That was a frontal chest shot and an example of how devestating it can be and how quick it can kill.
I will say that if you can't hit a paper cake plate at 30 yards than it may be a poor choice. But with decent accuracy on an animal that big at that short of distance there is all kinds of stuff to rip up in there that will lead to a quick clean kill.
When the bull raises his head you are seeing the nock and fletching only which is pulled upward by the raising of his head and neck. I don't think that is indicative of where the broadhead ended up.
It's really hard to predict what will happen in 10 seconds when a bull is walking straight at you. Sometimes a frontal shot is the best shot you're going to get...
If you choose to pass, so be it but it can be an effective shot.
The frontal shot has been discussed at great lengths on numerous other forums. And is a consistent proven performer on big game Always your personal choice what shot to take Frontal shot equals results Devastating quick results Antelope elk deer caribou you name it you can kill it with a frontal shot. Expand your opportunities open up some other forums Investigate the possibilities The name of the game is to sever blood vessels and the frontal shot does that better than most Great video job well done!
Traditional teachings have been to avoid the frontal shot but I believe it is somewhat of an "old wive's tale" or common misconception. In certain situations and at short range it is an effective option.
I have personal experience with the frontal shot on elk and the results have all been positive.
BTW, Mike, how was your outcome out west with Les? Any good stories or pics this go 'round?
It's no wonder people spend.less and less time on this site.
That's brilliant, use it as an advertisement. Let see how far you get with that. Good luck with that one. Yikes.
Get real. By not showing it for what it just does the antis a favor. Im not going to hide what I am or what I do because a very small yet very loud group of people don't approve. It doesnt show an animal slowly, and painfully being killed or tortured. It shows an animals life very quickly losing its life as pain free as possible. Thats what we should strive for. What we should not strive for is covering up what we do and how we do it, especially when its completely legal and has been happening since Man kind first started throwing around rocks and sticks.
On a deer it may not be a great shot at any distance, on at Elk at 30 and closer there is nothing wrong with it.
Living life constantly hiding and covering up what your doing is no way to live life my friend. Especially when its just to please a few others.
The vital area on a frontal shot at an elk is of substantial size and at 20 yards or less most archers are very capable of hitting it.
If you think about it, the kill zone on the front of an elk may be similar in size to the kill zone on a quartering away whitetail, bigger than a broadside antelope and certainly bigger than a turkey. But many people have no problem taking those shots and often at greater distances than what is recommended for a frontal shot on an elk.
Guys I know have been blown up, or seen their buddy next to them blown up. So no I'm not going to "show restraint" and not show a picture or video of an animal being taken just because you can see blood. Because thats exactly what happens and it should be represented as such, not some made up BS fairytail where an animal just decided to lay down infront of you and close its eyes.
That has nothing to do with Dignity
Capt.Mike, you are grabbing at straws. What part of, politics has nothing to do with it, don't you understand?
Per48R he got lucky, very, very lucky!
ACU-And, comparing your wounded or maimed war veteran buddies to an animal with the brain the size of a peach pit has something to do with dignity? OK!
therealdeal, brilliant post. Seriously, just a stroke of genius.
This was nothing more than a thrill kill for the kid. He was more infatuated with the blood pouring out than anything.
Lucky, lucky, lucky. Good mentor he has there.
So this kid, Per48R's friend, myself and all the guys I know of who have killed elk with a frontal shot all got lucky...? That's a lot of luck.
You can't determine what the kid's knowledge or intent was by his reaction and comments after the shot. For all you know he was fully aware of the effectiveness of the frontal shot and may have discussed it with his father.
The video may not be the best choice for a national ad campaign but neither are many of the shots or situations that occur while hunting. That doesn't mean that it's not worthy of sharing amongst hunters.
I'm curious why you think the frontal shot is such a bad shot... what are you basing your opinion on...?
Do you also believe that it's necessary to slit the throat on a deer to bleed it out after you kill it? And do you slice off the tarsal glands on a buck so they don't taint the meat? Do you believe that a 6 point buck is 6 years old? These are also outdated beliefs...
Political correctness can Bl*w me.
I also have no issue showing pictures or videos of me shooting hundreds of rounds through the big bad scary black MMR assualt rifle I own.
