Frontal shot archery

[Kadelong]

Last weekend I had an opportunity to shoot a bull but the only shot it gave me was a frontal shot at 70 yards, I didnt take it, how difficult of a shot is it? I feel comfortable shooting 70 but didn’t wanna risk injuring a stud because of poor shot placement

 

[mulveymo]

Take that shot if you're absolutely sure the bull won't move at all. Which it certainly might. So don't take that shot at 70. Frontals for me are 20 and under, you're trying to hit a softball essentially. If I can't get a broadside shot between 20-60, I'm not done stalking yet. If he's less than 20 I'll take just about everything except super hard quartering to shots.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I wouldn't take it at 70. When they turn/pivot to run that chest can move pretty quickly.

 

[WyJack]

I wouldn’t take that shot broadside at 70

 

[jonesn3]

Even at 20 yds a front can go wrong. I had what I thought was a slam dunk 23 yd front shot, but my arrow hit slightly right and didn’t penetrate. Must’ve torqued the shot. I was using a good cut on contact broadhead, shooting 70lbs 29.5” DL. But if the shot placement is off it’s not going to penetrate. It’s a shot that I’ve practiced much more this offseason (shooting 4”x6” papers at 20-30yds). Even with my bow being well tuned, and much more practice, this season I’m looking for a frontal shot 25yds and in.

 

[Jethro]

Frontal at 70 is not considered an “opportunity to shoot a bull”.

 

[hiker270]

Odds are high you won't get into the chest cavity but slide the arrow between chest and shoulder. Guaranteed the elk runs or limps off with no recovery. For me this is not an ethical shot at any distance.

 

[butcherboy]

Not a shot even worth considering at 70 yds.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Glad to see others saying no. 70 yard frontal from a person that is an incredible shot is probably a 10% or less recovery. There are too many shots being taken that are out of frustration. Take shots that you are 100% certain of recovery. You will pass on some shots, but archery is supposed to be hard.

 

[5MilesBack]

I wouldn’t take that shot broadside at 70

It would be tough to take a frontal shot if he was broadside.

 

[mad_angler]

It would be tough to take a frontal shot if he was broadside.

I think he was saying that he wouldn't even take a broadside shot at 70 yards. So he certainly wouldn't take a frontal shot at 70 yards.

 

[Jxferg7]

I've had it work for me many times! It's devastating when a good shot it doke. With that being said i took one on a bull coulle years ago at 30 yards. Felt great but he "whirled" on me and i got high neck with little blood trail. Was never able to recover the bull and a heartbreaking dnd to me trip.

 

[wapitibob]

Partner shot a bull frontal at 50, no issues but the bulls demeaner and hunter setup has an awful lot to do with it.

 

[PWahlquist]

To far for frontal. Killed one 4 yrs ago at 67. Thought he was full broadside but he was slightly qtr. to. Hit a rib and deflected back. killed him but had to wait awhile.

 

[TaperPin]

How far can an elk travel with one lung? Farther than many guys can track.

Hitting the elk isn’t the problem, but hitting enough internal bits to kill quickly is. Any kind of angle is a higher percentage shot than straight on. So few are recovered it seems like a waste, which is why it’s never been recommended, anywhere, at anytime in the last 50 years.

 

[Beendare]

Frontal is money at close range....close enough to where he can't move on the shot.

 

[wapitibob]

A frontal with a broadhead takes out the arteries coming off the heart and cuts the crap out of both lungs.
A broadside shot in the upper portion of the < does the same as the frontal.
A broadside shot behind the crease cuts the back lobes of both lungs.
A quartering towards shot usually hits the back of the near side lung and liver.

 

[elkhunteralta]

I took a 15 yard frontal and thought it was good, then the elk stopped bleeding and crossed several fences with no issue, lost sign and done. 2 months later got my broken off arrow and broad head back when a rifle hunter shot the bull, and with no sign of any injury the butcher found it, slightly off from center and in the muscle healed over. So it isn't always a chip shot even close.

 

[shootnrun]

Frontal at 70 is not considered an “opportunity to shoot a bull”.

This is the most accurate...
The frontals I've been party to haven't required a track job, watched them all fall. Shots taken were sub 20 yards. 70 is a poke. I know folks can shoot tighter groups 70+ than I can at 40. But that arrow is in the air for a long time and elk can move fast. I planted an arrow square in an ass cheek of a bull that was standing broadside at 35 as the shot broke and decided it was time to go the same time the arrow left. Luckily he didn't make it far as the broadhead cut the femoral and he bled like a stuck pig.

 

[TheTone]

Frontal at 70 is not considered an “opportunity to shoot a bull”.

Agreed 100%

A frontal up close is one thing, but that was just seeing a bull