowing.
:yeah:

Offline sled

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2015, 09:50:32 PM »
Get after it.especially if it is raining now like it is here.

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2015, 09:53:37 PM »
Start tracking.
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Offline Jonnyjammer

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2015, 09:55:12 PM »
i hope your not replying because you are out tracking it.if you got bubbles you got the penetration.

Offline splitshot

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2015, 09:57:36 PM »
  I have passed up many shots in the last minutes of the day.  even with a rifle.  just don't like stumbling around in the dark.  I am old and that's what I do.  good luck on picking up the trail and finding the animal.  mike w

Offline djnoodle

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2015, 10:02:58 PM »
Bubbles in the blood, should be a dead elk waiting for you. Go get your wife's harvest!


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Offline fishngamereaper

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #15 on: September 20, 2015, 10:12:55 PM »
I would of stayed with it for a couple hours and went looking...I hate the idea of leaving animals sit all night.

Offline sled

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #16 on: September 20, 2015, 10:14:33 PM »
Damn.  If I was closer I'd help you out tonight!

Offline lokidog

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #17 on: September 20, 2015, 10:25:31 PM »
Tagging.  I'd wait, unless raining... but then I'm not a bone sour paranoia kinda guy.   :dunno:   :twocents:

Offline BGLEMIN

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #18 on: September 20, 2015, 10:26:09 PM »
Track now. Shot a bull at 7pm on a similar night...backed out till morning and found him at 7 am. Even at temps in the 40s...13 hours was too long. He died within 130 yds and within minutes of being shot. I backed out because I couldn't find arrow or blood in the first 50 yds of trailing.

It's a tough call though, bumping them sucks too.
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Offline sled

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #19 on: September 20, 2015, 10:31:55 PM »
Track now. Shot a bull at 7pm on a similar night...backed out till morning and found him at 7 am. Even at temps in the 40s...13 hours was too long. He died within 130 yds and within minutes of being shot. I backed out because I couldn't find arrow or blood in the first 50 yds of trailing.

It's a tough call though, bumping them sucks too.
yes, but it's a dead elk either way.  Way to warm to let it sit over night.

Offline Jonnyjammer

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #20 on: September 20, 2015, 10:32:46 PM »
BGLEMiN i agree with this to an extent,if shes hit,bubbles in the blood shes not going far before bedding or dying,I treat these like a wolf would on her heels not letting her rest if she bumps runs another hundred she will be wearing down.You let her rest and she will be gone just like your tag.  :twocents:

Offline h2ofowlr

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #21 on: September 20, 2015, 11:14:44 PM »
Good luck.  Look for prints as all blood may be washed away by morning.
Cut em!
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Offline Pigfuz

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #22 on: September 21, 2015, 02:58:39 AM »
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours.  We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor.  Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.
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Offline Borg

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #23 on: September 21, 2015, 03:07:33 AM »
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours.  We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor.  Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.

That's awesome! Congrats to you and the wife. Hope pictures to soon follow.

Offline djnoodle

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #24 on: September 21, 2015, 04:16:04 AM »
Sweet! Congrats to your wife and you both.


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Offline bowhunterforever

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #25 on: September 21, 2015, 04:50:46 AM »
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours.  We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor.  Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.

That's awesome! Congrats to you and the wife. Hope pictures to soon follow.
:yeah: :tup:
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Offline trophyhunt

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #26 on: September 21, 2015, 05:03:49 AM »
Great ended!!! Congrats!
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Offline Widgeondeke

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #27 on: September 21, 2015, 05:30:21 AM »
Congrats to the wife. Hope to see some pictures later today

Offline ribka

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #28 on: September 21, 2015, 07:28:26 AM »
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours.  We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor.  Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.


 :tup:


Offline splitshot

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #29 on: September 21, 2015, 07:52:12 AM »
  congrats,  you made the right call and a good one.  you would have felt bad the next morn if it was spoiled. very nice.  mike w

Offline bearpaw

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #30 on: September 21, 2015, 08:05:35 AM »
This is a great topic, the guy asked for advice, was given good advice, and now has an elk hanging, that is really great to see! Congrats to you and your wife!   :tup: :tup:
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Offline nwwanderer

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #31 on: September 21, 2015, 08:08:33 AM »
Thanks, your effort has improved my day!!  Hanging from the tractor is also a big plus

Offline JDHasty

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #32 on: September 21, 2015, 09:34:58 AM »
Get yourself a couple Coleman Powerhouse Double Mantle white gas lanterns and do not leave an animal in the woods overnight unless it is below freezing weather.  The white gas lantern is still the gold standard when it comes to blood trailing. 

In western Washington rain washing all blood away is also a consideration.   

Offline Pigfuz

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #33 on: September 21, 2015, 09:52:18 AM »
Washington State Youth Hunter Education Challenge Champion 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Offline sled

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #34 on: September 21, 2015, 10:07:48 AM »
So happy for you guys.  Good you found it!!

Offline stickbow9

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #35 on: September 21, 2015, 12:32:06 PM »
Congratulations on a good harvest.
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Offline JJB11B

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #36 on: September 21, 2015, 02:50:48 PM »
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours.  We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor.  Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.
LETS SEE SUM PITCHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's Great!, But seriously lets see some pictures!
"Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever."
Shane Falco

Offline TheHunt

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #37 on: September 21, 2015, 06:26:21 PM »
Great job... 
275 down 2

Offline Pigfuz

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #38 on: September 21, 2015, 09:54:03 PM »
Here are the pictures  :IBCOOL:
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Offline fastdam

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Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
« Reply #39 on: September 22, 2015, 12:18:59 PM »
Thats fantastic!    She looks really happy. Congradulations to you both.  :tup:

 


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