Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Pigfuz on September 20, 2015, 08:48:37 PM

Title: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Pigfuz on September 20, 2015, 08:48:37 PM: Tonight just at last shooting minutes my wife shot a cow elk quartering towards her at 20 yards. :IBCOOL: We have not gone to look for it yet but I do have questions about how good of a shot it was. As far as quartering to shots go, it was perfect placement. The problem is that penetration was only about 10 inches and one of the blades on her Hunga Munga broadhead did not deploy, so only two blades actually functioned. There was bubbles in the blood on her arrow which makes me think that she hit at least one lung. Would 10 inches of penetration hit both lungs??? Will it die with only one lung hit??? How long would you wait before looking??? Would you wait till morning? It is supposed to get down to 48 degrees tonight.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: JJB11B on September 20, 2015, 08:53:25 PM: My :twocents: is get on it first thing in the morning
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: 92xj on September 20, 2015, 08:53:59 PM: Quartering to, 10 inches with two blades, good shot. One lung, maybe liver. I'd wait at least 5 hours, especially after tracking and bumping a single lung and liver shot this past week. Luckily it ran only 40 yards and bedded right back down, died and we found it in the morning. What you have going for you is the arrow came back out leaving an open wound channel to bleed from. Id wait at least 5 hours or to first light. You might lose some rib meat but nothing else.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: TheHunt on September 20, 2015, 08:54:39 PM: Quote from: JJB11B on September 20, 2015, 08:53:25 PM
My :twocents: is get on it first thing in the morning

I would agree. I hope you flagged the location of the shot and the elk. Start looking at first light.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: buglebrush on September 20, 2015, 08:54:57 PM: I would leave it until morning, and be on it at first light. You should be good.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: billythekidrock on September 20, 2015, 08:55:08 PM: If it is raining there, I would give it a couple hours and then get on it. If it is not raining I would wait until morning.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: fastdam on September 20, 2015, 09:08:59 PM: It will start to sour if you leave it all night and its dead. I would get on it right now. I have seen them sour overnight when it was snowing.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: The scout on September 20, 2015, 09:14:12 PM: I would not worry about it souring over night, with one lung it could go a long ways or be dead within a couple hundred yards. I would wait till the morning, sounds like you should be able to find her with that shot
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Bob33 on September 20, 2015, 09:18:24 PM: Quote from: fastdam on September 20, 2015, 09:08:59 PM
It will start to sour if you leave it all night and its dead. I would get on it right now. I have seen them sour overnight when it was snowing.
If it is dead now it is very likely the meat will spoil by morning. I would risk bumping it rather than risk having it dead and lose the meat.
. :twocents:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: sled on September 20, 2015, 09:49:16 PM: Quote from: fastdam on September 20, 2015, 09:08:59 PM
It will start to sour if you leave it all night and its dead. I would get on it right now. I have seen them sour overnight when it was snowing.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: sled on September 20, 2015, 09:50:32 PM: Get after it.especially if it is raining now like it is here.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Timberstalker on September 20, 2015, 09:53:37 PM: Start tracking.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Jonnyjammer on September 20, 2015, 09:55:12 PM: i hope your not replying because you are out tracking it.if you got bubbles you got the penetration.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: splitshot on September 20, 2015, 09:57:36 PM: I have passed up many shots in the last minutes of the day. even with a rifle. just don't like stumbling around in the dark. I am old and that's what I do. good luck on picking up the trail and finding the animal. mike w
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: djnoodle on September 20, 2015, 10:02:58 PM: Bubbles in the blood, should be a dead elk waiting for you. Go get your wife's harvest!

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Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 20, 2015, 10:12:55 PM: I would of stayed with it for a couple hours and went looking...I hate the idea of leaving animals sit all night.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: sled on September 20, 2015, 10:14:33 PM: Damn. If I was closer I'd help you out tonight!
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: lokidog on September 20, 2015, 10:25:31 PM: Tagging. I'd wait, unless raining... but then I'm not a bone sour paranoia kinda guy. :dunno: :twocents:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: BGLEMIN on September 20, 2015, 10:26:09 PM: Track now. Shot a bull at 7pm on a similar night...backed out till morning and found him at 7 am. Even at temps in the 40s...13 hours was too long. He died within 130 yds and within minutes of being shot. I backed out because I couldn't find arrow or blood in the first 50 yds of trailing.

