Hunter Safety Topic - shoot?

[Hilltop]

My oldest son recently took our state approved hunter safety course. One part of the course deals with safe shots to take on game animals. The following picture was used as an example of an unsafe shot to take. My son answered it "correctly" but the overall reaction in the room was that while the correct answer was to not shoot, most people actually would take this shot. What do you guys think and why? The animals in question are the two bulls not one of the cows.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The answer is not to shoot. if you miss, you don't know whats on the other side where the bullet could impact.

I taught HS with my Dad in California and this was one of the questions. My Dad taught HS for 50 years.

 

[libidilatimmy]

While, yes you do have a clear shot at the vitals, skyline shots are not viewed as safe because of the unknown nature of what is on the other side. Could be be nothing, could be another group of hunters, you just don't know.

 

[HuskyMusky]

One of my cousin's favorite stories is this exact thing.... shoot vs. don't shoot at the hunter safety course... the whole class said shoot, he was the only one allegedly who correctly said "don't shoot"


once antelope hunting I noticed 2 hunters walk over a hill, btw they weren't wearing any blaze orange, which was against the law, right then or moments later a decent buck antelope ran between us, normally that would have probably been a shot, these guys were lucky we noticed them walking w/o blaze orange on. also imagine if one of these guys got shot/died w/o blaze on... during a rifle hunting season...

 

[Don K]

Sad part is watching some of these so called "hunting shows" and seeing someone on the show taking a shot like this.

 

[swampokie]

Well...Guess it depends on the score of the bull! Just kiddn but you know when I see the people take this shot on tv its usually at a full curl ram or a monster grizz not a management buck.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I'd shoot the front one.

 

[ohbckhntr]

Wouldn't do it, never know the dangers of whats on the other side.

 

[ScottR]

Too many elk in one place. Not a safe shot at all.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

My wife was presented with this exact situation on her blacktail last fall. The risk of danger in that location was very real, with several homes within a mile. It was painful but we had to wait on the buck to see what it would do. It finally fed down to where it was only halfway skylined. We continued to wait and the buck finally bedded with does feeding nearby that kept looking at us. When the buck bedded it had the hillside fully behind it as a backstop. She took the shot and cleanly took the buck. She has become a skillful shooter.

 

[WY ME]

I sent an email this winter to James Brion of Nosler's Magnum TV about just such a situation he encountered with a sky lined stone sheep. He did the right thing and passed on the shot but was fortunate and caught up with the big ram later. He put safety ahead of shooting the big ram and getting some kill footage for the show. I give the guy 2 thumbs up.

Know your target and beyond.

 

[Againstthewind]

Yeah, I agree skylines are not a safe shot. My son took the WY hunter safety class last year, and it was a good refresher for me. Some of the shoot or don't shoot questions were kindof hard. I am considering doing an "audit" of a class again with him. I think he might have been a little young. We took it so he could shoot 4-H, but he will be able to hunt big game this year. It would be very tempting to take the shot, especially after four days of hard hunting and that was your best chance, but definitely agree it is not a safe shot.

 

[CrossCreeks]

Tough decision not to shoot but I agree it's just not safe even if you think your in the middle of nowhere !

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Easy to say that when looking at that picture, but I'd venture a guess that in real life there would be a lot of shooting going on at that front bull by veteran hunters. In fact, that shot might be a tad safer than a lot of shots I see guys taking on the flats at antelope where even a pass through might go a mile to where they can't see. Not condoning either one, but just sayin what may be reality!

 

[wolftalonID]

Funny this was posted up..... I recently got that Antelope DVD from eastmans....one of the hunts Mike takes a rifle shot at an antelope skylined....you see this happen more often then you should. I believe that same hunt, he also had some buildings off in the distance, but the camera angle and focus was probably more deceiving than helpful. Just thought it odd for use as footage in their DVD.

 

[Hilltop]

Thanks to everyone for commenting on this topic. I honestly have mixed feelings about the shot. In a semi populated area I think this is a never take type of shot. In the middle of wilderness...? If you are reasonably close to the elk to ensure your bullet will hit where you aim, your bullet won't have much of anything left if it even exits the bull. I know you shouldn't take the shot but these are the arguments that go through my head when I consider this potential situation. I am guessing many of you feel this way.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The reason we teach young or inexperienced hunters this type of thought process during Hunter Safety Tng is just that....they are young or inexperienced (or both). Almost everybody here does not fit this definition and has enough experience to know if it would be safe to shoot in this situation. The people in the classes need to think about different scenarios that they will encounter when hunting. To shoot or not to shoot is great training to lay that foundation.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Excellent points CC and Hilltop and that's basicly what I was trying to say!

 

[shootbrownelk]

I'd shoot the front one.

I'll take whichever one you don't shoot.

 

[marcusvdk]

heres one that i never saw during hunter safety!