Shoot or No Shot Episode #1, 2017

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Early September, 2017/8:30 AM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Partner Hunt
Tag: Archery tag; any bull.

Well, that was pretty amazing. You (the shooter) and your buddy (the caller) hiked in to a new pine bench you'd identified on your map scouting the night before and after seeing some fresh sign, decided to do an advertising sequence. The caller did a fine job of advertising with his calling, brush smashing, ground kicking, etc., off and on for close to 20 minutes without hearing a peep or seeing anything come in. Just a minute ago, you'd looked back in the direction of the caller, got his attention, and gave him the hands up, shoulder shrug (are you ready to move on?) signal and the caller signaled you back with a "just another few minutes". OK, after the caller did another sequence with just brush raking and breaking some branches, the woods go silent again... almost. You first hear what sounds like some whimpery cow mews coming from your 10:00 and then see... "antler tips"; holy hell, it’s a bull coming in! You draw right before this guy stops in the opening and screams in your general direction. You're already at full draw, perhaps 25 yards from the bull in the direction of the arrow. Your buddy is perhaps 40 yards in the direction of his arrow, and, you can see the wind/thermals direction.

Shot or no shot here?  If you're shooting, save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, then place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg or png and add the marked up pic with your post.

[JJB11B]

poll!

[WapitiTalk1]

poll!

No poll mister  .  Shoot or no shot here, if you're shooting "mark your spot" and post up your pic and if not, please feel free to explain your thoughts

[KFhunter]

no shoot

I think the bull is going to step behind the little tree, wait until it emerges then hammer down on a perfect broadside.  If it steps between the shooter and tree hold dead still and hope the wind isn't swirling, one more step and hammer down at 20 yards   

[JJB11B]

poll!

No poll mister  .  Shoot or no shot here, if you're shooting "mark your spot" and post up your pic and if not, please feel free to explain your thoughts

I am shooting a Marlin 45-70 and I am punching him square in the chest at a slight angle towards the back of his left shoulder

[lokidog]

Looks just like the position the kid aced his bull from on the cool YouTube video where it bleeds out and falls in its face.

I'd shoot, though might wait if it looked like he was going to step to his left behind the tree on the right of the photo.

Sorry can't do the photo thing from my tablet.

[KFhunter]

poll!

No poll mister  .  Shoot or no shot here, if you're shooting "mark your spot" and post up your pic and if not, please feel free to explain your thoughts

I am shooting a Marlin 45-70 and I am punching him square in the chest at a slight angle towards the back of his left shoulder

In early September?  What tag did you draw?

[dreamunelk]

Stick bow hunter here.  No shot.

[JJB11B]

poll!

No poll mister  .  Shoot or no shot here, if you're shooting "mark your spot" and post up your pic and if not, please feel free to explain your thoughts

I am shooting a Marlin 45-70 and I am punching him square in the chest at a slight angle towards the back of his left shoulder

In early September?  What tag did you draw?

I Identify as a tribal hunter

[WapitiTalk1]

poll!

No poll mister  .  Shoot or no shot here, if you're shooting "mark your spot" and post up your pic and if not, please feel free to explain your thoughts

I am shooting a Marlin 45-70 and I am punching him square in the chest at a slight angle towards the back of his left shoulder

In early September?  What tag did you draw?

KF, I put "somewhere in the elk woods".  Probably not a WA state hunt  . And no 45-70, it's an archery tag. 

[JJB11B]

poll!

No poll mister  .  Shoot or no shot here, if you're shooting "mark your spot" and post up your pic and if not, please feel free to explain your thoughts

I am shooting a Marlin 45-70 and I am punching him square in the chest at a slight angle towards the back of his left shoulder

In early September?  What tag did you draw?

KF, I put "somewhere in the elk woods".  Probably not a WA state hunt  . And no 45-70, it's an archery tag. 

Don't you see my feather and my loin cloth?

[WapitiTalk1]

I do, and its a bit disturbing.  Perhaps you should cut that cloth a bit lower 

[goldenhtr]

Shoot

[/URL]

[JJB11B]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

[Boss .300 winmag]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

Who makes that bow? 

[JJB11B]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

Who makes that bow? 

Marlin

[Boss .300 winmag]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

Who makes that bow? 

Marlin

Did you mean, Marten?

[JJB11B]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

Who makes that bow? 

Marlin

Did you mean, Marten?

M A R L I N......

[Boss .300 winmag]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

Who makes that bow? 

Marlin

Did you mean, Marten?

M A R L I N......

.

They don't make bows, only guns.

[JJB11B]

thwack!, I should have shot a little more left....but I am shooting a .45-70 it dont matter where you hittum

Who makes that bow? 

Marlin

Did you mean, Marten?

M A R L I N......

.

They don't make bows, only guns.

I aint using a bow. I am using a modern rifle. Its protected by my treaty rights.

[goldenhtr]

Shoot,Shoot

[High Climber]

I'm waiting for a better angle, little room for error on that shot. Likely to get a better shot opportunity in the next few moments... If not, live to fight another day

[High Climber]

Love these episodes btw 

[Elkcollector82]

Whack'em and stack'em

[dscubame]

Release.

[Gringo31]

No way I shoot.


I understand to each their own but animals like this deserve better odds of recovery.  To risk him being wasted or lost......would haunt you the rest of your life.  I'm uncomfortable even imagining how many people shoot at him at that angle with archery gear.

[Buzz2401]

I have found way to many rotting animals over the years with an arrow stuck between front scapula and ribs to even think about releasing an arrow here.  Can it be a deadly shot, sure but it leaves way to much room for error.  I have more respect for elk then that.

[ML_Hunter]

The kill area for a frontal shot on an elk is just slightly smaller than the kill area on a broad side deer. I'd take that shot all day. However if you don't know where the kill area on the frontal shot is, don't take it. You need to feel comfortable with the shot you take before you release the arrow.

[Dhoey07]

He's either going to keep coming, get disinterested and turn away or bust out of there.  If he keeps coming then I'd shoot.  If he turns to go away you should have a broadside shot in the shooting lane.  If he busts, game over, but at least you had a bull screaming at you 25 yards away