Shooting a bedded animal with a bow - go or no go? (I have not, but almost had the scenario)

[Howie]

Ain't that the beauty of this great country our for-fathers planned. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, opinions and lifestyles....it's freedom and I love and support it for all citizens.

 

[OzzyDave]

Our archery association has printed vinyl animal targets of Australian feral animals legal to hunt with bow. 2 of these are bedded animals. It’s nothing like taking the real animal BUT it certainly focuses the hunter on where they have to hit the animal for a lethal shot.

 

[Trial153]

Right time, right place, right animal...yes. I have taken that shot on a bedded mule deer and elk. Both worked out well.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Have never tried it, but have passed on bedded animals because didn't want to fill my tag on that particular animal. I like the challenge of stalking in to 10-15 yards of game - have done it twice this year. I'd be much less inclined to shoot a sleeping animal with a gun - just gives me the wrong feeling. With a bow, once I get in super close it then becomes a decision of do I have an ethical shot? If not, it's try to get it to stand up or else just wait until it stands on its own.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Sometimes pheasants hunker down and freeze - you can catch them with your hands. Have done this 3 times. One was released and shot on the fly, one was out of season and released, and the other got its neck snapped because I was out with my slug gun.

 

[Lige]

I've been able to take a couple of muleys in their beds, spot and stalk in western ND. Both were shot from above and laying quartering away. One at 15 yds and the other at 20 yds. More times than not, they seem to bed where it's tough to get a clean, high percentage shot.

 

[OzzyDave]

I took these couple of pics of my buddy just before he loosed his arrow on this bedded hog. It was a warm day - crazy pig was bedded in the sun in 120 F. It was hit hard - he shoots 700gn arrows. It made it maybe 4 feet from its bed before it tipped over.

 

[2rocky]

Sneaking within bow range of a bedded animal is the epitome of Fair Chase.

Remember, in the case of a ruminant, the body is going to be tipped so it is like a shot from above if behind the animal. Below if facing you.

Lots of practice looking at cattle bedded and seeing the line of the spine and shoulders.

Love the bedded sheep and bedded elk targets in the 3d shoots.

I've killed a wounded elk bedded, and passed on anotherat 30 yds because brush obscured him

 

[bushman13]

Bow never. Rifle within 50 yards, head up and clear neck shot, maybe.