6x6 in my scope for 10 seconds!

Fishrite · 10-20-2003, 07:24 PM

On Sunday I had a 6x6 Bull Elk in my crosshairs for 10 seconds debating whether to shoot or not. :whazzup: He was only 65 yds away, looking straight at me.I decided to wait because there was a little brush in front of the enormous bull. I really thought that he would step out into a clear area.

I should have taken that shot, because the elk must have got my scent. He turned and stepped behind some brush and I only got a glimpse of him at 100 yards making his way into heavy cover.

If I had taken the shot he would have fallen 80 yards from the paved highway and only 150 yards from my truck. :tongue: I think that the 180 grain 30-06 bullet would have made that kill. Now all I have is the memories of that beautiful animal. It was a bull of a lifetime. :blush: Oh well, there is always next year.

Fishrite
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skein · 10-20-2003, 07:31 PM

Wow! That's what keeps us coming back! How long before your heart slowed down to only 2,300 beats a minute?

Your bullet would have probably had enough energy and mass to chew through the thicket and nail him, but I'd rather see one get away clean than get away wounded and lost to us all. Your gut told you to hold up, and mostly when we feel that inside, it's right.

At least you were there.

Next time....

Skein

nitrobass · 10-20-2003, 07:56 PM

Its those sort of encounters that keep you coming back. Great story!

That "moment of truth" is such a powerful time. Nerves, adrenaline, excitement, and every other feeling hit you like a brick. The ability to keep your wits and make the shot(or pass on the shot) really comes from experiences like yours, and being around elk a lot.

Just think how big that bull will be next year(unless some bowhunter sneaks in and sticks him) :grin: Where did you say this bull was hiding?

duck-boy · 10-20-2003, 08:06 PM

hey fishrite,
been there done that too and to qoute my brother...... "Don't worry little brother there will be more"
duck-boy

Wishin' I wuz Fishin' · 10-20-2003, 08:12 PM

Bravo to you, sir! You have the self control that we should all aspire to have.

Rauly · 10-20-2003, 08:19 PM

Congrats on the great hunt and the fantastic decision. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Your bullet would have most likely hit him....but were

you don't know and made a great decision.

Rauly

Mello-Yello · 10-20-2003, 08:36 PM

Good form Fishrite! Bravo

The decision you made wasn't easy, but it appears obvious you had your wits about you. You did the only thing you could do to truly 'know' what the outcome would be. I'm sure you've run this through your mind a cuzillion times since, and it's easy to second-guess your actions. Just know that it's easier to live with this near-miss, albeit w/beef rather than venison, than wounding and losing a majestic bull like this.

Swamp Puppy · 10-20-2003, 08:47 PM

mark your map...he'll be bigger next year!

Don Becker · 10-21-2003, 08:02 AM

There's not much more that can be added to what's already been said. I'll just add my congratulations for what was undoubtedly the correct decision ('also been there). It's probably useless to tell you not to second-guess your decision . . . but, like skein said: "Your gut told you to hold up, and mostly when we feel that inside, it's right." 'Hope you get to "
nail him" next year! Don Becker

Zen Leecher aka Bill W · 10-21-2003, 09:46 AM

You may have had a problem with the brush. I've had problems more often than not when brush is in the way. One time it caused me to wound a bear rather than inflict a mortal shot... and another time over in antelope country.. it "ate" the bullet before it hit the antelope. Wondered if those weed tips were going to cause me a problem... and they did.

It doesn't take much in the line of brush to either deflect a shot.

Crayfin · 10-21-2003, 10:27 AM

It's all a judgement call-sounds like you made the best decision-the one where you dont have to "what if" you had not shot and wounded an animal. Kudos to you for being a conscious sportsman. Not an easy thing to decide at moments like that

crayfin

Wreckless · 10-21-2003, 01:08 PM

I feel your "pain", Fishrite, I passed on a branch bull a couple years ago during a muzzle loader hunt. He was walking slowly uphill in patchy, thick brush at about 80 yds. I didn't shoot and don't regret it, I don't think.

I replayed the scene in my brain THOUSANDS of times...you will too.

As it was a "hair" tag, I shoulda just shot the cow between me and the bull, but honestly that never crossed my mind. And no, I didn't get on that year.

You did the right thing.

Rusty · 10-21-2003, 01:27 PM

I must add my $.02 worth to this great story.

About 12 years ago, I will never forget the experience, I spotted an enormous buck in the Northside unit. He was no more than 50 yds away broadside!! Raising my rifle, I made what thought was a perfect heart shot only to have the buck run at "warp" speed directly away from his present location. I'm talking flyin' at maximum thrust! I couldn't believe it. How could I have missed?

After over an hour of checking for blood, etc. I gave up. I went back to where he was standing and thoroughly looked around for any clue as to how I could have missed my one big chance. You guessed it! In checking the brush around the spot I found where the bullet snapped through a twig and obviously deflected its flight. Result, one lucky deer.

You were right in passing on the shot. If my 30.06 couldn't make the trip on a deer, it certainly would have been less successful on a elk!

Your patience will pay off in the end, that's the way it works!

