Shoot or No Shot 2021 - Episode #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Partner Hunt
Camp Type: Base Camp, driving then hiking to various spots
Tag: Archery; 3 PT or better bull.

You have got to be kidding me! You're on your very first elk hunt and for the past year or so, have wisely hung out on Hunting Washington and WapitiTalk.com and learned a few tips/tricks from the local riff raff.  You and your partner heard an unsolicited bugle at zero dark thirty and wisely, did not made a peep on your own. You instead make a plan to work the prevailing morning thermals and 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 made a decision on whether to call or not.  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 switching! 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 confirm that yep, it’s starting to switch to going uphill and set/drop your partner/shooter and retreat to your calling location...... Now, you quickly scour your memories of Elknut's playbook and decide you're close enough to post a "threat" to Barney Bull.... Several distressed, whiny cow calls are thrown 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 cows 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…Cripes! He busts through the pine fast and then slows down to a walk, positioned where you see him now in the pic. Your partner may or may not have a shot from his angle (original shooter, about 25 yards to the front of the bull) and you're already at full draw, with your diaphragm hanging between your top and bottom lips (original caller) and the bull is less than 20 yards from where you kneel..........

Shoot or no shot for the original caller at this point in time? For the original shooter? Or, knees are a knocking too bad (sounds like somebody's shaking a paper bag with walnut shells in it) with both original caller and shooter too rattled to even shoot?   


 

If you or your partner are 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.

[dvolmer]

Shoot!!!  Always shoot!!!  300 Win Mag seems to love most angles!!!

[Shawn Ryan]

No shoot for me. Hoping that I'm at full draw and waiting for a bit different angle.  If I understand the original shooter position, then I'm hoping he is thinking the same thing.

[SpurInSpokane]

Always like looking at these, and it's too bad there's not more responses.
I think no shot for caller or shooter, not that I know anything, but those angles look pretty bad for an ethical archery shot.
I'm with the other guy, full-draw, hope he moves, and if he starts to bolt, cow call, maybe stop him?

[MtnMuley]

Always appreciate you doing these. If I'm the original shooter I pass, because knowing where my buddy is calling, I know he's got to have a better angle than me. If I'm the original caller, I would not hesitate on this shot. Right leg back presents a good window at that distance for good penetration and a probable pass through taking out at least one lung.

[Dan-o]

Looks like he's going to catch the callers scent at any moment.

I'm hoping the shooter puts one in the boiler room.

[haftard]

20 yards. if he stops and dose the "wtf something is wrong" shoot him. otherwise i will keep waiting for broadside. he gets away o well arrows are expensive

[Threewolves]

This is one of the shots you have been practicing all year long is shooting those little dots on your target at 25 yards playing like you are killing grouse. A lot of people will not take this shot.  I say bury it about 3 inches below MTMuley's mark.

I know this situation you have a partner, but I usually hunt alone as does one of my partners in AZ and when you are calling by yourself they usually come in at some kinda of frontal angle. He says if you have been practicing and are confident take the shot, if you don't feel comfortable with the shot don't take it. I took a cow elk once coming almost straight into me. I let it fly at 20 yards. I shoot a 60 lb bow, the arrow went to the fletching the long ways. The cow went 80 yds and piled up. There was some blood sign on the ground, but most the blood sign was blown on the tall weeds about two feet above the ground.

25 yds would be my max for this type of shot, the closer the better.