Elk Tactics 101 - Episode #7

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: 14 September/5:30 PM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Tag: Archery season; branched bull only

Man, it happens fast sometimes! You've chosen to hunt from your pre-established tree stand this fine Elktember afternoon/evening. This is a narrow saddle that sets between two major draws and possesses well used, intersecting trails on it (trails crossing the saddle between the draws, and, running up and down the ridge). It's a nice area to sit as elk use this saddle quite often to move back and forth between the two major draws. Your stand is 20' up the tree, just off the saddle (about 25 yards straight line to the tree from the bull, and, to the bull's 2 to 3 o'clock). You've heard a few bugles coming from both draws for the past 1/2 hour but you have been quiet (no calls) since you climbed up in your stand at 4:45 PM. At 5:30 you decide to just let out a few soft cow calls. You hear and see immediate movement from up the ridge to your right and within seconds, this beast rumbles down the trail shown in red and slows to check ground scent where he is now. He is walking very slow with his snout to the ground, quartering to his left. Within seconds of the bull appearing, you hear a smaller sounding bugle coming directly behind you down on the draw side hill (the second bull may be coming in to your cow calls). Your move. What do you do now? If shooting at the visible bull, show us where.

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.

[Jonathan_S]

I might be misinterpreting the scenario.  Phantom, if you say WTF to my answer...safe to say I am misinterpreting the explanation 

[fishnfur]

Hold your fire - expect that the second bull will cause the first bull to turn to see what is coming down the trail.  There may be a broadside shot opening in the next few seconds.

[Dhoey07]

I'd wait to get a better angle on that bull

[Jonathan_S]

I'd wait to get a better angle on that bull

If you were up in a treestand to the right of him?

[chester]

If you look at where the arrow for the tree stand hunter is located , that's about as perfect of a shot as you could ever hope for.


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[CoryTDF]

I would wait for sure. If I had to make this shot thought this is where I would aim.

[Shawn Ryan]

The arrow makes it look like I'm at his 5 o'clock and I wouldn't shoot. The words say 2-3 o'clock. 3 o'clock is broadside and 2 o'clock is perfect quartering away. Shooting at either of those angles. (Not on PC to draw the spot.)

[Dhoey07]

I'd wait to get a better angle on that bull

If you were up in a treestand to the right of him?

To the Bull's right?

[Tbob]

If I'm broadside or quarting away, I'm shooting, or like was said if the angle is too steep, I'd just wait for him to move.. I've not shot a few elk that I think most other people would all day. I just don't feel right about some shots and it usually kicks in while I'm at full draw. I usually listen to that voice at that time..

[lamrith]

This might help, blue lines under bull are approx horizontal shot angle..  hunter is 2-3:00  so broadside to slightly quartering away shot.  Unlike Phantoms usual scenarios, the yellow is height/shot angle indicator..

[lamrith]

Going for a shot that gets both lungs for sure and maybe top of heart if lucky.