Rusty

[ 10-21-2003, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: Rusty ]

Fishrite · 10-21-2003, 08:49 PM

Thanks "Ifishers" for all the encouraging words. I have relived this is my mind over and over. Sometimes I think that I should have shot (maybe the bullet would have made a clean killing shot). But I did make the right decision not to shoot. I certainly would not have wanted to wound such a magnificant animal. Skein, you were right. Rauly, thanks...you've made me feel better. Thanks for all your comments guys....and happy hunting to you all, Respectfully, Fishrite

Don Becker · 10-21-2003, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zen Leecher aka Bill W:
You may have had a problem with the brush. I've had problems more often than not when brush is in the way. One time it caused me to wound a bear rather than inflict a mortal shot... and another time over in antelope country.. it "ate" the bullet before it hit the antelope. Wondered if those weed tips were going to cause me a problem... and they did.

It doesn't take much in the line of brush to either deflect a shot.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">'Reminds me of the time, smokepole hunting for deer, that my brother's bullet was deflected by a branch and resulted in a clean head-shot kill. He and I differ somewhat on that . . . his story is that's where he was aiming . . . I, on the other hand, saw the skinned branch and figured the shot for a miss had it not been for that branch ............... we pretty-much "agreed to disagree" about that one. Don

Don Becker · 10-21-2003, 11:12 PM

Gee, I'm also reminded of another smokepole deer hunting trip when another member of our group shot uphill at a nice buck (we'll give him that but, truth is, nobody else was there right with him to see it). Apparently he hadn't "kept his powder dry" the bullet struck a limb above, in the trajectory and fell back pretty-much right at his feet. Don

[ 10-21-2003, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: Don Becker ]

id. painter · 10-22-2003, 11:36 PM

Fishrite,,, you were absolutly right to let him run.
The only elk I ever lost was exactly that situation. The bull stopped turned and looked right at me , I had a choice shoot him in the skull or try to shoot the tan patch (though the pines). I thought I was looking at elk hide and his sholder but was actually looking at dirt from a large root wad ,dredged up when a big old tree fell. The bull stopped standing in the depression left by the roots. I shot the dirt ,, and not knowing what had happened I cracked off a couple fallow ups at him running (I was sure I had hit him on the first shot). I hit him poorly and and lost him... I still sweat when I think about that day, it drives me nuts . It was a big, big bull. id. painter

Fishrite · 10-23-2003, 08:38 AM

idpainter: Thanks.......I have never wounded an animal...and I'm 60 years old. I've hunted since I was 14. I was taught to make a sure shot by an 83 year old hunter who took me hunting. I have always remembered his words. "Get 'um with a good shot or don't get 'um at all". [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] He was a remarkable man. He worked in the hay fields until he was 93.

fishrite

id. painter · 10-23-2003, 09:21 AM

Good words to live by. I was absolutly positive that I was going to kill that bull.
When the shot went off and the bull didnt act like it had been hit, I should have just stood and watched as he wheeled and ran, but my instinct to stop a cripple was so strong that I kept shooting.
This was in 1983 ,,, I havent lost an amimal since.
A lesson hard learned.I cant describe how it feels to know I ruined an outstanding animal like that. The anguish has not gone away at all ...id. painter

Sturgeon Tom · 10-26-2003, 10:03 AM

Fishrite you made the right decision. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
My dad drummed the same attitude into my head when I started hunting when I was 14. I am 57 now and have never shot at an animal that I didn't think I could make a clean shot and kill.
I think you are one of the stand up hunters who put the animal ahead of yourself. :smile:
I hope you get him next year. Maybe as a 7 x7
:grin:
st

Fishrite · 10-26-2003, 06:33 PM

At times I wonder what it would have been like to go up and see that monster lying on the ground, and how proud I would have been. :tongue: But like you say, Sturgeon Tom.... I would not have wanted to wound a magnificant animal like this and have him get away. Then I would really have felt bad.

No, I think that I made the right decision not to shoot, but there is always the possibility that the shot would have taken him down, and oh what a trophy I would have had....but you know what? There is always next year, and that is what brings up all back...that possibility that we will score with a nice 6x6!! :grin: :grin: And he is still there walking and bedding in that same area. I went back on Friday, the last day and never cut another human track. So he is still there for one of us to harvest next season....and just maybe it will be me!!

Thanks for all the great "ifisher" comments...Fishrite

wade · 10-26-2003, 11:51 PM

I'll echo everyone else's sentiment of appreciation. I have a story though not similar will fit here regarding certainty of the target.

I haven't hunted much, but this year I was able to hunt buck on my brother's place in Eastern Oregon. The first morning I spotted 2 deer up ahead no more than 50 feet away, one biggun was standing broadside with a bush blocking my view of its head. I had that deer's heart sighted in on my scope for 10+ seconds while waiting to see its rack before it slowly headed into the brush and disappeared. I walked up and spotted one of them clearly through an opening, it was a small doe. I was convinced I'd scoped a buck and was determined to verify its ID and get it the next day, so I set up for it. Sure enough at the same time this big doe comes browsing down the trail with two yearlings in tow. I'm as sure as I can be that these were the same deer I saw the day before, its a good thing I didn't shoot. 3 of us hunted 3 days and we saw probably 50 + does but not a buck in the lot.

Kevin