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.