Post by: freshwateroctopus on September 04, 2020, 11:42:41 AM
I was doing a side hill stock on a nice boar with my bow in the cascades and found him just below me in some brush. I could just see his head and he was eating in decently thick stuff and had no idea I was there. He was at about 19 yards and I delayed the shot because deep down it didn’t seem ethical to just whip an arrow into the brush and hope for the best. My buddy started walking over not realizing I had a bear and spooked him.
He says I should have shot. I’m bummed I didn’t get the bear, but was hoping I made a good ethical decision for not shooting because I didn’t have the shot.
Thoughts?
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 04, 2020, 11:46:55 AM
Post by: Fatherof5 on September 04, 2020, 11:51:14 AM
You've absolutely done the ethical thing, especially where a bear is concerned. An arrow is easily deflected by a twig, not to mention "brush". Going in after a bear on which you've not confirmed a good shot is risky business.:yeah:
Post by: freshwateroctopus on September 04, 2020, 11:53:19 AM
Post by: huntnfmly on September 04, 2020, 11:56:19 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on September 04, 2020, 12:02:01 PM
I regret shots i Didnt take much less than shots i shouldnt have taken. :twocents:
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 04, 2020, 12:02:47 PM
Thanks - I keep playing it over in my head and feeling bummed. I appreciate the feedback.
Talk to your hunting partner about ethics to make sure you're on the same page. Spending time in the woods with an unethical hunter not only isn't fun, but can cause needlessly long tracks after bad shots. I've had such a partner. No es bueno.
Post by: 10thmountainarcher on September 04, 2020, 12:09:39 PM
Thanks - I keep playing it over in my head and feeling bummed. I appreciate the feedback.
Arrows do weird things with brush. I missed a 6pt bull in 09 because my arrow deflected off a small, I mean smalllll branch I did not see through my peep. A fifteen yard shot and the arrow went way over his back after glancing off the branch. You absolutely did the right thing in this case. Could it have worked out, yes... but I’d bet money it had a higher chance on going the other way.
Post by: mburrows on September 04, 2020, 12:15:10 PM
Id say right call. Best not to send a shot unless you are close to positive what the outcome will be.
I regret shots i Didnt take much less than shots i shouldnt have taken. :twocents:
100% agree
Post by: Rainier10 on September 04, 2020, 12:25:45 PM
Post by: npaull on September 04, 2020, 12:30:32 PM
Post by: Davo on September 04, 2020, 12:56:57 PM
Post by: HikerHunter on September 04, 2020, 01:02:55 PM
Post by: idaho guy on September 04, 2020, 01:14:51 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on September 04, 2020, 01:31:16 PM
I had a youth come through hunter ed. On the course we had a deer decoy broadside at 60 yards. She said no shot. I said you have a gun. She said it needed to be closer. Her dad chimed in that they hunt out of a blind. Right you are young lady.
You made the right call, your partner wasn't there, didn't see what you saw and he wasn't shooting. It's your call and you made the right one, not a doubt in my mind.
Post by: Bango skank on September 04, 2020, 01:34:06 PM
Post by: theleo on September 04, 2020, 01:34:16 PM
Post by: nwwanderer on September 04, 2020, 02:03:07 PM
Post by: Special T on September 04, 2020, 02:39:03 PM
Post by: freshwateroctopus on September 04, 2020, 05:22:08 PM
Post by: kentrek on September 04, 2020, 07:16:45 PM
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself
Post by: huntnfmly on September 04, 2020, 07:40:26 PM
I passed a few animals in similar situations
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself
I passed a few animals in similar situationsSorry but I am going to have to disagree with this IMO there is no decision to be made here shooting thru brush is a No follow up shots is another story.Practicing so you think you can shoot thru brush is setting a person up for unethical shots and wounding animals
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself
Post by: kentrek on September 04, 2020, 08:43:56 PM
I passed a few animals in similar situations
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myselfI passed a few animals in similar situationsSorry but I am going to have to disagree with this IMO there is no decision to be made here shooting thru brush is a No follow up shots is another story.Practicing so you think you can shoot thru brush is setting a person up for unethical shots and wounding animals
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself
No worries :tup:
I thinking practicing is the only way to go myself...if with in my limits I will always put a 2nd arrow into an animal but thats for each hunter to decide
Post by: huntnfmly on September 04, 2020, 09:07:42 PM
I agree I think practice is great and agree a second arrow is always good if possible I was thinking of shooting the first shot thru brush wouldn't be goodI passed a few animals in similar situations
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myselfI passed a few animals in similar situationsSorry but I am going to have to disagree with this IMO there is no decision to be made here shooting thru brush is a No follow up shots is another story.Practicing so you think you can shoot thru brush is setting a person up for unethical shots and wounding animals
This winter practice shooting in brush...learn what your arrows does and its trajectory at very close distances...esp if its hits stuff
This is poor odds shooting but having at least some practice on your side will help you feel confident in either passing or shooting..this is esp useful for follow up shots, these are tough calls to make in the moment and I know I've messed up on alot myself
No worries :tup:
I thinking practicing is the only way to go myself...if with in my limits I will always put a 2nd arrow into an animal but thats for each hunter to decide
Post by: kentrek on September 04, 2020, 09:57:44 PM
No different then any shot really...if the shooter thinks they can make the shot..they should do it
But thats up to the shooter
Post by: b0bbyg on September 04, 2020, 10:22:31 PM
Now teach your buddy to pay attention and not wander in while you are staring at an animal! :chuckle:
Post by: Threewolves on September 06, 2020, 07:25:52 AM
Your only issue (imo) seems to be your hunting partner. The big IF. IF he would have correctly accessed the situation and backed off with in moments you may have had a shot. Maybe he will learn from this and become a better hunter himself. It is good to have someone pack half your bear off the mountain. But, if you don't think he can learn from this CUT him loose and hunt on your own. Your decision making process becomes clearer.
Ya, you have been laying into the hillside one cheeking it for three hours, over two hundred yards. Now, you are twenty yards away you come to your knees and pull your bow to full draw, but the angle doesn't look good, you have the presents of mind to let you bow down. The bear moves broadside he is focused on feeding, you come to full draw, his onside front leg is forward exposing everything....
Post by: idaho guy on September 06, 2020, 09:31:09 AM
Just depends how far, how much brush, confidence.
No different then any shot really...if the shooter thinks they can make the shot..they should do it
But thats up to the shooter
:yeah: I hunt in the world of brush I rarely have a shot without some brush. Light brush right next to the animal like touching it can often be no problem. Same brush even 5 yards in front is a problem. If you hunt in brushy country practice shooting in brushy country! Shooting a block in your mowed and flat yard doesn’t really prepare you for hunting shots. It’s a good idea and each hunter needs to figure out his own limits. I have passed a lot of shots that I could have taken never regretted a pass. Op was right
Post by: Jpmiller on September 06, 2020, 09:46:33 AM
Passing a shot your uncomfortable with turns into a good memory of a fun encounter. Making a poor shot on an animal sticks with you forever. Plus now you have something to bust your buddies chops about, "remember that time you blew that bear out right before he stepped into my perfect shooting lane". Good luck out there.
Post by: dilleytech on September 15, 2020, 07:10:53 AM