Bow Shot Dilemma

[freshwateroctopus]

Hey guys,

I was doing a side hill stock on a nice boar with my bow in the cascades and found him just below me in some brush. I could just see his head and he was eating in decently thick stuff and had no idea I was there. He was at about 19 yards and I delayed the shot because deep down it didn’t seem ethical to just whip an arrow into the brush and hope for the best. My buddy started walking over not realizing I had a bear and spooked him.

He says I should have shot. I’m bummed I didn’t get the bear, but was hoping I made a good ethical decision for not shooting because I didn’t have the shot.

Thoughts?

[pianoman9701]

You've absolutely done the ethical thing, especially where a bear is concerned. An arrow is easily deflected by a twig, not to mention "brush". Going in after a bear on which you've not confirmed a good shot is risky business.

[Fatherof5]

You've absolutely done the ethical thing, especially where a bear is concerned. An arrow is easily deflected by a twig, not to mention "brush". Going in after a bear on which you've not confirmed a good shot is risky business.

[freshwateroctopus]

Thanks - I keep playing it over in my head and feeling bummed. I appreciate the feedback.

[huntnfmly]

Absolutely the right ethical choice good on you

[BULLBLASTER]

Id say right call. Best not to send a shot unless you are close to positive what the outcome will be.

I regret shots i Didnt take much less than shots i shouldnt have taken. 

[pianoman9701]

Thanks - I keep playing it over in my head and feeling bummed. I appreciate the feedback.

Talk to your hunting partner about ethics to make sure you're on the same page. Spending time in the woods with an unethical hunter not only isn't fun, but can cause needlessly long tracks after bad shots. I've had such a partner. No es bueno.

[10thmountainarcher]

Thanks - I keep playing it over in my head and feeling bummed. I appreciate the feedback.

Arrows do weird things with brush. I missed a 6pt bull in 09 because my arrow deflected off a small, I mean smalllll branch I did not see through my peep. A fifteen yard shot and the arrow went way over his back after glancing off the branch. You absolutely did the right thing in this case. Could it have worked out, yes... but I’d bet money it had a higher chance on going the other way.

[mburrows]

Id say right call. Best not to send a shot unless you are close to positive what the outcome will be.

I regret shots i Didnt take much less than shots i shouldnt have taken. 

100% agree

[Rainier10]

100% without a doubt you made the right call.

[npaull]

Zero doubt, absolutely zero, that your move was the right move.

[Davo]

No question you made the right call. 100% good job

[HikerHunter]

Your buddy didn't see what you were looking at. You went with your gut and it sounds like that was the ethical and right thing to do.

[idaho guy]

  GOOD decision especially archery where weird things happen sometimes with what appears to be a good shot

[Rainier10]

I never second guess anyone who doesn't take the shot.  Never.

I had a youth come through hunter ed.  On the course we had a deer decoy broadside at 60 yards.  She said no shot.  I said you have a gun.  She said it needed to be closer.  Her dad chimed in that they hunt out of a blind.  Right you are young lady.

You made the right call, your partner wasn't there, didn't see what you saw and he wasn't shooting.  It's your call and you made the right one, not a doubt in my mind.

[Bango skank]

Good call.  There will be other chances.  2 days ago i passed up a bear that was in thick brush where i just didnt like the shot due to it, and im using a rifle.  I made the same call over a bear at a wallow in 2015 when i was bowhunting, little brush in the way, im sure i could have made the shot, but he walked.  Tracking bears is not easy.

[theleo]

Never regret passing on a shot you weren't comfortable with.

[nwwanderer]

Right call, it is tough enough with a perfect shot

[Special T]

I tried to put a finishing shot on a deer that was slowly walking away from me at 25 yards. i was on the same game trail it was. I attempted to but 2 arrows in the back of its head (which for me is very doable) and the small twigs that i couldnt see were enough to deflect the arrows away from the target. I can tell you anything of substance would have deflected it that much more. Good for you on passing up the shot, and yes it sucks.

[freshwateroctopus]

Thanks, everyone. Glad I got some good feedback and can head out again with a clear head. Appreciate it!

[kentrek]

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

[huntnfmly]

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

Sorry but I am going to have to disagree with this IMO there is no decision to be made here shooting thru brush is a No follow up shots is another story.Practicing so you  think you can shoot thru brush is setting a person up for unethical shots and wounding animals

[kentrek]

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

Sorry but I am going to have to disagree with this IMO there is no decision to be made here shooting thru brush is a No follow up shots is another story.Practicing so you  think you can shoot thru brush is setting a person up for unethical shots and wounding animals

No worries 

I thinking practicing is the only way to go myself...if with in my limits I will always put a 2nd arrow into an animal but thats for each hunter to decide

[huntnfmly]

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

I passed a few animals in similar situations

This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff

This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself

Sorry but I am going to have to disagree with this IMO there is no decision to be made here shooting thru brush is a No follow up shots is another story.Practicing so you  think you can shoot thru brush is setting a person up for unethical shots and wounding animals

No worries 

I thinking practicing is the only way to go myself...if with in my limits I will always put a 2nd arrow into an animal but thats for each hunter to decide

I agree I think practice is great and agree a second arrow is always good if possible I was thinking of shooting the first shot thru brush wouldn't be good

[kentrek]

Just depends how far, how much brush, confidence

No different then any shot really...if the shooter thinks they can make the shot..they should do it

But thats up to the shooter

[b0bbyg]

You  made the harder call, but I think the right one to pass on the shot if it felt wrong.

Now teach your buddy to pay attention and not wander in while you are staring at an animal!

[Threewolves]

Hey, don't question yourself, you made a decision, you are past it, let it go and move on to the next bear. All the what ifs, if you would have shot, let that crap go, IF your Aunt had balls, she would be your Uncle.

Your only issue (imo) seems to be your hunting partner. The big IF. IF he would have correctly accessed the situation and backed off with in moments you may have had a shot. Maybe he will learn from this and become a better hunter himself. It is good to have someone pack half your bear off the mountain. But, if you don't think he can learn from this CUT him loose and hunt on your own. Your decision making process becomes clearer.

Ya, you have been laying into the hillside one cheeking it for three hours, over two hundred yards. Now, you are twenty yards away you come to your knees and pull your bow to full draw, but the angle doesn't look good, you have the presents of mind to let you bow down. The bear moves broadside he is focused on feeding, you come to full draw, his onside front leg is forward exposing everything....

[idaho guy]

Just depends how far, how much brush, confidence

No different then any shot really...if the shooter thinks they can make the shot..they should do it

But thats up to the shooter

. 

  I hunt in the world of brush I rarely have a shot without some brush. Light brush right next to the animal like touching it can often be no problem. Same brush even 5 yards in front is a problem. If you hunt in brushy country practice shooting in brushy country! Shooting a block in your mowed and flat yard doesn’t really prepare you for hunting shots. It’s a good idea and each hunter needs to figure out his own limits. I have passed a lot of shots that I could have taken never regretted a pass. Op was right

[Jpmiller]

Game changer for me was learning to use my other pins to figure out arrow flight and learning what brush I was actually shooting "over" instead of through. You still have the difficulty of seeing well enough to know where to aim so that definitely factors in and I'd never try to shoot "through" brush.

Passing a shot your uncomfortable with turns into a good memory of a fun encounter. Making a poor shot on an animal sticks with you forever. Plus now you have something to bust your buddies chops about, "remember that time you blew that bear out right before he stepped into my perfect shooting lane". Good luck out there.

[dilleytech]

You did the ethical thing.  I would have done the non ethical thing and probably had a bear.