Just wondering what the furthest distance is you would shoot at an elk with a traditional bow...for me it would be 25 yards and (hopefully)less...
I've killed elk from 7 paces to 35 yards with a "all natural" longbow.
Mike
My limit for all living stuff is about 20 yards.
My goal is 20 yards and under. If everything is "just right" might stretch it a bit - last year killed a cow at 25. Everything just worked out to where I was comfortable with that at the moment. The next 25 yard encounter might be different though.
20 yards is my self imposed limit except Ground squirrels. Them squirrels are just too fun to pass up at longer distances even if it's only to see them jump!
I would go to 25 yards for sure.
Elk are big critters, with big(ger) kill zones and the temptation to stretch your range on them can be high. Thankfully I've never lost an elk, but I've been on a few track jobs that didn't end well and the ringing similarity in all cases was a "marginal" hit.
Personally, and bear in mind I've only shot a few, I try to keep my shots low, in the bottom third of the animal. This shrinks the kill zone for me a bit to where what I'm aiming for is the same size as a deer's kill zone.
If you are really sure your going to put the arrow where you need it, fire away. If your not certain, hold off.
I don't mean to sound flip, but I don't really consider distance "in the moment". I get as close as I can and if I look at the shot and think to myself "dead elk", well then that's a shot I take. I guess that's just my philosophy with any hunting situation - I don't put a distance on it, I just know if I can make the shot or not. That's not to say that I make every shot I take, but I certainly don't say to myself "Uh oh. That's 26 yards and I prefer shots @ 20." I'm fairly conservative in my decision making so I pass up alot more shots than I take.
My experience, though, is that you rarely have time to assess a situation for distance and put a number to it, then debate internally over the number. So I practice to make the shot (whatever the shot is) and then I know when it's time. Does that make any sense?
I train for a 40 yard max shot. But that would have to feel just right.
20 yards and under, but if I feel reeeeally comfortable for a 20-25 yards shot, I might take it
Killed my first trad animal this year with a 25 yard shot and he took a step before the arrow got there. LONG traking before recovery.
For me target "training" is WAY different than shooting at deer or elk...I might (or not) hit a target in the center at 40 yards , but it's not moving, even at close distances under 25 yards , I've had deer and elk dodge a shot..the margin for error is Greatly increased by the distance...what you think "might" be a good shot could become a nightmare...
I practice 45 yds and down. I feel very comfortable taking that shot at that distance, considering most things in my favor. We always want for a closer shot, but we also usually don't get what we want. The size of the animal is a big factor, too.
I practice far and hunt close. I have taken elk out to 35 yards. I would much rather have them inside 25 though.
my closest was 5yds...i'll shoot out to 35 with the confidence i will hit where i'm lookin.thats broadside or slightly quartered away.anything else i pass on.
Pretty much what Bowfiend said.
Taking my skill/comfort level and the bows & arrow set ups I shoot, and the fact that the kill zone on an elk is much larger than a deer sized critter, I would allow myself to take the shot out to 25 yards, given an unobstructed path & stationary broadside elk...
I don't have any doubt I could 10 ring an elk sized critter at 35 yards, but I would be less confident in the penetration I would get...
Depend from the circustances,sometime 15 ydrs are too long others 40ys could be good.I practice long and try to shot as close as possible.This was one of the reasons I gave up with the Wheels,shooting too far.
Tho I don't hunt elk, I think Bowfiend has it. If it feels right, take it. If not, let it go. No matter how close or far it is. It's kind of trusting your feelings.
I only confident out to a little over 20 yards. I'm right-handed and left-eye dominant, so I have to keep my shots to that range or less. I've also passed up shots at much closer range just because "it just wasn't the right shot".
I'm with Felix and the other- practice long, hunt close guys. My closest bull so far was 7 yards, closest buck was 3 yards.
Right now if I had to set a mark it would be around 30 yards. Now that said I have pasted up shots at 10 and shot at 25 or vice versa. Waiting for the right shot is key,animal behavor,limbs,angles all play a part. When it is right you'll know. I have notice that When I am the picky about what shots I take,I get more quality shots and more kills.
