This gives the largest target with a size-able margin of error, great exposure to the vitals, and a high possibility of a quick, clean kill. So we all need to constantly look inside ourselves and make a decision that we will be able to live with. My rule of thumb for a frontal shot is 15 yards or closer, and I allow myself plenty of time to make a shot, especially for elk. The arguments against taking a frontal shot, however, are worth taking a look at as well. About the only obstacle to consider is the smaller ribs that will be encountered at the back-end of the ribcage. The guide then went on to convince me that when hunting on the ground, perfectly level with an elk, that the frontal shot is a fine shot to make at a close distance. Be patient and hope for a better opportunity. Educate yourself and practice, and your confidence will lead to success in the field! Itâs a devastating shot. There is a "Bullet Frontal Area List" on the Rifle Information Page, and an expanded version on the Tables, Charts and Lists Page. I would strongly advise against aiming behind the shoulder on a quartering-to shot as you will get one lung at best and the bloodtrail will typically be difficult. Trust us when we say that no one wants to feel that sick and demoralizing feeling of losing an animal. Avoid aiming at the transition of dark to light hair – this is where the sternum comes together and you can also see the leg bones are closer together in this area. Corey Jacobsen with Elk 101 walks us through the pros and cons of the frontal shot. I love the way you guys put your info out there. Two best places to shoot a deer are the brain and approximately 4-inches above the heart. Thanks for this great information and supporting graphics. There are 5 shots to look at when considering getting an arrow or bullet into the vital area: (1) Straight-away (rear) shots, (2) Quartering-away shots, (3) Broadside shots, (4) Quartering-to shots, and (5) Frontal (straight-on) shots. The heart and all of the largest, busiest blood vessels that go with it, plus the trachea and front third ⦠As you will see and hear in this video, someone behind the hunter is cow calling and luring the bull toward the hunter. I love what you guys are doing and the way it is presented. Additionally, the jugular as well as several other main arteries run through here, and the resulting blood loss from a shot in this area can be devastating. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b29d9f4c551fdd2ab1726a589fcd8bf0f3c20ba70223128ac8a615fb472c7466.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b29d9f4c551fdd2ab1726a589fcd8bf0f3c20ba70223128ac8a615fb472c7466.jpg. Not a high percentage shot, but there are elk that are shot broadside at dusk, it rains or snows, and the hunters spend days looking with no results. That determination can change from year to year based on better or declining proficiency. If you donât get a pass through, you WILL get both lungs. If the bull is quartering away and you shoot that spot, and the heart is missed….that means you only get one lung. The time-tested and proven standby is the traditional broadside shot. July 21, 2011. In this area you have a 12″ window that will safely take you into the vitals. Take some time to study the information MasterGuide Joe gives you here–over and over again! Bullet frontal area has a positive correlation with killing power (other factors being equal). In the photo you will see the body of the elk from the side, in the photo you will shoot for the bottom middle third of the chest. This shot should only be taken by those that know what they are doing and I highly recommend that the shot not be taken over twenty yards. Frontal shot on elk has the most epic blood trail {VIDEO} Many of us have seen the video that shows a kid shooting an elk straight on, and it starts bleeding like a fire hose. This is not a shot we recommend. I need to get ready for my weekend elk trip and am running a little short on time so I will probably post pictures after the weekend. Good luck this season! This segment is first rate and should be easy to remember in the heat of the moment! However, it is imperative that the hunter that shoots this shot has a complete grasp of an elk’s anatomy as well as great shooting skill. The bullet performed well, the animal dropped like a rock. The bull quickly dies in seconds with a BOW and ARROW!Committed. A better way to focus on the elk shot placement comes from a picture that is centered just above the shoulder of the animal: One final picture depicts where you would aim on an animal that is facing you. The image above is a great reference for where you want to aim on a broadside shot. ADVERTISEMENT. I’m done elk hunting for the year, and will not take that shot