Things bleed when you kill them, things bleed when you cut them up into steaks. And we aren't talking about posting this on better homes and garden website or some other more public form. If we cant post true hunting pictures and videos here with out being doctored, or edited to appease the antis than what the hell is the point? Seriously get real.
10, it seems you are somehow trying to make this about politics. I certainly never did. However, I do think you are illustrating my point about some people acting with emotion as compared to some who do so from a more realistic and common sense POV. Explain to me what I don't understand?
"Do you also believe that it's necessary to slit the throat on a deer to bleed it out after you kill it? And do you slice off the tarsal glands on a buck so they don't taint the meat? Do you believe that a 6 point buck is 6 years old? These are also outdated beliefs…"
WHAT?
Nobody answered my questions, would the holy Walker run it as part of a campaign advertisement? Would the DNR want that graphic of a shot on their website? Would any state DNR post it? Well maybe Texas but, that would be no surprise.
a website devoted to killing animals with a bow and thats it...which means blood is involved.
Last I check it doesn't involved chocking an animal to death. Which is the only way you would not see blood.
The DNR does not only focus on hunting so it would make more sense for them to not post this video.
Maybe you should avoid looking at pictures or videos on here anymore since the sight of blood apparently gets you weak in the knees. It seems you spend a lot of time on them already.
"This could actually be used as an advertisement for proper and quick methods of taking game. It puts into video the exact quickness and humanity that bowhunters use when keeping animal population in check. It’s the very selling point we use when tell people about how fast a BH can kill. It should be applauded."
On a site for hunters, hunters that hunt specifically with bows and arrows, which when done correctly results in a lot of blood.
I will keep showing restraint and try to build acceptance among the Gallop 38% of non-hunting Republicans and the 78% of non-hunting Democrats and Independents. Go about your business, I'll keep watch over your right to hunt through mutual respect rather than incivility.
+1 !!
I'm not saying the kid's dad told him where to shoot it on video or right at that second. What I'm saying is that they may have discussed possible shot scenarios prior to going elk hunting. You stated that the kid had no idea where he was shooting or what he would hit and he just got lucky. You have no way of knowing that.
Many people do research prior to going elk hunting for the first time. It's entirely possible that the kid and his dad or mentor discussed shot angles prior to the elk hunt. Since frontal shot opportunities are very common in elk hunting (due to elk being called in) it's entirely possible that this was all discussed prior to the elk hunt and the kid understood the pros and cons of a frontal shot and exactly where he should shoot at various angles. There are many forums and threads with a plethora of information on the frontal shot with disussions of where to aim at various angles.
You say the kid didn't know what he was doing and got lucky. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and saying that he knew what he was doing and executed it well. You have to make assumptions and disregard the facts and reality that are in the video to arrive at your conclusion.
Your comment about the arrow exiting behind the front leg instead of the gut leads me to believe that you don't understand much about the frontal shot. The goal with a frontal shot is not necessarily to have the arrow exit but rather to have the arrow bury into the chest cavity and the vitals (ultimately the broadhead may end up in the guts although that's not likely with an elk). The blood loss out of the front of the chest is usually more than adequate to provide a great blood trail without an exit hole. It's pretty much impossible for an arrow to enter through the thoracic inlet in the front of the chest and penetrate all the way to the guts without doing major damage to vital organs, arteries, veins, etc. along the way. All of these will lead to massive blood loss as is witnessed in the kid's video and which I have experienced first hand.
On an angled or quartering frontal shot on an elk it is entirely possible to shoot through the ribs in front of the shoulder or leg and have the arrow angle back and hit the heart and/or lungs. The arrow takes basically the same path as a quartering away shot except it is going the opposite direction. Somethimes this shot does not result in an exit hole on the opposite side but often a quartering away shot on an elk does not result in a pass through either. I've shot 10 elk with a bow; 2 of them where frontal shots and the other 8 were either broadside or quartering away shots. 6 of those 8 did not pass through.
In regard to your comments about the masses not liking this video with the graphic blood, etc. I'm guessing that the percentages would be similar to what you're seeing on this thread. The majority of hunters would see it as reality and accept it but there would be a few like yourself who think it's in poor taste.
On being graphic, we will have to agree to disagree. I just plain think it is the wrong thing to do.
I hear ya, and you are entitled to your opinion and choices of shots to take or pass...