I would feel comfortable in many situations out to 30 yards, but not where I was shooting from an awkward position. Sure 20 yards or less would be great, but an elk is a big animal and not that hard to hit well at 30 yards if you practice regularly out to 40 yards and beyond.
Allan
I've killed 13 so far and only one was closer than 25 yds. Like most animals they seem to sense some thing is not right when you get real close. I like them calm and always broadside. Never lost one yet, knock on wood.
I fall into the if it feels right then the shot will work out group. I have killed elk so close I could feel them breath and then I have killed them across small meadows. All of the long recoveries I've been involved with were ones where the shooters were pushing the limit of the situation. It can be the wind, the animals, the vegetation, or it can simply be you. We all have days when nothing seems right. This last season I could never get a shot opportunity that said dead elk to me even tho I was into elk every day for 5 days. I came home with a head full of elk even if my cooler wasn't.
MAP
Short answer: it depends.
At any distance over twenty five yards the animal is seldom in exactly the same position by the time of the arrows arrival. So much can and usually does happen during the arrows flight.As far as yardage goes I never really think about it. My subconsious say thats close enough ,or that's beyond my capability.
Kinda depends on the elk. If you get elk coming into a bugle- your going to be getting 10 yard or less shots. Although the lungs and heart are bigger; the leg bones are like armor and you really have a small kill zone. I think opportunity determines range; but shots over 20 yards are rare if you do things right. Your arrow can zip through an elk at 20 yards if you hit the rib cage - but it seems like most of my shots have been under that .
If you trick them; you trick them good !
I like to keep my shots under 30 yds. I have taken 5 elk with traditional bows from 25-40 yds. 2 @ 25, 2 @ 30 and 1 @ 40 The 40 yd shot looked like just over 30 to me so I took it, then stepped it off and it was right at 40. The funny thing is I seem to shoot best and the elk seem to be less spooky when I am at least 25 yds out. Closer than that and they are really on edge, I don't know if they can smell something or it's a 6th. sense. I have had elk as close as 5 yds. but the shot never seems to materialize when the're that close. I would rather have them @ 25 than @ 10.
QuoteOriginally posted by Doug Treat:
I like to keep my shots under 30 yds. I have taken 5 elk with traditional bows from 25-40 yds. 2 @ 25, 2 @ 30 and 1 @ 40 The 40 yd shot looked like just over 30 to me so I took it, then stepped it off and it was right at 40. The funny thing is I seem to shoot best and the elk seem to be less spooky when I am at least 25 yds out. Closer than that and they are really on edge, I don't know if they can smell something or it's a 6th. sense. I have had elk as close as 5 yds. but the shot never seems to materialize when the're that close. I would rather have them @ 25 than @ 10.
Doug makes a very good point and I have to agree.
I too agree with Doug Treat- and I noticed something- " stepped it off". Stepping off a distance is not like using a range finder. Stepping off 40 steps may be a 30 yard shot; depending on the conditions; like up or down hill...
( At least I know for sure ~I~ suck at guessing distances- even when I step them off).
QuoteOriginally posted by Doug Treat:
I like to keep my shots under 30 yds. I have taken 5 elk with traditional bows from 25-40 yds. 2 @ 25, 2 @ 30 and 1 @ 40 The 40 yd shot looked like just over 30 to me so I took it, then stepped it off and it was right at 40. The funny thing is I seem to shoot best and the elk seem to be less spooky when I am at least 25 yds out. Closer than that and they are really on edge, I don't know if they can smell something or it's a 6th. sense. I have had elk as close as 5 yds. but the shot never seems to materialize when the're that close. I would rather have them @ 25 than @ 10.
I gotta agree, they seem to have an uncanny ability to pick you off if your to close. Every one I have shot has been over 25 yds. I've been closer many times but just could not get it to happen.
seems like they are either too close or two far! elk hunting is a riot, but hard work on public OTC areas.