Shoot or No Shot 2026, Episode #1

[WapitiTalk1]

Let's get some of these going again during the loooooong off season.

Date:  Mid September, 2026
Location: SW Montana
Hunt: Archery partner hunt; branch bull tag
Situation: Nice job being patient!  You have set up as shown and did an advertising session for a good 25 minutes.  You (shooter) catch movement from your 2 o'clock and here comes this fine fellow.  Your partner (caller) sees him also and gives a nervous grunt stopping the bull in his tracks where he stands now, 25 yards from you (shooter).  You're at full draw with good cover to your back...... Shoot or no shot?


If you're shooting, download the image (Paint works well for this), place a "dot" on the pic where you're shooting, and repost the pic in your answer.

[Kingofthemountain83]

I'd take the shot if I could shoot a bow...

[andrew_in_idaho]

Based on those thermals and the directionality of that trail I’ll wait


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[Dan-o]

Based on those thermals and the directionality of that trail I’ll wait


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This.

I would not have confidence in that shot.

[WapitiTalk1]

Great discussion gentlemen, thank you. Do you think the caller made his nervous bark a bit soon?  The nervous bark or grunt is a tool that should be in every elk hunter’s tool kit. When used properly it will stop elk in his/her tracks but timing is most important.

[pianoman9701]

Yeah, quartering to not a good percentage shot.

[Dan-o]

Great discussion gentlemen, thank you. Do you think the caller made his nervous bark a bit soon?  The nervous bark or grunt is a tool that should be in every elk hunter’s tool kit. When used properly it will stop elk in his/her tracks but timing is most important.

I don't believe you can necessarily freeze an elk just how you like.
Thy have free will.   
But with the game trail turning like that....

[blackveltbowhunter]

This is a good example for why its important to work out the " stop " prior to setups in multi person caller/shooter scenarios.  I ALWAYS defer to the shooter for stopping for a shot, and insist on the same. Unless the setup is falling apart, or the caller is on the shooters hip and can see EXACTLY what the shooter is looking at.

Depends on the day of the hunt and time,  that bull is likely  getting a pas early on.

The shot presented is doable, but difficult. The distance is close which helps, the bull is not real old so not quite as dense, which helps, but the margin for error is very small and I would only take the shot with certain types of equipment. 

[salmosalar]

I would wait.

There is a shot there. I'm not opposed to a quartering to, Mobbs shot but it's a 15yd and in shot for me.

[Pathfinder101]

I'm not good enough to snake an arrow reliably between all those bones.  The trail will take him broadside in another couple of steps.  I'll wait...