Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: romaknows on January 02, 2010, 12:29:38 PM
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just was wondering if anyone else has had an elk " duck the string". it happened to me in Montana this year.It was at 40 yards broadside looking at me, as soon as i released he ducked and turned (clean miss over his back thank goodness)it really showed me that even though you might be a great shot at longer ranges a lot can happen if the animal moves.
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It has happened to me. Fortunately, I still got a high hit and recovered the elk. It has happened to me on deer more often. Sorry you missed, but better than losing it wounded. :twocents:
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Here's a thought to consider:
IMO - I don't think they are really ducking so that you miss, when they hear the bow released they take off, in order to take off they have to bend their legs which lowers their body, thus it appears they ducked your arrow at the sound of the string to avoid being hit. :twocents:
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I have had 2 turn towards me after the shot so that my quartering towards the offside front shoulder went through towards the rear, I still recovered both animals within 50 yards, but was surprised at how fast they spun !
If I hadn't been within 30 yards it might have been a different story !
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That is what i thought also,it really concerns me when i hear people saying they can shoot tight groups at 60 plus yards so they think they could take an animal at that range, it take so little for the animal to move just a bit and all of the sudden your "perfect shot " becomes a disaster.
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:yeah:
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I had that happen to me a couple years ago on a big cow. it was about a 35-40 yard shot and stuck her high up in the backstrap. :bash: She ran a long ways with the herd but I never saw a drop of blood. No idea if it killed her or not. Made me feel horrible about it.
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In my experience, when they are just walking along and have no Idea you are there, they will stop and look at you when they hear the bow.
If they are looking for something (as in coming to a call) then all bets are off, it depends on how tight they are wired, although I have noticed that they turn towards me if they are waiting for me to catch up while calling. duck a little and jump back when coming to a call , and blast out of there if I happened to walk in on them without calling.
I try to get within 20 yards, but will shoot out to 40 if it feels right, the closer the better.
I had one this year at 16 FEET and had no shot :bash:
the trick is to get the shot off as soon as it appears, thats why I like my recurve., the longer it takes to shoot the tighter the spring is coiled.
If they spook before I get in range, Oh well I didnt want to quit hunting and start working yet anyways......
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if the elk is looking at me , i aim bottom 1/3 . have never had an elk lower its body below the arrow if you know the range. i did bounce an arrow of a bulls back when i shot him for 45 when it was around 40 and it flew high.
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i haves not had it happen to me but seen it happen on elk and deer. all times the animal knew that there was something wrong or looking at the hunter already.
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you guys need faster bows
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faster bows is not it. i shoot a xforce at 343fps at 83 lbs somkes it depends on range allot and if the animal is on alert. my freinds i hunt with shoot quick bows to!
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Even at 343 fps (which is fast) the arrow is flying for a 1/2 second @ 60 yards, 3/10Th's of a second @ 40. The animal can move a lot in that time. I'm not saying people shouldn't take those shots, not my place. Just pointing out the flight time & an alert animal could jump clean out of the picture in 1/2 second. Mike
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:yeah:
speed of sound 1000+ feet per second,
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Never had one duck the string . Maybe im just lucky :dunno:
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i can understand your point, but no one said i would shoot at a elk at 60 yards. and that is why if a animal is on alert you aim at the lower 1/3 of the animal is the way i do it. but i have to yet have any problem at all with this like i said never happened to me yet.
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My buddy said he always aims for the heart just for this reason and has hit two in the top of the lungs because they heard the bow and it startled them....
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Back when I shot an old Browning, (very slow bow) I had a buck at a whopping 25 yards wheel around and jump before my arrow got to him. Blew me away. The shot was perfect, just no animal there. Bought a new bow the next year.
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I had a 330" bull in Idaho between between 15 and 20 yards spin down hill about 150 degrees before being struck by my arrow in the backstrap on the opposite side I was aiming for. I was shooting a much slower bow back then (about 220 FPS) But the Bull had me pegged - He caught me drawing but I figured the close range was enough to compensate. Chit just happens too damn fast to be taking shots out past 50 yards and for me 50 yards is only a shot that I will take in perfect conditions - nice open lane with an animal that is not on alert. We hunted that bull for the last three days of the hunt but he would never close the distance again (imagine that).
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yea. never happened to me but have seen it. i will never shot at a deer with its head up(on alert). i have always waited until it looks the other way or is head down feeding. i havetaken some pretty long shots. the shortest shot i have taken was a lil less then forty, that was this years doe and she only went about ten yards. she didnt even know what hit her. she actualy paused a second after the arrow hit then a couple steps and crumple stiltskins. yum yums
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Shoot a Mathews, you won't have that problem. Thier quiet!
:chuckle:
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Shoot a Mathews, you won't have that problem. Thier quiet!
:chuckle:
Ouch that one hurt! :chuckle:
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Shoot a Mathews, you won't have that problem. Thier quiet!
:chuckle:
Yep they turned all that noise into hand shock... quiet? Compared to a gun maybe! When I am on the same line shooting with Mathews and Bowtechs, not sure whether I need ear plugs for the Mathews guys or body armor because of the blowtechs..... and don't get me started on the hoyt's...LOL Got all of them! ;)
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Yep. Had a cow do a complete 180 and ducked the shot. :'( It was like I was in the Elk Matrix. Slooooooooooow mooooootion.