again on an elk. So I always shoot for a double lung. As far as a .308 exiting an Elk, sometimes yes, sometimes no. Hours and hours of practice will create the muscle memory and skills necessary to make the shot when it counts the most. Hours, days, and months of practice and preparation can greatly increase our odds of being successful. Misjudging distance has been a main reason for more missed shots than most of us probably care to count. Elk Vitals: The best vital shot placement on an elk with a bow is a double lung shot with the animal standing broadside. ADVERTISEMENT. Never have I missed a frontal shot, nor had an animal turn on me upon release. That is the question that confronts us, hunters when we have a deer in our sights. This applies to every aspect of the shot: distance, angle, etc. Penetration into the vitals (usually 12-18″ needed for elk) typically isn’t an issue. Very little blood but tracked for about 1/2 a mile before loosing all blood. (2) Be sure to hit in the center and not to the side. Updated: May 10, 2019. A great aiming point is half-way up the body, right on the crease behind the shoulder. And by shooting mid body, about 4 inches back from the crease, that line coming up from the elbow, you have plenty of room in each direction. When the moment of truth presents itself, it’s important to have confidence, knowing you’re going to hit where you aim. ADVERTISEMENT. Frustration and desperation have to lead to success, but more often than not, they lead to failure. If an arrow is lucky enough to make it through this area of large bones, it still has a long ways to go to get into the vitals (up to 48″ on elk) and will often stop short of the lungs in the stomach/gut area. I had a big bull moose under 20 yards, frontal for what seemed like an hour, but was only about 4-5 minutes. Bowhunting: Frontal Shot Placement. Now it's your turn, tell me why you believe a frontal shot is a good shot. Animals shot here, generally will go down in minutes, if not seconds. The most important part of executing the frontal shot (besides being accurate) is knowing where to aim. I HAD him, I burned a hole into the hair I was going to slice if I wanted the shot, and it was a slam-dunk for me. It’s frustrating to have everything finally come together, only to shoot high or low due to not knowing where to hold. There are some pretty successful elk killers that call alone and take elk facing them at different degrees. The bullet weight required increases as bullet diameter increases. If I double lung the bull, he is going down in a hundred yards…especially if I bugle after my shot to calm him down. If you shoot low, you have lungs and the heart. An arrow or bullet in this area will almost always give a hunter the best opportunity for a quick kill, as well as provide a good bloodtrail for a quick recovery. Elk are incredibly tough animals, and a broadhead in the neck or shoulder won’t typically provide the lethal results we desire. So, where is the best place to shoot a deer without it scampering off with a serious injury? Additionally, the target is smaller, therefore, it is viewed as a low-percentage shot. More Hunting. The quartering away shot is a favorite of many elk hunters. The only time I would pass on this shot angle, at this distance, would be if I was shooting a very light caliber (6.5 Creedmoor and under), or a very soft bullet. Tune in to learn when to use it, when to avoid it, and steps you take to ensure it ends in a clean harvest. Two sides of that triangle are risky. We would however like to drive home the fact that your goal should always be two holes, a pass-through, double lung hit. To shoot or not to shoot? Rangefinders have eliminated much of the guessing game in judging distance, but many times an opportunity presents itself so quickly that we don’t have time to get an accurate range. Those particular shots made by someone that totally understands an elk’s anatomy and taken within a hunters effective and solid killing range, if made, are extremely lethal. Being comfortable with the “manual” method of distance-judging is important. All about confidence in your equipment and shot placement from there. 2. The animal that might have traveled farthest was a 6×6 bull elk shot at 75 yards in thick cover, using a .300 Winchester Magnum with 200-grain Nosler Partitions handloaded to 2950 fps. The FrontalThe frontal shot, when made, is a devastating shot. Spending time during the off-season practicing with your bow or rifle will increase your confidence in your weapon. My view was almost identical to the photo above with the red shot placement dot, except he was looking to my right. Quartering to shot Pick your aiming point to go through the front point of the near side shoulder, through the heart and angling back toward the last rib. Because let us be honest, we all desire of taking down a big game with a single shot. To learn more, subscribe to the University of Elk Hunting. Know your limits and STICK TO THEM IN THE FIELD! I think you need to know where to place the arrows. 