Can you make this shot?

This is difficult for me because I don\'t archery hunt, so I can\'t relate to some of you, but here is how I see it...I have had an opportunity come up where I had a big bull come in close one time and I had my crosshairs on him. Although I could have easily made the shot, I waited for the \'perfect\' shot...well, that didn\'t happen. Instead, a goofy gust came up, I got winded, and in no time, that bull was out of there, quicker than I could even react and I had him in my crosshairs. Bottom line for me is that when I have a shot that I can take and I know I can make it, I am going to take it and not wait for a \'perfect\' shot. Some others might say that the \'experience\' itself, even if the bull gets away, is worth it. Well, let me tell you that while that experience was fun, it still haunts me.

Realistically, when these situations happen, you don\'t have time to analyze everything. Your brain will go on autopilot and you will react accordingly. I think this is a great post to show that circumstance. If you actually have the opportunity to stare at the pic and analyze, you will also notice that there is another tree right in front of the bull. If he steps forward with his left foot, the shot gets worse. If you wait for the next step with the right foot, now he is behind another tree. None of that matters in real life though, because you will not have that much time to analyze. You need to know what your capabilities are, regardless of what method you choose, and know what shots you will take. And when the opportunity presents itself, you better take advantage while you can.
 
Everyone needs to honestly know their limitations and abilities. I have made a very similar shot on a 5x5 bull about three years ago. I would have no doubt about making it again. The key is to focus on the spot you want to hit and ignore everything on the sides. If you focus on the tree you will either hit the tree or pull so far away you make a bad shot on the bull. All you need to do is shoot the arrow at the exact place you want to hit. On a properly tuned bow the arrow will fly cleanly and easily miss the tree.
 
Cohunter14 makes a great point. If you wait or pass on a shot you know you can make, hoping for a better one, you will feast on a lot of tag soup.
 
Yep, and none taste worse than the one I had that year...I still need a roll of tums when I think about it :)
 
This will be taken wrong, but i\'ll say it anyway, because it\'s my style.

I\'ve passed up 100 times more shots than i\'ve taken. Maybe way more than that, but I don\'t keep count. My point being. I don\'t need to shoot at every elk I see. Even if it\'s close. Some will see an elk, and their first instinct is I have to make the shot fast. My first instinct is to ask myself............can I make the perfect shot?

That\'s me anyway. It\'s worked good over the years. If being patient made money. I\'d be rich. Unfortunately, it doesn\'t pay a dime.
 
35 yard on a turkey in the open is not same. If the bird had been behind a bush I would have waited for it to clear and then killed it.
Like I said I can make that shot, but would wait for a higher percentage kill shot.
 
A few thoughts, offered with around-the-campfire spirit.

1. The tree blocks a gut shot. What a neat deal.

2. If he moves with the left foot first, the zone will be smaller. And if he moves, he MOVES. Then the thought is to try to stop him.

3. Aiming at a spot behind the leg is not my preferred shot, as if he moves while I\'m shooting, he\'ll get gut shot. (Quartering-away is different, of course, but he appears to be broadside.)

4. There\'s not a small area of vitals exposed. There\'s a big one. Much larger than cnelk\'s softball.

----

Now, saying that, there\'s nothing wrong with waiting for more lungs to be exposed, but you\'ll also expose guts, and you\'ll have to stop him again.

Overall, my final points are that this is not risky, un-cautious, disrespectful, low-percentage or otherwise unethical or unwise nor does it require a sniper\'s cold-veined reptilian aiming, nor does it require breaking a bone on the elk.

I\'m sure we can argue that -- I just don\'t want to be characterized as a high-stakes gambler or cocky fighter pilot because I answered \"yes\".
 
That\'s true John, and it doesn\'t mean those who won\'t make the shot, can\'t make the shot.

We all have our own personal rules. It doesn\'t make one or the other right, or wrong.
 
\"Still Hunter\" said:
This will be taken wrong, but i\'ll say it anyway, because it\'s my style.

I\'ve passed up 100 times more shots than i\'ve taken. Maybe way more than that, but I don\'t keep count. My point being. I don\'t need to shoot at every elk I see. Even if it\'s close. Some will see an elk, and their first instinct is I have to make the shot fast. My first instinct is to ask myself............can I make the perfect shot?

