ORIGINAL: OHbowhntr
ORIGINAL: Schultzy
ORIGINAL: Roskoe
This shot is often the only angle you can get on an elk. They are coming in to the call . . . and if they see,smell,or hear something they don't like, thenext shot angle you are going to get is south end of a northbound elk. But it's a lot smaller kill zone than broadside. Basically, it's the area just inside the crease of the near shoulder blade. The arrow is going to pass through the chest, likely only hitting one lung, and wind up punching a hole in the diaphram. You may not get any blood trail at all, at least initially - as the arrow will often lodge completely inside the animal. So far, I haven't taken this kind of a shot. I might, though, if the distance was close and the terrain was more open.
Elk would be the last thing I'd take that kind of shot on. Them elk are some of the toughest animals out there. I've seen one lung elk go for a mile and further and then the next one piles right up with a one lung but the majority usually don't that I've been involved with. It would have to be broadside or a good quartering away shot for me so I had the opportunity for both lungs hunting elk or any animal as far as that goes. I know what your saying though Roskoe, what you said happens allot with them elk!
Actually, there are guides that show and advise this shot, but it has to be perfect. There is an opening in the chest about the size of a Cantoulope, that is a direct route to the heart and lungs. On a deer, this opening is more the size of a baseball, and IS not as easy to hit. I lost a great 130+ buck about 15 yrs. ago because I took this shot on him. Only thing that I had to go on, plus he was coming down a trail right AT me. We tracked him on "spec's" of blood for a long time before we lost the trail, arrow still inside him. My buddy found him probably half a mile from where I shot circled almost all the way around, with no blood anywhere around him, as if he stopped bleeding "out" but continued bleeding in. The shot on a whitetail IS a low probability shot, and IS something we SHOULD discourage other bowhunters from taking unless the situation IS PERFECT, such as short distance, head up to lick a "licking branch," but even then, I'd have to think really had about it.
I don't think you can compare a broadside or quartering to shot to a straight on shot. It certainly isNOT a crap shoot between these shots. Broadside and quartering to have much more room for error and are more consistently lethal than straight on shots.
I say this because I don't think it is a good thing to put into the heads of new bowhunters, and most bowhunters in general,that straight on shots are the norm when it comes to shots to take.
Good Post, I agree.
I've heard that too about elk but it just makes me nervous! This is the way I am, I want everything to be as perect as it can be for myself! I've passed on some nice critters because I'm so picky. Each to his own.