Learn the frontal if you want to kill elk

[rileybassman]

I took an opportunity at a frontal one time and it didn't end how I had hoped and I have no explanation for what happened. You won't find me doing it again.

Man I'm in a similar boat... admittedly lost a bull and ate tag soup 4 or 5 years back on a 42 yard, downhill frontal shot. Good blood for 3 miles, never found him and heard him bugle that evening (8 hours later). Friend shot a "sick" bull few weeks later in rifle season that had one of my BHs in it. Glad he was able to kill him... but man I was sick after that experience and am super hesitant to take this shot again.

My only theory is I just was a little bit low and didn't make it into the chest cavity. 70 lb. draw, 440 grain arrow with an IW 125 head. Have had full penetration on elk with that same setup before. found ~12-14" of broken off arrow while tracking (arrow was 29").

Haunts me to this day.