Elk Tactics 2017 - Episode #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Early October, 2017/10:30 AM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: There are other hunters in your area; you heard some human bugles right at daylight on a hillside adjacent to your trail ingress
Hunt: Solo Hunt
Tag: Muzzleloader season; any bull tag

Doesn't it seem like many epic adventures, good and bad, seem to start with "well, I came around the corner and......". You've hiked uphill on a series of USFS trails and find yourself quietly "coming around a corner" to see what you're seeing now (you are directly to the bull's 5 o'clock). You estimate the bull to be about 70 yards away from your current position, giving you the stinky eye. This situation requires a pretty quick decision on how to proceed to maximize your opportunities for a dinner date with this bull. The elk are still pretty vocal at this point in the month in your area (early October) and you're armed with your favorite elk calls. Thoughts on how to proceed here to possibly have a successful hunt?

W - wind direction.

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.

[jennabug]

Thanks for putting these up. I've been following along and learning as much as possible.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Red dot says it all. 

[cougforester]

Red dot says it all. 

Nailed it. This about the same scenario that I encountered a bull opening day of muzzy this year. He's now on my wall. Wind was in my favor though, so I had some time.

If I'm understanding this one correctly, wind is blowing towards the elk, which is even more of an incentive to get on him quick!

[BULLBLASTER]

I'm going farther right than the last dot. Maybe even a bit right of my dot But I don't have much to worry about as I am seriously cursed with a muzzy in my hands. 

[MtnMuley]

Since I'm too stupid to figure out how to place a red dot  (even though the author explained how to), I will second BLASTERS dot.

[BULLBLASTER]

Since I'm too stupid to figure out how to place a red dot  (even though the author explained how to), I will second BLASTERS dot.

I somehow figured out how to make a dot on the picture... but my fingers wouldn't work to put it exactly where I wanted it. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

Since I'm too stupid to figure out how to place a red dot  (even though the author explained how to), I will second BLASTERS dot.

I'm on an IPad, so x's are harder to make, my app is photo editor which lets you make dots. 

[Elkcollector82]

Nothing but red mist after this shot. 

[blackpowderhunter]

hmm..tough one.
nobody is waiting for the cow to clear? i'd be worried about a pass through hitting the cow.
i shoot hardcast lead 330 grain, those suckers havent stopped inside an elk once.

[WapitiTalk1]

hmm..tough one.
nobody is waiting for the cow to clear? i'd be worried about a pass through hitting the cow.
i shoot hardcast lead 330 grain, those suckers havent stopped inside an elk once.

Good eye blackpowderhunter.  There are actually at least "2" cows behind the bull.

[yakimanoob]

I didn't see the cow behind the bull at first either.  But assuming for the moment I had seen it when coming around the corner... 

I'm not sure what I SHOULD do; I'm leaning toward not shooting given the probability of wounding the cow. 

But I can tell you for sure what WOULD have happened is that I would have hesitated and lost whatever chance at a shot I might have had.

[Boss .300 winmag]

hmm..tough one.
nobody is waiting for the cow to clear? i'd be worried about a pass through hitting the cow.
i shoot hardcast lead 330 grain, those suckers havent stopped inside an elk once.

That's crazy, never saw the cow till now, in person is way different than a photo. I sur in person I would have seen the cow and not shot. 

[ML_Hunter]

70 Yards, and It looks like I've been spotted. Early October I still call a lot of elk in. With seeing at least one cow behind him and not sure if there are others. I'd try to throw out a "bull calling cow" bugle and see if I cant get that bull to charge in on me.

Or, if i can just put on the sneak and get in closer. If i can get to 50yds, and clear of the cows, dead elk.

[pianoman9701]

hmm..tough one.
nobody is waiting for the cow to clear? i'd be worried about a pass through hitting the cow.
i shoot hardcast lead 330 grain, those suckers havent stopped inside an elk once.

  No shot.

[Browndawg]

Bullblaster and Elkcollecter have good shots free of the cow behind the bull. Dump him.