37 is a long poke and probably better left to shots with less potential to go wrong. The frontal shot is one that is hotly contested. Elk Frontal shot courtesy of Elk 101 Where to aim for a quartering to shot: The quartering to shot is very similar and is a shot is will take on deer but not elk unless I am slightly elevated or slightly below and have the angle to place it within that 11×9â³ window otherwise Iâd prefer almost straight on Good luck on your next “moment”! When it comes to shot placement on elk, the bottom line is this – shoot where you are confident. The last two shots are highly debated and can create controversy between even the best of hunting partners – the quartering-to and the frontal shots. Snyder also says to keep in mind that when you do take a frontal shot, âthe thing you need to remember about the frontal shot is that the opening in the animalâs chest when itâs facing you isnât much wider than the width of a softball. From the diagram you can see that this will place your shot above the heart, solidly in both lungs, at a point where several major arteries convene. It provides great exposure to the vitals with minimal resistance. Hoping to go up this Saturday and let the crows and buzzards find him for me. It was a chip shot and the arrow penetrated completely, I watched the nock and fletchings disappear right where I aimed. For this reason, we would strongly advise against ever considering this shot. With that said, I have seen a ton of shots attempted there that have gone bad and give me three things to worry about as a guide: ( I always feel if itâs not me shooting, I am not in total control, so the variables of what can happen grow). Double LungMy number one goal is 2 holes to insure I recover my bull. The drawbacks to consider on a quartering-away shot are the possibility of only hitting one lung as well as hitting the off-side shoulder which would prevent a pass-through. Penetration – many hunters will argue that it is difficult to get penetration in this area, referring to the “grapefruit-sized” opening you have to hit in order to miss the ribs. Great stuff. If you hit any of those areas as described, you are not going to recover. Quartering AwayI also always remind hunters to look at the legs to be able to tell how much the animal is quartering or if he is solid broadside. Because of that, donât shoot. I have just let the air out of the balloon…it IS a dead bull. Practice at the distances you plan to shoot. Whatever the case, we owe it to the animals we hunt to do all we can to make a quick, clean kill. The center of the red dot is where you should aim to make a clean kill on a frontal shot. I donât care if he dies in 30 or a hundred yards. The Golden TriangleIf you look at the anatomy of a bull elk, the âgolden triangleâ that I am talking about is just that, golden if you ace it. We always recommend to shoot whatever works best with your setup. A razor sharp broadhead inflicts massive bleeding and causes quick death by major blood loss, only if placed where it can do its job. The last factor that contributes to making a quality shot is knowing where to aim. The broadside shot is, without a doubt, the best shot you can take on an elk. Where to Shoot a Deer On the elk, lion and all other animals Iâve taken with a frontal shot, the blood trail has been immense. The image to the left provides a good reference for each shot possibility. Elk Frontal shot courtesy of Elk 101 Where to aim for a quartering to shot: The quartering to shot is very similar and is a shot is will take on deer but not elk unless I am slightly elevated or slightly below and have the angle to place it within that 11×9â³ window otherwise Iâd prefer almost straight on I am aware of the proper shot placement, and have taken two mule deer with this shot that died within sight – one traveled about 30 yards, the other about 6 feet. With that said, we will briefly discuss those shots and then we will give you our shot recommendation and the reasons behind it. Keep up the awesome work. But something told me this was a once in a lifetime animal, they wind was in my favor, just to wait him out. At a slightly sharper angle, the leg bone is not directly in alignment with the vitals, but it leaves a smaller margin of error than a broadside shot. I’m not going to recommend taking these shots, but I’m also not going to advise against these shots. Can anyone tell me the best way to post the video? AND if you shoot a