It's a tough call though, bumping them sucks too.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: sled on September 20, 2015, 10:31:55 PM: Quote from: BGLEMIN on September 20, 2015, 10:26:09 PM
Track now. Shot a bull at 7pm on a similar night...backed out till morning and found him at 7 am. Even at temps in the 40s...13 hours was too long. He died within 130 yds and within minutes of being shot. I backed out because I couldn't find arrow or blood in the first 50 yds of trailing.

It's a tough call though, bumping them sucks too.
yes, but it's a dead elk either way. Way to warm to let it sit over night.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Jonnyjammer on September 20, 2015, 10:32:46 PM: BGLEMiN i agree with this to an extent,if shes hit,bubbles in the blood shes not going far before bedding or dying,I treat these like a wolf would on her heels not letting her rest if she bumps runs another hundred she will be wearing down.You let her rest and she will be gone just like your tag. :twocents:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: h2ofowlr on September 20, 2015, 11:14:44 PM: Good luck. Look for prints as all blood may be washed away by morning.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 02:58:39 AM: After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours. We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor. Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Borg on September 21, 2015, 03:07:33 AM: Quote from: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 02:58:39 AM
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours. We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor. Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.

That's awesome! Congrats to you and the wife. Hope pictures to soon follow.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: djnoodle on September 21, 2015, 04:16:04 AM: Sweet! Congrats to your wife and you both.

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Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 21, 2015, 04:50:46 AM: Quote from: Borg on September 21, 2015, 03:07:33 AM
Quote from: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 02:58:39 AM
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours. We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor. Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.

That's awesome! Congrats to you and the wife. Hope pictures to soon follow.
:yeah: :tup:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: trophyhunt on September 21, 2015, 05:03:49 AM: Great ended!!! Congrats!
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Widgeondeke on September 21, 2015, 05:30:21 AM: Congrats to the wife. Hope to see some pictures later today
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: ribka on September 21, 2015, 07:28:26 AM: Quote from: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 02:58:39 AM
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours. We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor. Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.

:tup:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: splitshot on September 21, 2015, 07:52:12 AM: congrats, you made the right call and a good one. you would have felt bad the next morn if it was spoiled. very nice. mike w
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: bearpaw on September 21, 2015, 08:05:35 AM: This is a great topic, the guy asked for advice, was given good advice, and now has an elk hanging, that is really great to see! Congrats to you and your wife! :tup: :tup:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: nwwanderer on September 21, 2015, 08:08:33 AM: Thanks, your effort has improved my day!! Hanging from the tractor is also a big plus
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: JDHasty on September 21, 2015, 09:34:58 AM: Get yourself a couple Coleman Powerhouse Double Mantle white gas lanterns and do not leave an animal in the woods overnight unless it is below freezing weather. The white gas lantern is still the gold standard when it comes to blood trailing.

In western Washington rain washing all blood away is also a consideration.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 09:52:18 AM: Here is a link to the topic about her hunt. http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,182595.msg2408713/topicseen.html#new
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: sled on September 21, 2015, 10:07:48 AM: So happy for you guys. Good you found it!!
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: stickbow9 on September 21, 2015, 12:32:06 PM: Congratulations on a good harvest.
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: JJB11B on September 21, 2015, 02:50:48 PM: Quote from: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 02:58:39 AM
After reading everyone's advise we decided to go look for it after two hours. We found it within 250 yards and now its hanging from the tractor. Thanks everybody for the encouragement and quick replies.
LETS SEE SUM PITCHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's Great!, But seriously lets see some pictures!
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: TheHunt on September 21, 2015, 06:26:21 PM: Great job...
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: Pigfuz on September 21, 2015, 09:54:03 PM: Here are the pictures :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Advise about quality of shot at elk tonight!!!!
Post by: fastdam on September 22, 2015, 12:18:59 PM: Thats fantastic! She looks really happy. Congradulations to you both. :tup: