Shoot or No Shot 2026, Episode #3

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Third Week of September, 2026/5:42 PM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Solo Hunt
Tag: Archery tag; any bull.

After hunting with your partner off and on for the past week and a half, working many avenues of your hunt (run/gun, some tree standing, some ambush sites on travel routes, etc.), you find yourselves at the last few days of your hunt. For some odd reason (as it sometimes does) the elk have decided to become a bit choked up over your presence in their neck of the woods and have gone almost completely silent for the past two days. WTH, it’s the third week of September! This evening’s plans are for you and your buddy to each head to a separate spot where you know the elk have moved to or through, at the witching hour (right before dark). If they’re not vocalizing, you may as well split up and maximize your efforts in ambush attempts, right? As you sit at your chosen spot (you’ve been here before and know there are elk that move into/through this spot right before dark almost every night) thinking about all that has transpired on your hunt and what you may do the following morning, you see a nice bull move directly toward you into the small opening you’re sitting at the edge of and holy hell, he's a dandy!. He comes in from the direction you’d hoped he came in from (wind in your favor) and commences to drop his head and sniff the ground for that sweetest smell that tells him a cow in estrus has been there! Of course, you’re at full draw by this time with your bow, and now is the time of this hunt to make the CALL. I will tell you that you’ll have approximately 30-40 seconds to decide if you’re gonna touch off an arrow at this bull “but” the crux of the biscuit is……. you’ll have 5 various angles (images I’ll provide) in this short span of time to shoot. The bull is 25-30 yards away and you my friend, have chosen your background to sit in front of well (perfectly breaking up your background), and as mentioned, you have the wind vs. your opponent. This is the first bull "full stop", angle number one of five, in the next 30-40 seconds (it all happens pretty quickly so it's up to you to decide which shot you'll take)... he's not gonna be there forever sniffing the dirt. For this first angle/image....Shoot or no shot here?

Remember, if you say "shoot", save the image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[Shawn Ryan]

Waiting. Like an aspen leaf in October: shaking and head twirling, hoping I don't fall down before I get a shot!

[High Climber]

Nope

[WapitiTalk1]

A few seconds after the bull arrived on the scene as shown in first image, he shifts a bit and drops his head to sniff the ground. Thermals are still hitting you in the face, your concealment is still working well, you're set up in a "quiet spot" with soft dirt/vegetation under you, your bow is whisper quiet when drawn, but...this bull is not gonna be around much longer.... Barney Bull looks to be a bit over 25ish yards from where you're kneeling. Shoot or no shot here?

Remember, if you say "shoot", save the above image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[Shawn Ryan]

Still nope.

[salmosalar]

Hell, no.

[WapitiTalk1]

And… the bull shifts his position again to sniff another wet spot on the ground..... As of now, he's been well within shooting range for 15-20 seconds (but probably won't be for much longer) and has offered you three angles. He's also moved a bit more into the open and out of the shadows to where he is positioned now to your 12 o'clock. You feel he's gonna continue off to the left (your left as you're looking) and down an elk trail that leads to another small meadow at any time. He's right at 25 yards from your position. My, isn't he a fat, tasty looking bull.  Shoot or no shot here?

Remember, if you say "shoot", save the above image to your desktop. Then, open it with MS Paint (or another editing app), place your X or spot, save it... then add it to your post.

[High Climber]

Getting closer but not yet…

[salmosalar]

Tempting but a bad angle. I would like to say that I would hold off.