That\'s me anyway. It\'s worked good over the years. If being patient made money. I\'d be rich. Unfortunately, it doesn\'t pay a dime.
Click to expand...

Pete, while I completely understand where you are coming from, I will throw it out there that not everyone is as fortunate as you when it comes to opportunities. For a lot of us, if that opportunity comes up and we don\'t take it, we might eat tag soup until next season. You are very lucky in the fact that you scout 200+ days a year and can be in elk at any time, from the sounds of it. That is not the case for the majority of elk hunters, even some of us with a lot of experience under our belts. While someday I would love to be able to give the same answer as you and wait, knowing that eventually I will be presented the \'perfect\' shot, I know that right now it is not realistic for me.

One other thing I want to throw out there is that I would never take a shot like this knowing it is a marginal opportunity. I want to make sure it didn\'t come across that way when I said you need to take advantage of every opportunity. What I should have said is \'take advantage of every opportunity where you are confident in your shot.\'
 
\"Still Hunter\" said:
My first instinct is to ask myself............can I make the perfect shot?
Click to expand...

elkshotcopy_zpsaadc2c3e.jpg


Why would this not qualify as the perfect shot? I guarantee it would put him down quickly!
 
I understand completely Derek. I really don\'t want to sound like i\'m pushing my ways on anybody. I wouldn\'t mind if they rubbed off a little bit, but no pushing. ;)
 
\"elkmtngear\" said:
\"Still Hunter\" said:
My first instinct is to ask myself............can I make the perfect shot?
Click to expand...

elkshotcopy_zpsaadc2c3e.jpg


Why would this not qualify as the perfect shot? I guarantee it would put him down quickly!
Click to expand...

Since you asked. Perfect for me is a clean shot through both lungs without hitting any shoulder. There\'s a good chance you\'ll hit the far shoulder with your shot. Nothing wrong with that. It\'s still a dead elk. I prefer to not take it. I like a clean hole in both sides.
 
I hear ya Pete, just showing where I am coming from ;) If I can get into elk as much as you do, I will probably get to the same point. After all, you need some sort of a challenge, right?? :dance2:
 
\"cohunter14\" said:
I hear ya Pete, just showing where I am coming from ;) If I can get into elk as much as you do, I will probably get to the same point. After all, you need some sort of a challenge, right?? :dance2:
Click to expand...

Yes, it\'s my style to make it as hard as possible for myself. It gives me one of those fuzzy moments when it all comes together. I live for those moments.

Everybody has their own fuzzy moment. So, go after them whatever they are.
 
\"cnelk\" said:
Hey Jeff
Put my softball circle in that great pic of yours please! :)
Click to expand...

Here ya go Brad...you got both lungs and the great vessels just above the heart. That bull will probably be down in 50 yds or less.

Don\'t know about you, but I am into short blood trails ;)

elkshotcopy2_zpsc9809f92.jpg
 
So I chewed on these posts for a while, and I went back to weapon of choice and my experience with the ml and bow. I agree with SH in that I would wait. The timber is open and the bull is semi-relaxed and the distance is well inside my range. I am not as proficient with the ml so I wait. However, with a bow, when I KNOW I can make a shot, I don\'t hesitate, because the ahot is only a small part of getting drawn back, and all the movement required to execute. I chuckle when guys say I passed this and that when I ask\" did you come to full draw then let down?\". Nah, but I had em at 20 yds. (Big difference). So my answer....bow -hammer....ml-wait a sec. Either way should be tracking.
 
With the latest pic of the skeletal structure and the \"softball\", here\'s a couple of observations. First let me say that I am in no way disagreeing with anyone\'s claim of being confident and capable of making that shot!
A softballs diameter is approx. 3 3/4 inches. 35 yds. Maybe a pack on the back. Uneven ground. Bull of a lifetime. Breathing hard. If the shot misses the softball by 1 1/4\" to the left the arrow deflects to.....where? if the shot misses the softball to the right by about the same amount it sticks in the scapula.
Now I realize the size of the \"softball\" is not necessarily to scale but I think some of the principals still apply. I also realize that there are individuals that can out shoot me by a mile!

Brad, if Ryan has that shot this year, takes it and makes it, I will hug him and know he made the right decision!! :clap:
 
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