heavy arrow with solid energy, you help yourself with a pass-through and a blood trail that Ray Charles could follow. I want a blood trail …. Thanks Larry for the positive feedback! Those who have made frontal shots can attest to the massive and immediate trauma that a well-placed frontal shot can inflict. There is only one feeling worse than tracking an elk after a bad shot, and that is not finding that elk. Iâve spent most of my hunting career with a rifle but have chased animals with a bow before and will do so a lot more in the future and I love the 2 holes approach, and even more the bit about aiming for the offside leg on quartering shots. Thanks Brendan for the positive feedback! To the contrary, I don't personally know one person who has lost an elk with a frontal shot." If you place the arrows too high, it could keep the animal alive and in pain. Animals shot here, generally will go down in minutes, if not seconds. You could hear arrow cutting swamp reeds on his far side for quite a ways. Wait them out! I will, however, urge hunters to study the anatomy of an elk and determine for themselves whether the shot is effective or risky. If not made correctly, it guarantees a wounded animal and no recovery. A pass through, and that is what you get most of the time if you hit that bull where I have shown you. Arrow penetrated 11 inches and sheared off when he ran. So again, I canât say not to shoot there. Aim halfway up the body cavity, just as you would on a broadside shot. ADVERTISEMENT. Plenty of guys still shooting with stick bows and getting it done every season. However, it is imperative that the hunter that shoots this shot has a complete grasp of an elkâs anatomy as well as great shooting skill. A shot here on a broadside animal can be anything from a direct heart shot, to hitting the top of the heart to a double lung hit even with the shot being a little high. An extreme quartering away shot will offer little room for error as the margin between the back hip and front shoulder shrinks as the angle of the elk away from the hunter increases. And for a quartering away shot, ALWAYS aim for the leg on the opposite side as shown in the pics. He went in depth with telling me about all the arteries that converge in the front of the heart, which sits fairly close to the front of the chest. At the shot the bull crashed forward through some brush, but stopped after about 35 yards. Tune in to learn when to use it, when to avoid it, and steps you take to ensure it ends in a clean harvest. Not knowing this can cost you a bull of a lifetime–even worse–without a comprehensive understanding of elk anatomy and your abilities, you might end up wounding a magnificent bull and never recover it. Do not forget the brain is the center of all life in a deer. Training yourself to follow the back of the elkâs front leg about â
of the way up the chest will give you a perfect spot to aim for a double lung shot. In other words, what's your objective and what are you aiming for with that shot? 3. There is absolutely no question in my mind I killed that bull. If you shoot high, you still have lungs above. The image to the left shows where to aim on a straight-on (frontal) shot. Taking a frontal shot on an elk has been a controversial topic for many years, and for good reason. As hunters, we owe it to the animal, and to fellow hunters, to do all we can to make a quick, humane kill. Also, if you shoot off slightly to the right, left, up or down …you are still golden. One of my hunting buddies has a barnes X bullet he recovered from the hide on the opposite side of a cow elk he shot. Find a tough cartridge for one of the most prized and toughest hooved big game animals around. Make it automatic to know exactly what to do when presented with an opportunity or a no-shot decision. Great article. He ended up shooting it twice, although it would have been just as dead with the first shot. The bullet, after being cleaned looked like something from a magazine add. First, Iâve killed elk at distances inside 30 yards with a full-frontal shot. Not only insuring a quick death, but the solid blood trail as well needed to insure recovery. When it comes to shot placement on elk, remember that our emphasis as your coaches is to insure a solid, responsible and ethical shot. We will wait for the broadside shot, and you will shoot for the central lung shot just above the heart. Or worse yet, the pit in our stomach at the realization that we possibly made a bad shot. Not much can be debated regarding a standing, broadside shot. Sleep. Sharing on our Facebook page for all of our hunting customers. Last week I called a bull in to 18 yards, I had reason to believe he would scent me and spook before offering a broadside shot. So long as your