Shoot or No Shot 2023 - Episode #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Partner hunt
Date/Time: Early OCT around 10:30ish
Tag: Muzzleloader; 3 PT (or better) bull or antlerless

Quite the morning. After moving up the draw a good mile, following a vocal herd of wapiti (two bulls and a handful of cows), you and your partner set up to call just when you’re getting to the nice benchy area you’ve determined the herd is probably bedded on. A lot happens in the next minute. Caller is 100 yards in the direction of the red arrow. Shooter is 75 yards in the direction of the blue arrow. Caller gives a few whiny cow sounds and the satellite bull you see immediately bugles and moves to get the wind of the cow he heard… Dang it! The thermals have switched that quick and are now going in the direction of the yellow arrow. You have about two seconds until its thundering hooves and crashing brush, going up up and away.

Shooter has his/her smoke pole shouldered………. shoot or no shot here?

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'd probably need a solid rest, but it looks doable; ideally if he takes one more step with that left front leg going forward. You'd have to be confident in placing the shot tight behind the shoulder, no doubt. Hopefully stopped w/cow call, but if he moves anywhere except that 1 step forward I'd have to say no.

[Dan-o]

Shooting right now. 

Not even wondering. 

[HntnFsh]

Looks like a dead bull to me.

[actionshooter]

boom...

[WapitiTalk1]

Agree with all of you. Time to break the bull down and start the pack out.

[RB]

Question, what would be an effective caliber and load for this shot? I am a modern firearm guy and know what I would do with this shot, but not with a muzzle loader.

[JakeLand]

Question, what would be an effective caliber and load for this shot? I am a modern firearm guy and know what I would do with this shot, but not with a muzzle loader.

110 grain blackhorn and a 250 grain  T-EZ and yep

[jasnt]

Purple dot is my aim point.  Right in the vital V

[Katalla]

My smoke pole would go Boom. With my 7mm his ear would get pierced. Lights out before he hits the ground.

[Bullkllr]

I was probably over thinking it since I haven't shot a muzzle loader in about 10 years.

[RB]

Question, what would be an effective caliber and load for this shot? I am a modern firearm guy and know what I would do with this shot, but not with a muzzle loader.

110 grain blackhorn and a 250 grain  T-EZ and yep

What caliber?

[trophyhunt]

If its my white river muzzy tag, I'll pass    But, if otc, that purple shot looks perfect.

[RB]

My smoke pole would go Boom. With my 7mm his ear would get pierced. Lights out before he hits the ground.

 

[JakeLand]

Question, what would be an effective caliber and load for this shot? I am a modern firearm guy and know what I would do with this shot, but not with a muzzle loader.

110 grain blackhorn and a 250 grain  T-EZ and yep

What caliber?

knight ultra lite .50