Shoot or Pass
#21
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: QDM Heaven
Posts: 847
RE: Shoot or Pass
Quite honestly, at that point I would be so pumped with adrenaline that all rationale would have vanished from my psyche and I would most certainly be pulling the trigger and letting the arrow fly.
#23
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 330
RE: Shoot or Pass
Some pretty bad decisions here. Neck shot...NO WAY. Some others...NO WAY.
Last year when we were elk hunting (Muzzle loader) my one buddy shot a bull in this near scenario, at probably a mere 75 yards. Had good blood, let him sit overnight. Got on him the next morning, after we quartered my 5x5 :-) that I got that morning. We got on that bugger and he bedded ALL night and we jumped him in some rough thick stuff and he disappeared :-( Terrible feeling. We spent an entire day and a half looking for him and never found him. After bedding all night, then getting up the next morning to get away, with a 348 grain bullet through his brisket/neck area...Doubtful and arrow would have done more damage than a big bore bullet.
Last year when we were elk hunting (Muzzle loader) my one buddy shot a bull in this near scenario, at probably a mere 75 yards. Had good blood, let him sit overnight. Got on him the next morning, after we quartered my 5x5 :-) that I got that morning. We got on that bugger and he bedded ALL night and we jumped him in some rough thick stuff and he disappeared :-( Terrible feeling. We spent an entire day and a half looking for him and never found him. After bedding all night, then getting up the next morning to get away, with a 348 grain bullet through his brisket/neck area...Doubtful and arrow would have done more damage than a big bore bullet.
#25
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location:
Posts: 326
RE: Shoot or Pass
ORIGINAL: whitetails & muskies
Some pretty bad decisions here. Neck shot...NO WAY. Some others...NO WAY.
Last year when we were elk hunting (Muzzle loader) my one buddy shot a bull in this near scenario, at probably a mere 75 yards. Had good blood, let him sit overnight. Got on him the next morning, after we quartered my 5x5 :-) that I got that morning. We got on that bugger and he bedded ALL night and we jumped him in some rough thick stuff and he disappeared :-( Terrible feeling. We spent an entire day and a half looking for him and never found him. After bedding all night, then getting up the next morning to get away, with a 348 grain bullet through his brisket/neck area...Doubtful and arrow would have done more damage than a big bore bullet.
Some pretty bad decisions here. Neck shot...NO WAY. Some others...NO WAY.
Last year when we were elk hunting (Muzzle loader) my one buddy shot a bull in this near scenario, at probably a mere 75 yards. Had good blood, let him sit overnight. Got on him the next morning, after we quartered my 5x5 :-) that I got that morning. We got on that bugger and he bedded ALL night and we jumped him in some rough thick stuff and he disappeared :-( Terrible feeling. We spent an entire day and a half looking for him and never found him. After bedding all night, then getting up the next morning to get away, with a 348 grain bullet through his brisket/neck area...Doubtful and arrow would have done more damage than a big bore bullet.
Keep in mind that a quartered shot on an elk gives you about 5 feet of animal to pass through. Me? Nope, no shot there.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 330
RE: Shoot or Pass
Bigguns - one major consideration you need to think about. It may be a lethal/killing shot, BUT, will the animal be recovered without an exit wound? He may die, but the yotes, or wolves will have a good dinner. Remember, we are talking an elk here....an animal that has an incredible will to live, and size to do so.
#27
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location:
Posts: 326
RE: Shoot or Pass
You bring up a good point, and I think it is something to consider when deciding whether to shoot, but I think it's a consideration for any shot angle. I have personally arrowed numerous whitetails at a quartering-away angle. Every single time my arrow has hit the opposite shoulder, which stopped penetration... no exit wound. I recovered every one of them in very short pursuit. I certainly would never pass up the quartering-away shot opportunity for fear of hitting the opposite shoulder. Similarly, I think I would take my chances with the slight quarter-to angle. As I mentioned before, at least at that angle, there's no heavy shoulder bones to stop penetration (assuming you avoid the close-side shoulder). I think with true arrow flight, there's still a good chance of pass-through, IMHO.
#28
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 801
RE: Shoot or Pass
I'm with Baggin on this one. If I hit this slightly 1/4 ing bull through the near lung, catch the back of the rear lung and let's say my broadhead stops embedded in the very last rib on the far side and doesn't punch free. He's still dead .. and I can track this guy with the blood from the entrance hole .. the tops 200 or so yards he can go.
I do agree with someone's earlier post that if you don't have the time to do the work after the shot .. your hunt is over. I personally would gladly fork over my own cash to push my ticket home back a day to get this brute processed!
I do agree with someone's earlier post that if you don't have the time to do the work after the shot .. your hunt is over. I personally would gladly fork over my own cash to push my ticket home back a day to get this brute processed!
#29
RE: Shoot or Pass
Honestly, I'd have to make the decision at that time. But based on what you said...my gut tells me that I would take him. Elk have a much bigger kill zone than the small whitetails I hunt, so I believe I'd have no problem making a good shot. I've taken whitetails at that angle, knowing exactly where to place my arrow for a quick kill. It's not the best angle, but it can be done.