Just talked with a buddy back from hunting SW MT. Passed on a 23 yard shot because bull wasn't in a good position. Later in the day he found a rotten bull with an arrow in it's guts. Said it reaffirmed his decision to not take the shot.
Bowhunters - not a big impact?
- Thread starter The Hedgehog
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BAKPAKR
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I wonder if he found the bull ol’ # 26 went through?
MTLabrador
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“Any information is useful in adjusting my arrow build”, as if his arrow build is the reason his arrow ended up in the guts, shoulder joint, ass, or wherever he hit it. I would love to know the shot distance and other particulars.
cgasner1
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He should try one of these
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MTLabrador
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This thread is a good reminder of one of the many reasons why I find myself being less and less interested in archery hunting every year. My “arrow build” this year should punch elk shoulders.
I have several whitetail with a bow, but lost the first one I ever hit- guess it was just low. Good angle. Great blood, until it dried up. Even called in a dog, still lost her. Never again.
My elk hunting experience has been 4 years. I’ve been full draw a lot. Passed on a lot of shots because of a bad angle, bad brush, unknown range, ran out of light, ran out of time, was shaking too bad, 5 yards too far, elk wouldn’t stop, etc. And I don’t regret a single shot I didn’t take. I’ll get that archery bull eventually, but nothing is worth losing another animal.
I regret rushing a shot on a doe pronghorn with a .308. Clean miss over her back, saw the dust, but I still trailed the herd for over a mile until I got eyes on them again. She was fine.
I regret rushing a shot in a small whitetail in Missouri. Put a .270 through the guts at last light. Follow up shot on the move anchored it, but still bothers me.
I don’t regret this shot, but the situation makes me sick to my stomach to this day. Friend and I lost an elk after it crossed into private with a couple rifle rounds in it. Never found blood in the snow, but it was hit. No residents on property. Onx was not much help, just an accountant that was unavailable. No answer from the game wardens. Tried three realtors to try getting contact info. Left messages where we could, and that was that- didn’t have the battery, water, or clothing to stay up on the ridge with service any longer. So the legal answer was we walked away from a hit elk, as we couldn’t secure permission to go after it. If I had it over, I’m not sure what I’d do. But I still hate the outcome to that day.
I try to be ethical. Practice. Pass shots when I’m not comfortable. Limit my range. Especially with archery. And that’s probably why my ratio is better with archery than a rifle. But that’s only because I take far fewer opportunities. I can see how elk hunting leads to an unbelievable amount of wounding loss on elk.
But until we have accurate reporting of harvest and unrecovered animals, then the facts of this matter are speculative, and a legal response to this issue can only be a guess.
My elk hunting experience has been 4 years. I’ve been full draw a lot. Passed on a lot of shots because of a bad angle, bad brush, unknown range, ran out of light, ran out of time, was shaking too bad, 5 yards too far, elk wouldn’t stop, etc. And I don’t regret a single shot I didn’t take. I’ll get that archery bull eventually, but nothing is worth losing another animal.
I regret rushing a shot on a doe pronghorn with a .308. Clean miss over her back, saw the dust, but I still trailed the herd for over a mile until I got eyes on them again. She was fine.
I regret rushing a shot in a small whitetail in Missouri. Put a .270 through the guts at last light. Follow up shot on the move anchored it, but still bothers me.
I don’t regret this shot, but the situation makes me sick to my stomach to this day. Friend and I lost an elk after it crossed into private with a couple rifle rounds in it. Never found blood in the snow, but it was hit. No residents on property. Onx was not much help, just an accountant that was unavailable. No answer from the game wardens. Tried three realtors to try getting contact info. Left messages where we could, and that was that- didn’t have the battery, water, or clothing to stay up on the ridge with service any longer. So the legal answer was we walked away from a hit elk, as we couldn’t secure permission to go after it. If I had it over, I’m not sure what I’d do. But I still hate the outcome to that day.
I try to be ethical. Practice. Pass shots when I’m not comfortable. Limit my range. Especially with archery. And that’s probably why my ratio is better with archery than a rifle. But that’s only because I take far fewer opportunities. I can see how elk hunting leads to an unbelievable amount of wounding loss on elk.
But until we have accurate reporting of harvest and unrecovered animals, then the facts of this matter are speculative, and a legal response to this issue can only be a guess.
Nick87
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Saw that too.
Flatbrimmer
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I shot my doe antelope at 114. She didn’t go 20…. I’d had multiple shots at <45. One of them, as soon as I hit the release the goat whirled and it paralleled his body at like 25 yards… I was so upset at such a slam dunk MISS. Idk what possessed me to take the shot but I felt good, and it was finally the first shot i took where the antelope had no idea I was there… I’m sure that’s the golden ticket and that’s what I strive for with any archery stalk/shot now on any species. I’ll never do it again, but I’m not afraid to be honest and tell ya what happened in my experience, or what i learned from it….
“…the difference between a wise man and a smart man…”
“…the difference between a wise man and a smart man…”
Do you shoot a slider sight? If so, do you think you would have taken that shot without a slider sight?
Flatbrimmer
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Actually I shoot the V.
It only has ticks out to 70-80 yards. The shot was pure instinctual.
Instinctual isn’t the word I would use…
Flatbrimmer
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I would. Just like the natives knowing how far to hold over. Shoot your bow a little more, you’ll know where your arrow will land based on INSTICT.
Forkyfinder
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I think his answer shows that the war on sliding sights is silly and wont do much good for folks who will choose to shoot far.
Flatbrimmer
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I didn’t know the range until after the fact. I honestly didn’t think it was that far. Looks more like 60-70 in the wide open prairie. I literally just put it where I thought it should be, based on instinct. It was money…. Like I said, I won’t be doing that again, I’m telling my story honestly, and I understand that “instinctual” could be replaced with many other words like, idiotic, lucky, immature etc etc.
Straight Arrow
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Be aware that "instinctive" archery is the method commonly associated with traditional archery shooting of recurve or long bows.
As someone who has shot a longbow for many years and worked as a volunteer instructor in the 4th through 8th grade archery program at our little school, I have taught instinctive shooting and value it as a real acquired and trained skill.
For you to shoot that far (although not considered best hunting technique) "instinctually" shows that you have likely developed that skill ... whether you realize it or not. But for sure, instinctive archery shooting is not "idiotic"!
338win
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More reasons why bowhunting is going to end up banned or extremely limited.
I wasn't even aware there was a war on sliding sights. There will always be people shooting far whether they are using sliding sights or not. Speaking for myself, if I was into long range shooting, I'd feel much more comfortable taking a shot at long distance if I was able to put a pin right where I was aiming. I'd imagine a lot of people would feel the same way. I think the average bowhunter doesn't shoot enough to make accurate shots at long distances with the use of "instinctual" shooting.
Bow Elk Season aka "The Wounding Season." My own informal polls over the years lead me to think 50% are lost. Won't be dogmatic about it since it's anecdotal, but it actually might be more than that.
In my view, if the average person (or PETA) knew what actually goes on during our bow season, bowhunting elk would be a thing of the past.
Most of my friends bowhunt elk. I have no problem with it though I don't participate. My view is likely unpopular, but I think one should have to choose his/her weapon - you can either bow hunt or rifle hunt, but not both.
In my view, if the average person (or PETA) knew what actually goes on during our bow season, bowhunting elk would be a thing of the past.
Most of my friends bowhunt elk. I have no problem with it though I don't participate. My view is likely unpopular, but I think one should have to choose his/her weapon - you can either bow hunt or rifle hunt, but not both.
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