?'s bout elk before/after shot

[KSdan]

If elk are like deer- 4/5 up could be ABOVE the spine!

[Ragnarok Forge]

I shoot for the bottom 1/2 of the animal and like to aim right in the crease of the shoulder where the leg joint breaks to make the lower shoulder. If I hit low with this aim I hit the heart / low lungs.  If a bit high I will hit high lungs.  Back a bit is mid lungs.  If you hit 4/5 up the animal your gonna hit meat and maybe spine not vitals.  Based on his stated experience, I think he typed that number wrong.

[mnbearbaiter]

Well this is goin just as i expected! Like i stated in an earlier thread, i have 3 heads that id be comfortable hunting with right now as i can get them sharp and they shoot well... a 160 Snuffer, 160 STOS, and 160 Ace Express! Im leaning towards the Ace as its kinda a friendly compromise between the other 2 heads, its got a wider cut than the STOS, but not as wide as the Snuffer! Ive always been a lower vital shooter just like 'Forge, lots of heart/low lung hits, blood always seems to find its way to the ground that way!!!

[[email protected]]

Straight Arrow,

Sorry I gored one of your sacred cows.

Imagine this scenario.  

You go to your favorite N.Y. steak house.  The waiter is attentive, polite and working hard for his tip.
“Good evening Mr. Arrow, nice to see you and the misses again.  Tonight’s special is a prime fillet of beef.  About sunset on the day of the harvest, with temperatures in the high 70’s, we shot the beef in liver about sunset.  We let the steer wander off to die and then we let it marinate in the bile until several hours after sunrise.  You will also be pleased to know that the bears and coyotes didn’t take more than 40 lbs of meat.  The morning sun kept the critter warm and the legs had just obtained “lift off” before we quartered the beast.   As luck would have it we made it to the packing house just before they closed for the day”.

Me, I‘m ordering the fish.

Sure it’s possible that the elk could lie in its bed and die right before sunrise and the meat would be “ok”.  But why even go there?

“I have recovered 4 elk that had to sit overnight.”  Few if any elk “have” to sit overnight.  It certainly is easier, more convenient to find them in the morning…but HAVING to sit over night…not for me.  It’s simple, if you have any doubts, don’t shoot.  

Hunting in the evenings is great and you can get in to lots of critters, just be prepared for that almost dark shot and the work that goes with it.

Should we someday meet on the trail I’ll fix us dinner.  You bring the veggies and I’ll supply the meat

Good luck this season.
Bob

[Mark U]

Used to use two blades on everything, but when the Woodsman's came out, I tried them and haven't used anything else since, at least here and in Africa.  I might try the non-vented ones next time I need some more, as my son uses them and likes them.  I also use heavy arrows, 700 grain carbons out of a #65 longbow, and haven't had an arrow not penetrate out the other side on at least five elk.

BTW, as far as leaving elk out overnight, the two times it's happened to me (gut shots), I was disappointed in the meat quality.  Either tainted or full of blood.  Some guys I hunt with have had bad experiences with the meat as well.  I try to avoid it.

[Aram Barsch]

KSdan, you are absolutely right. The number I meant to type was 2/5 of the way up.

My apologies for the confusion. Aram.

[Anaconda12]

I shoot 160 gr Snuffer mounted on A Laminated Birch arrow that I doctor up and the finished arrows wiegh in the high 700 grains!  I have never had a problem with penetraion (all passthrough) or blood!  My cousin and I were discussing this just the other night and after many years of archery guiding elk hunts in Montana I am convinced that most problems arise from shot placement!  In all the elk I have seen archery killed I would say 85% or more were actually shot a bit high and a bit to far back even though proven deadly the placement sure dont help the trail any, I personally think if a fella shoots then broadside and a bit lower in the chest this makes for a messy vlood trail that Ray Charles could follow no matter what head is used!

[KSdan]

Aram- actually by your post you sounded reasonable and knowledgeable so I figured there must be mistype.  2/5 sounds right.  I usually think below half on deer.  I assumed elk must be similar.

Thanks for the input

Dan in KS

[Walt Francis]

Hello Mark B & Mark U,
I have used both two and three blade broadheads successfully on elk numerous times, and continually change my mind regarding which type is best on elk.  Currently, I have compromised and use a four blade Eclipse hoping to get the best of both, the penetration of a two blade and the blood trail of the three blades.  With whitetails the four blade broadhead has preformed great, hopefully and it will work well on elk for me this fall. However, more important to myself then the type of broadhead is where it hits the elk, the flight of the arrow (Has it over come paradox is it flying straight on impact?), and the weight of the arrow.  Without all of these things being correct it doesn’t much matter what broadhead you use.