Shoot or No Shot 2019 - Episode #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Marginal
Hunt: Partner Hunt
Tag: Archery; 3 PT or better bull

You're on your very first elk hunt and have wisely, hung out on Hunting WA and WapitiTalk and have learned a few tips/tricks from the indigenous population/members.  You and your partner heard an unsolicited bugle at zero dark thirty and wisely, not made a peep on your own.  You instead, work the prevailing morning thermals and decide to dump into the draw and work "up" on the bull you heard in an attempt to get close, really close, to where you think he and his gals may be heading before you make a decision on call or not call. This took you and your buddy a long time and NOW, the thermals are getting ready to change in the late morning....oh hell, they already are! Once in close, within what you think is 70ish yards or less of the beast (you've followed his vocalizations throughout the morning and stop at what you think just may be the bench he and his harem is/are bedding down on) and decide now is the time....... You position yourself on the bench/same elevation as the vocal bull, move a bit more across the bench, check the wind and see that it is starting to switch to going uphill and set/drop your partner/shooter and retreat to your calling location...... You quickly decide you're close enough to post a "threat" (one of Elknut's coined methods) which is/are several distressed whiny cow calls over your shoulder and almost in the same breath you throw out your biggest, baddest, not ready for prime time, SCREAM/challenge/I've got your cow mister bugle, directly at the unseen bull and in the next 5 seconds the response comes quick and it is both verbal and physical......HE'S COMING AND COMING/ FAST!  Your partner may or may not have a shot from his angle but you're already at full draw and the bull is less than 20 yards from where you kneel..........  Shoot or no shot for the caller at this point in time?

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.

[Bullkllr]

I don't like the angle at all for my personal skill-set.
Mid-bugle, he looks unalerted- but that could change quick with the wind direction.  Short-story- no shot there, but good chance one develops with a better angle real quick for one of us.

[Stein]

I don't like the angle at all for my personal skill-set.
Mid-bugle, he looks unalerted- but that could change quick with the wind direction.  Short-story- no shot there, but good chance one develops with a better angle real quick for one of us.

 

[bracer40]

It looks like he's headed towards the shooter. I'd let him keep going unless he gives a better broadside shot to the caller.

[Crunchy]

Dead elk

[blackveltbowhunter]

Interesting situation. I'm assuming the thermals are pulling hard, hence why he hasn't already popped me. ( Based on the pic it looks almost as if the bull already passed my scent stream), in this situation I am going to pass. He is moving and that window is very, very tight. I am going to pass and hope my partner has the angle. If I was solo it might be better to alert the bull now via movement or sound, if he runs over, or gets a whiff there is no turning back, but some movement to get him turned slowly might be the best option. Although to be honest I don't think I would have the guts to try it and would just hope he gave one of us an angle. Tough situation IMO

[pd]

Dead elk

Totally agree with Crunchy.  Your partner might get a shot as well (probably a better shot, from the angle)--and this is fine by us.  Two arrows are better than zero.

Dead elk.

[Crunchy]

I killed this bull with almost the same angle.  Dead in 20 seconds.

[HntnFsh]

Dead elk

Totally agree with Crunchy.  Your partner might get a shot as well (probably a better shot, from the angle)--and this is fine by us.  Two arrows are better than zero.

Dead elk.

Unless Im looking at the picture wrong that's an impossible shot. The shooter is on the other side of the elk.

[Crunchy]

Yes you are looking at it correctly just same spot opposite side of the neck.

[Karl Blanchard]

If I'm the caller then my arrow is going in the back of the ribs and coming out the pocket on the side we are all looking at in the pic.

[lokidog]

I'm shooting where the red dot is on the previous photo. Shot a bear once like that at 11 yards, he went ten and down.

[tgomez]

Dead elk

Dead Elk, I'm taking that shot. My bow hunting set up is shooting right at 300 FPS. At 20 yards that's a dead bull.

[blackveltbowhunter]

If I'm the caller then my arrow is going in the back of the ribs and coming out the pocket on the side we are all looking at in the pic.

That's what's tough about this pic, the " caller " arrow could mean behind the bull or in front. I agree with Karl if I am behind the bull.

[WapitiTalk1]

For this scenario, the caller is on “this” side of the bull, not behind it.  Guess I wasn’t 100% clear on that.

[HntnFsh]

Yes you are looking at it correctly just same spot opposite side of the neck.

 Okay, I agree then. I would take the same shot. Or a different option. My choice would be easier though cuz I'm a muzzy hunter!

[coachcw]

If I'm the caller then my arrow is going in the back of the ribs and coming out the pocket on the side we are all looking at in the pic.

unless i push you down and shoot over your shoulder ! plus id say the shooter has the shot . and if the bull is comming in why is he facing away from caller ?

[Karl Blanchard]

If I'm the caller then my arrow is going in the back of the ribs and coming out the pocket on the side we are all looking at in the pic.

unless i push you down and shoot over your shoulder ! plus id say the shooter has the shot . and if the bull is comming in why is he facing away from caller ?

I think what's going on here is Wapati had Bloody Mary's for breakfast when he made this one up   I'm getting what the arrows mean now.  Caller has the same view as we do looking at the pic.  Bull came between the shooter and caller. Callers wind is about to hit that bull in the face.  Given that scenario, me as a caller am not taking that angle. Sorry but that red dot has a high likelihood of one lung or deflection.  Theres a whole lot of structure to navigate right there on a massive bodied animal.  That shot has killed animals and it's also left a lot for the crows.  Straight on I'd send it.  You start quartering that angle and I'm staying off the trigger.  I'll try and make opportunity if he happens to pause or if I can stop him when he spins to leave

[spudder1982]

Agree Karl.  Don't currently have I shot worth the risk to the animal.  Not worth it.  I would hope I can stop him once he turns or get on him again.  Would like to have the meat of that guy in my freezer though and him hanging at my place.

[Tjv28]

That red dot is real close to some heavy bone