Shoot or No Shot 2016, Episode #2

[WapitiTalk1]

It's rifle season, 2016 in (insert mountain elk state here) and is the 4th day of your 7 day hunt. You've gotten into elk each of the days you've been out but no clear shot has surfaced yet. You possess an antlerless tag (no antlered elk may be taken during this hunt). These three elk seem to stop for just a moment on the bench trail you've been watching since daylight (a bit less than 100 yards away from your position). When they continue down the trail 20 yards farther in the direction they're facing, it drops down and you will not have a chance at bringing an elk home for dinner this beautiful fall day. Shoot or no shot for you here? If you say shoot, follow the instructions below so we know which one you've chosen and where your 165 GR projective will punch through. Shoot or no shot?

If you say "shoot", 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.

[CP]

No shot – not without risking poking one of the other animals. 

[Rainier10]

No shot.

The collared one is the only one that I would think about but I wouldn't shoot one with a collar first off, second off the one with the head down could easily lift its head and block the kill zone.

Wait for them to move a little and when all is clear shoot the one with its head down.

[2MANY]

Shoot the skin head behind and to the right of the bull if you must make jerky this year.
Heart shot is open.

[Big6bull]

I'm assuming I will have safer and possibly closer to truck options with rifle cow tag.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I'd be tempted, until I thought about my friend Bruce who shot a spike bull standing at the edge of the herd, and had another spike and a calf standing to its right also drop wounded.  No shot.

[WAPatriot]

With a rifle I'll take a head shot anyday either of those cows would be easy pickings

[Jonathan_S]

Rifle and I'm set-up at 100 yards?  I'd put it right through her collar if they're simply feeding.  If they're moving, I have no problem waiting for Collared Cow to move left or Background Babe to shift right.

[Dan-o]

I'm dropping the collared cow and meeting the biologist.

[theleo]

The closest cow is in mid stride by the looks of her hind leg being raised. I wait till one of them is clear and shoot the points of the shoulders. I'm young, so there's always hope of getting them out of a hole. In that exact frame no shot. In about 5 to 10 seconds from that picture, there's a dead elk.

[BULLBLASTER]

I'm too busy cussing because I don't have a bull tag and drooling over the bull to even think about shooting a cow. 

[h20hunter]

Here is what I'm thinking.......I take the shot at the collared cow in front. Now, my concern is not missing as I'm a crack shot of course and cool as ice....my concern is feeding cow raising her head at the instant I shoot and blowing her jaw off.

[Jonathan_S]

Here is what I'm thinking.......I take the shot at the collared cow in front. Now, my concern is not missing as I'm a crack shot of course and cool as ice....my concern is feeding cow raising her head at the instant I shoot and blowing her jaw off.

  that's why I said I'd shoot the collar

[h20hunter]

That might be a good debate on the side. I am not a neck shot guy. I've taken one as a follow up, 2nd arrow into a deer bedded down at 16 yards but that is a different story. Say I take the shot. I'm shooting my .270, 150gr Barnes. Deflection and wound from the collar? D-Rock shot a baby bear a few years ago that was collared and man that thing was tough. I'd be very hesitant to put a bullet into reinforced leather.

[Jonathan_S]

That might be a good debate on the side. I am not a neck shot guy. I've taken one as a follow up, 2nd arrow into a deer bedded down at 16 yards but that is a different story. Say I take the shot. I'm shooting my .270, 150gr Barnes. Deflection and wound from the collar? D-Rock shot a baby bear a few years ago that was collared and man that thing was tough. I'd be very hesitant to put a bullet into reinforced leather.

Fair point, that leather is mighty tough.

I don't think that cow would be going anywhere though.

[BULLBLASTER]

That might be a good debate on the side. I am not a neck shot guy. I've taken one as a follow up, 2nd arrow into a deer bedded down at 16 yards but that is a different story. Say I take the shot. I'm shooting my .270, 150gr Barnes. Deflection and wound from the collar? D-Rock shot a baby bear a few years ago that was collared and man that thing was tough. I'd be very hesitant to put a bullet into reinforced leather.

I thought Barnes were supposed to have super penetration powers!!??   

All kidding aside I can't imagine the leather affecting a bullet from a high power rifle much. But haven't seen them close either. That bullet would have no problem breaking both that elks shoulders so some leather shouldn't to too much.
And leather is animal skin right?

[Shank]

This one seems to be the safest shot. Just cut the antlers off at the base then its legal

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[Karl Blanchard]

Odds of a better shot are high but if I had to run one right here right now or pass, i'm high necking the collared cow and going out heavy.

[matt509]

Definitely shooting the collared elk.  The collar is too tight!!  Look at it, she is about to choke. 

In all honesty; I am shooting the neck area, just above the collar.  The collar is pulling the hair tight, so that the neck shot should be 100% fatal immediately. 

In another train of thought; shooting the leather of the collar.....The leather should begin bullet expansion, allowing a dramatic entrance, and very minimal possibility of a pass through. 

At any rate, 100 yards away, I am packing out the collared elk, and like a gentleman earlier said, "Meet the biologist"

[Moose Master]

Head shot the collared cow at the base of the neck.  As stated watching area since dawn and have a rest in place.

[Firedogg]

Going to wait again, probably why I have perfected my version of tag soup lately. With the other elk visible to the right and in the background I can't identify what may be in the background beyond the collared lady. I'm also not one for trying a head shot and taking off the jaw bone on that front baldy.

  So once again they walk, but at least I go through the effort of carrying 20# of camera gear with me for these occasions. Sell just one and I write off my hunting trip staying within IRS rules. 

[buglebrush]

Right in the shoulder of the collared cow.  In under 100 yards the other cow couldn't raise her head that fast. 

However, you can see that the bull is walking fast, so in reality I would just wait a couple seconds and smash the rear cow when he clears

[pianoman9701]

Take the collared elk but wait until the other cow's head can't come up into the shot.

[Band]

I'm waiting for a little separation as they move on and then taking whichever is the easiest shot at the time.

[Jonathan_S]

This one seems to be the safest shot. Just cut the antlers off at the base then its legal

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Very good call, I always appreciate your insights

[Jonathan_S]

Doesn't anybody consider the back drop?  Trees are not a safe bullet stop.  A shot on any of those three in the front could well pass thru and hit something in the back, look at the left behind the tree.

Good call, I'll follow them around until they go in front of a sand berm or loamy hillside 

[WapitiTalk1]

Depending on your patience level (and reservations to shoot at either of the cows in front of the bull for fear of ricochet/wounding a second elk), a hunter could wait another few seconds and perhaps take the cow pulling up the rear?  Just another option to consider