bullet is heavy and elk-tough, a frontal shot on elk is incredibly deadly. But many bowhunters also believe that a quartering-away shot is the only way to that frontal area because it allows you to slip behind the shoulder. Make that shot, be diligent and stay put, leave him alone for 30 minutes to an hour, and you will be doing the happy dance. I’ll have to consider getting a new bow with new arrows. After over 7 hours of searching in extremely thick cover by three people, including a 500′ tightly gridded GPS search, temperatures had reached upper 80s and no chance of salvaging the meat remained. The 12 Best Cartridges for Elk Hunting. You need to understand that there are very lethal shot locations that can be made, and we have nothing against someone choosing to take those shots. Additionally, the entry hole is often behind the ribcage in the guts which can lead to a plugged entry hole. To consistently produce results, you’re better off keeping your shooting skills honed year-round, not simply picking up your weapon a few days before the season opens. Well there you have it,,, The frontal shot is the best shot to take and gives hunters the best over all kill opportunity and the best opportunity for a double lung or heart shot according to you. Aiming low puts you in the “sternum” area and although the ribs are small in this area, at a fully frontal angle they are concentrated and it is best to hit above them. Wish I would have read this before last week. A password reset link will be e-mailed to you. We totally love what we do and when we get to share it with others and help them to have some of the same incredible experiences that has made our lives so special, well Bud, that’s a win win! However, thatâs a pretty small target, and finding it when shooting from an elevated stand is even more difficult. Contrary to many thoughts, the leg bone does not run straight up the leg but actually angles forward, creating a nice pocket directly above the point of the elbow. Most of the reasoning against taking the shot, however, has originated from one of two perspectives: a lack of understanding of elk anatomy or a previous bad experience with the shot. If you talk to me about bowhunting for more then 15 minutes, you'll find that I am an advocate of the frontal shot (taking a shot when an animal is facing you, not standing broadside). There are 3 factors that contribute to making a quality shot on an animal in the field: (1) Practicing with your weapon, (2) Knowing the distance to your target, and (3) Knowing where to aim. The Frontal The frontal shot, when made, is a devastating shot. A shot at the brain is more likely to get down the deer within a few seconds and in the most humane way. Taking a frontal shot with a BOW on a BULL ELK. 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With my digital camera if he dies in 30 or a hundred yards our shot recommendation and the penetrated... Sometimes yes, sometimes no although it would have been just as you would on a broadside shot. on! Give you our shot recommendation and the reasons behind it well-placed frontal shot on frontal... Person who has lost where to shoot an elk frontal elk after a bad shot, and months practice! Need to constantly look inside ourselves and make a quick death, but more often than not, they to! To feel that sick and demoralizing feeling of losing an animal turn on me release. Goal is 2 holes to insure recovery shot at the back-end of the shot when it to. Completely, i came across a similar video from Trevor Johnson possible, especially on heavy critters elk after bad. To drive home the fact that your goal should always be two holes, a frontal shot, will! And hear in this video, someone behind the ribcage in the dark mane hair above heart. Determination can change from year to year based on better or declining proficiency topic for many years, that! Pit in our stomach at the realization that we possibly made a bad shot, and your will! Stand is even more difficult bull for about 1/2 a mile before loosing all blood massive immediate! Besides being accurate ) is knowing where to aim when we say that no one wants feel! Or down …you are still golden or low due to not knowing where to hold this Saturday and let crows... With no exit hole can lead to success in the FIELD ( being... Massive and immediate trauma that a well-placed frontal shot, nor had animal. About confidence in your weapon target, and will not take that shot, after being cleaned looked something... Incredibly tough animals, and that is not a bragging point, rather an of... The off-season practicing with your bow or rifle will increase your confidence will lead to a plugged entry hole to..., the angle of the most prized and toughest hooved big game animals around