Shoot or No Shot 2021, Episode #3

[WapitiTalk1]

Location: The Spud State
Hunt Pressure Status: Nobody’s up in your basin this week; woot!
Hunt: Partner Archery Elk Hunt
Camp Type: Backcountry Spike Camp
Tag: Archery; 3 PT or better bull.

SE Idaho, archery elk hunt, 15 September, 5:40 PM. You are the shooter in a breeding sequence calling setup. Your buddy is dead ahead of bullwinkle in the sparse pine about 30 yards, and, has successfully called this fine wapiti in from your 3 o’clock, across the small opening, to a point where the bull stops and decides to advertise his bullhood a bit by abusing a small fir sapling. You know it's 30 yards (ranged it a few minutes ago) to the bent over pine that the elk has so rudely stopped on the other side of. It's the 5th day of your 10 day hunt and the light wind is blowing from right to left from where you are located. You're on your knees at full draw with good cover to your back, in the direction of the bottom yellow arrow.

Shoot or no shot here? 
 
Reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg and add the marked up pic with your post.

[Stein]

I'll wait, looks pretty sketchy to catch his right lung without hitting the left leg bone.

[cougforester]

Wait another 30 seconds. Buddy gives out a couple sweet sweet cow mews, bull gets tired of raking and decides to take a step to your left and opens the vitals. Since you're a pro and didn't forget to have a diaphragm in your mouth, give him a nervous bark just as the left leg swings forward. He should freeze with the vitals wide open and look your way.

Send it!

[Tjv28]

If I’m at full draw it’s a done deal.

[Mudman]

Full draw, Bull is responding perfectly, wind and everything else in favor.  I would wait for a few more steps but be ready to shoot if Bull behavior changed(spooked).

[Shawn Ryan]

Shooting, just to the left of the red spot tjv28 drew.  Depending on the immediate variables, I may slowly rise to stand and then shoot.

[SpurInSpokane]

Not that I have much experience w/ archery elk, but at 30 yds I'm shooting...

[pianoman9701]

Wait until he gets done with the sapling and hit him right in the ticker.

[pd]

Ahhhhhhhhhhg.  RJ you are tormenting me.

Been there, done that.  Sorry, I can't hold that long.  And, when I let down (precisely because I have held too long), I make a big commotion.  The extra cup of coffee in the morning, the lack of sleep, the awkward sitting/kneeling position, everything means I make a mess when I let down.

But, if I shoot now, I will be shaking too hard to get a good shot.

You are awful.  Stop doing this to me.

[Dhoey07]

Leg looks far enough forward to send one.  I'm aiming right over the sapling.  That's a stud bull 

[lamrith]

I'm following Tjv28 and letting it go at the same spot. That left leg is nice and stretched forward. MY bow shoots fairly flat so I would not risk any lower shot.  Having hunted with you a bit, the real concern is what is the easiest way our of the hole you dropped us into. 

On second thought, night be easier to just call in a chopper to airlift the bull out and drop it at camp so we can get him on ice before the end of the hunt!

[Threewolves]

I know I talk a lot of crap, but TJV28 looks like the right shot, yep I want on on side leg forward. Spurs, it is to high for me, I hit one in the shoulder blade then rib, lets just say that day sucked. I like P'mans angle if it goes in just before the leg bone dead Elk. How come I keep thinking I (me) am going to hit the branch with TJV28' shot, naw I'm good take the shot! Spurs miss the shoulder and take a high lung, which is still good for me! Mean while I am going through paralyses by analyses and the elk just simply walks away.

[WapitiTalk1]

Wait until he gets done with the sapling and hit him right in the ticker.

Dead elk, I'll get the packs.  From experience/instinct, I'd go just a tad farther back, a tad, PMan but you're in/on the "<"  for sure mister.   
 
This bull was shot at even a bit more quartering to shot, facing left to right.  I called this young whipper snapper off his cows twice... the second time, the arrow was on its way almost before he stopped to figure out what I was.  He went less than 30 yards and piled up.  You must be 100% confident in a shot like this to guarantee your arrow hits its mark.  No time for shakey knees here.   

[Will]

Still waiting for this 
Hunt Pressure Status: Nobody’s up in your basin this week; woot!

[Stein]

I'm with Piano on the shot.

[dilleytech]

Shoot all day every day.

[northwesthunter84]

Full send that leg is plenty forward.