best point of aim for elk

Dakotabowhunter · 06-08-2007, 12:35 PM

I drew a colorado Bull muzzle tag this year and was woundering if your elk pro's could tell me if I should be aiming for the lungs as I do with a bow or should I try to keep my bullet a little closer to the shoulder? Also do you believe an elk carries its lungs a little higher than a deer? thanks guy's.

frontier gander · 06-08-2007, 12:39 PM

tuck it behind the shoulder. Right in the crease.

HEAD0001 · 06-08-2007, 02:48 PM

I have only shot three elk, so I am by no means an expert. I shot two in very rough and steep country. I preferred to put the bullet in the shoulder, and tried to drop the elk right there. One went straight down, and one went straight down hill about 200 yards, down over a slide. It took a couple of extra hours to get the bull out, because of where he ran to before he expired. The third one I shot in an open Park(I have no idea why they use that term out west), It was in a field in NM, and open as far as you can see. I shot the bull behind the shoulder just like Frontier said. The bull went 30 yards and fell over dead.

What location or unit did you draw? The BP season in CO is incredible. It is right in the middle of the bugling season. We hunt in the Paonia area on Electric Mountain. I would really like to go back some day, but it is doubtful. Tom.

Dakotabowhunter · 06-08-2007, 03:14 PM

I hunt just north and west of Gunnison in west elk. Ive shot several Elk bowhunting but only one with a muzzle. Where I hunt I'm in thick timber and the shots are very close. The Bull I shot with my muzzle was about 21 yds Bugling and comming right in to me. One I shot with my recurve was as close as 8 feet at one time before I could finally get a shot at about 6yds. Very exciting to say the least I cannot wait to get back in the mountains.

HEAD0001 · 06-08-2007, 03:19 PM

That is not very far from where we hunt. There is alot of elk in that area. There is a gas station in Gunnison that has the largest elk mount I have ever seen. You have probably been there, but if you have not been there, you should look for it. That mount is unbelievable. I believe the owner told us he shot it in Black Canyon. But I am not real sure about that-they call it Old Timer's. Good Luck, Tom.