Shoot or No Shot 2018, Episode #6

[WapitiTalk1]

Location: Somewhere in the elk woods (probably WA or OR as evidenced by this fine Roosevelt Bull).
Hunt Pressure Status: It’s not a sea of raging orange, but there are other hunters in this general area.
Hunt: Solo Hunt.
Date: Doesn't matter; the season is open where you're hunting.
Time: 0830ish.
Tag: Modern firearm; any branched bull.

After working your way up a steep side hill right at daylight for a bit over an hour, you've reached your target area and are still hunting across a bench that you know has held elk before. As you move along very slowly for 30ish minutes (a few steps, look-listen-smell, a few more steps, look-listen-smell), there is noticeable fresh elk sign visible and then you see antler tips about 100 yards in your direction of travel! Once you move quietly to the position you are in now (to where you can fully see the bull).... right at 75-80 yards away from this fine bedded bull, rifle slowly comes up...scope lens covers get flipped up...safety off.. it's decision time. Shoot or not shot here?

Roosey3 Markup.jpg (124.05 KiB) Viewed 2836 times

If you say "shoot", save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg file and add the marked up pic with your post.

[Lefty]

I dont like that shot,.. and since I know its raining and I dont like hunting in the rain ,.. Im not sure why, Ill wait a bit to see if the bull will stand. ( Well maybe because my dad was really into double lung shots( Ill loose my patience and take a high neck shot.
I will have a solid steady rest, no off hand shot

I also added Swedes shot

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[WapitiTalk1]

Man, what in the heck was Swede shooting at? Did he see another, bigger bull back in the brush?

[Jhg]

I would choose to wait. If I had a tree to steady my shot, with a scope it could be a headshot. BUUUUT, the margin for error is small. Been there, done that. Its very easy to miss that 2 inch window at 75 yds offhand real world shooting. "Good things come to those who wait"

[Lefty]

I would never take that shot off hand

While the margin of error is small some may not realize there is a moment a poor shot will have many animals unconscious
I’ve never had big game come back to life twice I’ve had fox come back After loosing a 100 fox mymethod of dispatch of dead animals included one more step

[saddlesore]

I would take Lefty's shot, with a rest.I a;ways take shooting sticks with me. My 220 gr 30-06 load is sighted in dead on at 100 yds

[Lsb]

I think I'd wait. My 338 with 225 great bullets is 2.3 inche high at 75. I'd have the bipod out and in the scope when he stands.

[Elkhntr08]

Settle in a wait. He’ll stand.

[Indian Summer]

75 yards is a chip shot with my 20 power scope. I’m not waiting for the wind to change either. Whammo!

[Swede]

I'm with I.S. on this one. I will use a tree rest and fire. BTW: Don't pay any attention to Lefty. That bad shot was his. I just bumped his elbow as he pulled the trigger. Mine is the shot in the neck. Lefty, you have to do the Christian thing and forgive, as I said "excuse me", just when your gun went off. Fortunately, I was ready with the back up.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

I'm introducing 168 grains of copper to that bull's spinal column at high velocity.