"Just put an arrow in it." - Fred Bear, Arthur Young, and Saxton Pope.... Probably?
Losing animals sucks and it never gets easier. It's lessons learned.
Losing animals sucks and it never gets easier. It's lessons learned.
While on this subject, I got trail camera pictures of a bull with an arrow in him on 09/20. Pictures were taken on private land and the nearest public is a few miles away. I think he will probably live if he does not get an infection. Not sure how the hunter got an arrow in him at that angle. Just an awful shot, which is upsetting but I realize stuff happens. Think he will live?
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Is it possible the pic you showed is the exit wound rather than the entrance? That would make more sense, way off center because he moved and tucked behind the shoulder at an angle missing the heart, arteries, and lungs.I was wondering about this. Look, it’s entirely possible he moved in the moment just before I fingered the release, and that my perception got warped. But that said, I would swear to you both I can see it clearly in my minds eye how he spun, almost like a rodeo bull.
Now what I will say is I have not one ounce of a clue how an arrow on center line manages to strike the shoulder area of a bull that is moving off of that line. The two possibilities I can conjure are that one, the bull was a total acrobat and managed to spin on a dime in a millisecond. The other and I fear far more likely is that I tracked that spot as he moved and let the arrow go a fraction later than I thought I did.
I almost think after writing this that I was over committed to that shot.
One of them "100 yards boys" at work.While on this subject, I got trail camera pictures of a bull with an arrow in him on 09/20. Pictures were taken on private land and the nearest public is a few miles away. I think he will probably live if he does not get an infection. Not sure how the hunter got an arrow in him at that angle. Just an awful shot, which is upsetting but I realize stuff happens. Think he will live?
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I am absolutely positive that’s the entrance wound. Though I think you have the right idea the more I think about it, forward hit on a shallow angle. I hope he’s alive, he was magnificent.Is it possible the pic you showed is the exit wound rather than the entrance? That would make more sense, way off center because he moved and tucked behind the shoulder at an angle missing the heart, arteries, and lungs.
One of them "100 yards boys" at work.
There you go, filling in the gaps with more BS conjecture. Maybe a 4 ft group was your experience with target panic, but it was not mine.
This is a really interesting perspective I hadn’t considered. Spent this week so far going over everything and figuring out necessary changes and that actually makes a ton of sense. Especially really really close in… thanks!I generally prefer to not shoot at a stationary elk ( bull).
I've likely gotten in position for a shot from calling. The bull isn't
half asleep, he's awake and aware. Either he thinks there's a cow he
wants to check out or a satellite bull he needs to warn off.
Broadside walking, release just as the near leg is starting forward.
I think it gives you that extra fraction of a second before he can plant that foot and blast
out of there.
Oh, and about 25 yards away
OP: you did your best with what you knew. That's all anyone can do.
And if I'd gotten a chance at another bull that last day I wouldn't hesitate.
While on this subject, I got trail camera pictures of a bull with an arrow in him on 09/20. Pictures were taken on private land and the nearest public is a few miles away. I think he will probably live if he does not get an infection. Not sure how the hunter got an arrow in him at that angle. Just an awful shot, which is upsetting but I realize stuff happens. Think he will live?
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While on this subject, I got trail camera pictures of a bull with an arrow in him on 09/20. Pictures were taken on private land and the nearest public is a few miles away. I think he will probably live if he does not get an infection. Not sure how the hunter got an arrow in him at that angle. Just an awful shot, which is upsetting but I realize stuff happens. Think he will live?
View attachment 769965
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