- Thread starter Kurtish
- Start date
Great job on the bulls!
I'd like to know more about the frontal shot... I would never attempt it myself(at the moment), but this has piqued my curiousity lately as I've heard others take the shot as well. What was your point of aim? Were you able to clip both lungs? Heart? Major bones in the way? Sounded like he went down very fast. What do you attribute that too? I've double lunged elk and they've went 100yards.
I'd like to know more about the frontal shot... I would never attempt it myself(at the moment), but this has piqued my curiousity lately as I've heard others take the shot as well. What was your point of aim? Were you able to clip both lungs? Heart? Major bones in the way? Sounded like he went down very fast. What do you attribute that too? I've double lunged elk and they've went 100yards.
brushstomper
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1,372
- Reaction score
- 10
Great read seemed like I was right there with ya. Congrats on some fine bulls, way to get it done!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Archer32 @ Sep 16 2008, 08:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
I'm suprised that you are the first one to ask....I figured I might stir up some controversy with this shot as everyone doesn't agree with it being an ethical shot. The frontal shot on an elk gives an opening to the vitals about the size of a cantaloupe. My point of aim was where the base of the neck connects to the chest cavity. The bull was perfectly straight on and was also perfectly level (in elevation), which is very important on this angle.
My arrow hit a major artery in his neck along with taking out both lungs (broadhead went right between left/right lungs slicing both of them open from front to back) and ended up with the broadhead in the very back end of his intestines. It may have taken out his windpipe also but I didn't confirm that while quartering him out. He died within what was probably 10-15 seconds.
There is no doubt that it's not as desireable of an angle as quartering away or broadside, however there is risk associated with the broadside angles too. Shoot too far forward and you drill his shoulderblade and probably only get one lung...if even that. Shoot too far back and you maybe get liver and guts. The frontal shot requires a well placed arrow just as any other shot angle. If I would have had any doubt on the shot or if the bull would have appeared tense I would have passed on the shot, but he was relaxed and I had a clear opening to his vitals at a distance that I can drive tacks at. From what I seen it's extremely deadly when you put your arrow where you want it and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again given the opportunity.
Just for reference I was shooting easton axis arrows with Montec G5's for a total arrow weight right around 415 grains ( estimated total arrow weight). Pushed by a mathews switchback 29" draw at 70 lbs.
I'm suprised that you are the first one to ask....I figured I might stir up some controversy with this shot as everyone doesn't agree with it being an ethical shot. The frontal shot on an elk gives an opening to the vitals about the size of a cantaloupe. My point of aim was where the base of the neck connects to the chest cavity. The bull was perfectly straight on and was also perfectly level (in elevation), which is very important on this angle.
My arrow hit a major artery in his neck along with taking out both lungs (broadhead went right between left/right lungs slicing both of them open from front to back) and ended up with the broadhead in the very back end of his intestines. It may have taken out his windpipe also but I didn't confirm that while quartering him out. He died within what was probably 10-15 seconds.
There is no doubt that it's not as desireable of an angle as quartering away or broadside, however there is risk associated with the broadside angles too. Shoot too far forward and you drill his shoulderblade and probably only get one lung...if even that. Shoot too far back and you maybe get liver and guts. The frontal shot requires a well placed arrow just as any other shot angle. If I would have had any doubt on the shot or if the bull would have appeared tense I would have passed on the shot, but he was relaxed and I had a clear opening to his vitals at a distance that I can drive tacks at. From what I seen it's extremely deadly when you put your arrow where you want it and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again given the opportunity.
Just for reference I was shooting easton axis arrows with Montec G5's for a total arrow weight right around 415 grains ( estimated total arrow weight). Pushed by a mathews switchback 29" draw at 70 lbs.
Kurtish,
I agree with your shot assessment. I had the same shot on the bull I took this year but passed on it because I was uphill and he was standing level. Had I taken the shot it would have passed in front of the lungs and I would have had significant trouble recovering the animal. I do not disagree at all with the shot you took, I would however caution others to make sure they take all of this into consideration when deciding on the shot to take. I have done a lot of tracking to find a whitetail that was "perfectly broadside" with an arrow that passed though showing that it was quartering towards. Luckily for me my bull later presented a 22 yard quartering away shot which is my favorite shot.
Thanks for the shot explanation, and great job on the awesome bull.
Also I was wondering what you think of the montecs? Obviously they go the job done, anything about them that you do not like?
I agree with your shot assessment. I had the same shot on the bull I took this year but passed on it because I was uphill and he was standing level. Had I taken the shot it would have passed in front of the lungs and I would have had significant trouble recovering the animal. I do not disagree at all with the shot you took, I would however caution others to make sure they take all of this into consideration when deciding on the shot to take. I have done a lot of tracking to find a whitetail that was "perfectly broadside" with an arrow that passed though showing that it was quartering towards. Luckily for me my bull later presented a 22 yard quartering away shot which is my favorite shot.
Thanks for the shot explanation, and great job on the awesome bull.
Also I was wondering what you think of the montecs? Obviously they go the job done, anything about them that you do not like?
Hitechhunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2006
- Messages
- 1,302
- Reaction score
- 6
Wow, one of the best stories in a while, being a first time hunt and all. Fantastic!
mslagle1, I have nothing but praise for the montecs. They definitely require some time broadhead tuning to acquire perfect flight but I enjoy shooting so that was part of the fun leading up to my season. I've killed 2 or 3 whitetails with them also and they've always performed well for me.
Archer32, I added a photo for reference to the aiming point. I would say that the bottom of the red circle is getting a little close to what I call the sternum (it's been awhile since anatomy class,.. my best guess) or the connector cartilage at the front/start of the ribcage.
[attachment=54873:elkfrontal.jpg]
Thanks for all the kind words fellas! I still can't get elk out of my head....the other night I went out whitetail hunting and I had to keep telling myself that I'm chasing whitetails and not elk. I found an awesome natural ground setup for elk but it wasn't worth a damn for whitetails (good backcover but not enough front cover) and I got busted by the first 2 1/2 yr old 8 point that come down the ridge.
Time to really change gears I guess
Archer32, I added a photo for reference to the aiming point. I would say that the bottom of the red circle is getting a little close to what I call the sternum (it's been awhile since anatomy class,.. my best guess) or the connector cartilage at the front/start of the ribcage.
[attachment=54873:elkfrontal.jpg]
Thanks for all the kind words fellas! I still can't get elk out of my head....the other night I went out whitetail hunting and I had to keep telling myself that I'm chasing whitetails and not elk. I found an awesome natural ground setup for elk but it wasn't worth a damn for whitetails (good backcover but not enough front cover) and I got busted by the first 2 1/2 yr old 8 point that come down the ridge.
Attachments
Hunt Crazy In Ca
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2006
- Messages
- 569
- Reaction score
- 4
right on guys, way to get it done!!! congrats to you both
