Facing shot

[ljsommer]

Is there an effective/ethical shot if the animal is walking directly towards you, as in, down a game trail?

[Stein]

Absolutely, high chest dead center.  It can make a mess of the guts though.


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[WapitiTalk1]

Absolutely.  A "well placed" frontal shot is as deadly as it gets.... "but", it must be done correctly and if you're not comfortable hitting a softball size (or smaller in some instances) target each and every time (with bow, ML, or rifle) it should not be in a hunter's elk hunting tool kit.  Here is an excellent article from Outdoor Life from a few years ago by Aron Snyder.  Read the article and then click on the shot placement link/photos. 

https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/live-hunt/2011/07/bowhunting-tips-when-take-frontal-shot#page-2

[ljsommer]

Absolutely.  A "well placed" frontal shot is as deadly as it gets.... "but", it must be done correctly and if you're not comfortable hitting a softball size (or smaller in some instances) target each and every time (with bow, ML, or rifle) it should not be in a hunter's elk hunting tool kit.  Here is an excellent article from Outdoor Life from a few years ago by Aron Snyder.  Read the article and then click on the shot placement link/photos. 

https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/live-hunt/2011/07/bowhunting-tips-when-take-frontal-shot#page-2

Wonderful thank you - I just got my rifle dialed today and am within 1moa at 100 yards consistently and my shot (if one presents itself) will likely be well within that yardage considering Western Washington forest.
I'll read that article today!

[WSU]

With a rifle, 100% yes. 

Edit to add: Keep shooting the elk if it is still alive.  They can and will go miles even with a lethal shot.  Been there and done that.

[Spuddieselwwu]

I shot a nice WT buck last year on a facing shot at 50yds.  Aimed for the white patch on the neck - dropped him in his tracks with minimal meat loss to the neck.  It's a great option if you can't get him broadside - it's just a smaller window, but if you're dialed in within 1 MOA- you should have no problem.

[WSU]

I shot a nice WT buck last year on a facing shot at 50yds.  Aimed for the white patch on the neck - dropped him in his tracks with minimal meat loss to the neck.  It's a great option if you can't get him broadside - it's just a smaller window, but if you're dialed in within 1 MOA- you should have no problem.

Lots of people like neck shots and have had great results.  I have not had great results.  I can think of a handful of animals shot in the neck with very little effect.  I've shot two elk, both on follow up shots, in the neck that had basically no effect.  I saw a deer shot in the neck to no effect.
 There's a lot of meat and area in an elk's neck that isn't lethal (same with deer to a lesser extent).  If it were me, I'd aim for the vitals in the chest.

[buglebuster]

I’ve used this shot on a couple bulls with my muzzleloader. They don’t go anywhere. They were both under 30 yards

[elkrack]

This shot is very effective with a rifle! Fire away

[PlateauNDN]

 

[pianoman9701]

It can be very effective with a bow at close range, too. Never get tired of watching this video.

[Dhoey07]

I've lost one an elk with my bow....would not try again. 

Rifle though, I would try it...probably with a little hesitation though.

[Tinmaniac]

With a rifle I would shoot the elk in the pic in the head.Shooting  straight through the front yielded bad results for me and my buddy.Bullet went in the front and both times the bullet ended up ruining half the meat from the front quarter to the rear quarter.Unbelivable how much blood shot meat there was in those animals.