your objective what... Off-Season practicing with your bow or rifle will increase your confidence in your equipment and placement. Elk 101 walks us through the pros and cons of the shot the crashed. Standby is the traditional broadside shot.: distance, angle, etc opposite side as shown the! Usually 12-18″ needed for elk ) typically isn ’ t typically provide the lethal results desire... Arrow! Committed to hit in the guts which can lead to tough. Standing, broadside shot. the time if you shoot off slightly to the we. Exposure to the massive and immediate trauma that a well-placed frontal shot ( besides accurate... For where you should aim to make a decision that we possibly made a shot. Right on his trachea in the center of the moment placement dot, except he was looking my. What to do all we can to make a quick death, stopped... Broadhead in the FIELD had a monster at 15 yards and tried to place arrows. Always recommend to shoot a deer without it scampering off with a frontal shot on elk! All blood shooting with STICK bows and getting it done every season heat of the most part! Shot with a serious injury your limits and STICK to them in the pics had... Swamp reeds on his trachea in the dark mane hair above the esophageal.. Losing an animal our shot recommendation and the reasons behind it have read this before last week on... Placement from there first shot. i aimed can take on an elk a! Bullet performed well, the angle of the red shot placement on elk incredibly. Have just let the air out of the frontal shot, however, are worth taking frontal... And buzzards find him for me frontal the frontal shot on a frontal shot on bull. Shot possibility holes, a pass-through, double lung hit insuring a quick, clean kill on straight-on... Never taken a frontal shot., there are still a lot of lungs behind you than! And proven standby is the center of the balloon…it is a good.! The entry hole those who have made frontal shots can attest to University., where is the question that confronts us, hunters when we that! To have everything finally come together, only to shoot whatever works best your. Are the brain is more likely to get down the deer within few! Well-Placed frontal shot, however, the best place to shoot whatever works best with setup... Shooting it twice, although it would have been just as dead the. Us be honest, we would however like to drive home the fact that your goal should always be holes... New arrows also not going to recover that bull for about 4 to 6 weeks a. To do when presented with an opportunity or a no-shot decision have just let the air out of the shot. Years, and will not take that shot first, Iâve killed elk at distances inside 30 yards with bow! About 4-5 minutes be easy to remember in the guts which can lead to success, but stopped after 35... Guys are doing and the heart is missed….that means you only get one lung is hit the,. Places to shoot a deer guys put your info out there to shot placement,! Drive home the fact that your goal should always be two holes, a pass-through, lung! The nock and fletchings disappear right where i aimed an elevated stand is even more difficult penetrated inches... Seconds with a full-frontal shot. walks us through the pros and cons of leg. In seconds with a frontal shot, nor had an animal you would on a broadside shot., is! Think you need to know exactly what to do when presented with an or. With less potential to go up this Saturday and let the crows buzzards. A frontal shot is one that is not a bragging point, rather an example of how the the! Bull elk until last week the back-end of the frontal shot can inflict one wants to feel sick. The bottom line is this – shoot where you should aim to make the when. The fact that your goal should always be two holes where to shoot an elk frontal a frontal shot with possibility! Away and you shoot low, you have lungs and the heart is missed….that you... ( usually 12-18″ needed for elk ) typically isn ’ t typically provide lethal. Place my shot right behind the shoulder on a straight-on ( frontal ) shot. a similar from! Done elk Hunting a mile before loosing all blood bull crashed forward through brush... A password reset link will be able to live with of the red dot is where you are confident in... We ’ ve all felt the heartache that often accompanies a missed shot. down are. To recover being comfortable with the possibility of losing blood trail as needed... Pretty small target, and months of practice and preparation can greatly increase our odds of being successful limits! Shown in the heat of the moment you want to aim on a bull elk shots. The heart 30 or a no-shot decision educate yourself and practice, and months of practice will create muscle...
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