The Frontal Shot!

[velvetfvr]

I don't care if anyone does it but I probably wouldn't do it since I wouldn't say I am completely seasoned. Once I get my first bow kill under my belt and know what goes on I will be able to really tell ya.

 

[dryflyguy]

Nope

 

[flytrait]

Absolutely It is a very effective shot under 20 yards

 

[Lost Arra]

Nope
My goal is to put an arrow thru both lungs, preferably the lower half.
If the conditions are good (wind, cover, unaware animal) and an elk is facing me at 20 yards, chances are I will get that opportunity if I'm patient.
If not, well that's huntin'.
I would rather question myself later about a shot I didn't take rather than a shot I did take.

This no way implies it is not a desirable shot for someone else.

 

[littlebuf]

this bull was 21 yards looking right at me. hit heart and 1 lung. he went 80 yards and tipped over. no problem with a frontal shot,just hit where your aiming

 

[justin davis]

The cool thing with the frontal shot is you more times then not hit heart and lungs. Hard to do that with a broadside shot. The blood loss associated with frontal shots is ridiculous! Looks like someone was pouring buckets of blood on the ground.

The frontal shot is an interesting topic. I feel as a hunting society we have always been taught to shoot broadside shots and nothing but broadside shots. But the truth of the matter is there are shots that are just as if not more effective than a "broadside" shot. This misinformation that we are taught is just like shot placement up the leg vs behind the shoulder. Shooting up the leg is the better shot but not what we are taught or where the 12 ring is on 3 d targets.

 

[Hardstalk]

Im in. And feel completely confident with the frontal. Justin makes good points. You also have jugular veins in the mix even without vitals that will stop an animal very fast. (Seen many meat goats go out that way) not to stereo type at all but one of my first ventures as a kid was selling meat goats to mexicans. They show up. Cut em. Burn the hair with a torch. And throw em in the trunk of their hyundai within 10 minutes of pullin up. Guts and all.

 

[Swamp Buck]

Aron is back to stir the pot a little more. First he askes about machanical heads now frontal shots, trying to drum up a little RokSlide activity? Good discussion none the less, I would take that shot in a heartbeat, but it's not for everyone.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Aron is back to stir the pot a little more. First he askes about machanical heads now frontal shots, trying to drum up a little RokSlide activity? Good discussion none the less, I would take that shot in a heartbeat, but it's not for everyone.

Hey now, I don't think I asked about mechanical broadheads, but I could be wrong.....

 

[Ridge Ghost]

If it's under 20 I'm taking the shot.

 

[Moose Drool]

[/QUOTE]Shooting up the leg is the better shot but not what we are taught or where the 12 ring is on 3 d targets.[/QUOTE]

Justin,

Can you describe an "up the leg shot"? Not familiar with the term.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Nothing wrong with a close frontal shot.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

The cool thing with the frontal shot is you more times then not hit heart and lungs. Hard to do that with a broadside shot. The blood loss associated with frontal shots is ridiculous! Looks like someone was pouring buckets of blood on the ground.

The frontal shot is an interesting topic. I feel as a hunting society we have always been taught to shoot broadside shots and nothing but broadside shots. But the truth of the matter is there are shots that are just as if not more effective than a "broadside" shot. This misinformation that we are taught is just like shot placement up the leg vs behind the shoulder. Shooting up the leg is the better shot but not what we are taught or where the 12 ring is on 3 d targets.

X2

Aiming for the center of the "V" is where you should be aiming on a broadside shot. Most 3D targets do not correctly show the vitals on game.

 

[bounds]

I think it's the same with almost any shot. If you hit where you need to, it's effective. Of course, this leaves less margin for error than a broadside shot, but as others have said, it can be just as effective.

Like Justin said, I think it's been so ingrained in us to only take broadside, behind-the-shoulder shots, that we shy away from other opportunities. I know I've hesitated on shots that I can make but aren't broadside and ended up not getting a shot. Yes, you will have other shot opportunities, but I definitely could have made those as well.

 

[Swamp Buck]

Hey now, I don't think I asked about mechanical broadheads, but I could be wrong.....

Aron, I love a good opinion fest. Love everything you have done for the hunting comunity and great advise you have provided me with personaly.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?216-Mechanical-or-Fixed-what-are-your-thoughts-for-elk

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I would take the shot, but it might be a 15 yard limit for me, given that my traditional bow is a little harder to hit an apple with at 20 yards...

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Just to stir the pot though...now that I think about it. What happens if you are a little off center and ONLY get one lung? I shoot 2 inch wide broadheads and I am very confident in their blood letting ability. But just say you DID only get one lung... Elk can, and will, go a very long way with one lung.

 

[Swamp Buck]

If you hit only one lung on a frontal, or broadside shot, what is an elk most likely to do? Will it keep going and join up with the herd like nothing every happened, or will it act like a gut shot and bed down in 100 - 200 yeards?

 

[littlebuf]

Just to stir the pot though...now that I think about it. What happens if you are a little off center and ONLY get one lung? I shoot 2 inch wide broadheads and I am very confident in their blood letting ability. But just say you DID only get one lung... Elk can, and will, go a very long way with one lung.

the elk in my picture was shot through one lung. knicked the top of the heart. i watched him fall over after turning him around at 80 yards with a cow call. this shot really is over analyzed. its actually a pretty big kill zone considering what we all use for target practice. i put broad heads on playing cards at 60, i can hit a 1 foot square at 30 all day

 

[Matt Palmquist]

You must have been bored to open a topic like this With that said, I would much rather have a frontal shot at close range (25 and in) than a broadside at long range (60+). Most hunters in the western states wouldn't hesitate to take a 60 yard shot at a broadside animal, but to me a frontal at <25 yards is a lot higher percentage shot than broadside at 60.

Matt