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Follow up shot #6793356 06/14/17 06:49 PM
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mattyg06 Offline OP
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I am going on a once in a lifetime elk hunt with my father-in-law this October. He is in his upper 60s and this will probably be one of the last years he will be able to do this type of hunt. We are both going with a single guide.

My question is if one of us gets a good shot on a bull would there be any reason for the 2nd hunter not to send a follow up shot down range? I personally wouldn't care and feel this may give us a better chance for recovery if the first shot is slightly off. Also this would offer a much quicker follow up shot since there would be no need to cycle the bolt. In a worse case scenario the 2 of us could send 4 rounds down range faster than a single shooter shooting 4 times.

I am sure I will get the common responses of practice more to be sure on your shot and of course we are already doing that. But I want to make sure we have every chance to recover the bull in the event of a not so great shot especially considering this maybe the only time my FIL gets to go on this type of hunt.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793366 06/14/17 06:55 PM
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Just use a good caliber for elk with quality ammo, make a good shot, and you'll be fine. I'm in the shoot until they're down group myself, even on white tail. Given a few follow ups that might not have been needed but I've lost deer that were hit "good".

If it was me and you going no I don't want you to shoot my elk, but you're f-i-l might see it differently.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793399 06/14/17 07:25 PM
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At least one of you shoot until it's down. Don't "admire" your first shot. I bet your FIL can get a second shot off pretty quick. Anyone that suggests only one shot should always be enough, hasn't hunted elk (successfully). 'Like to put them in front a cape buffalo with one cartridge of any caliber they choose. grin


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793416 06/14/17 07:42 PM
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Shoot til they're down is good strategy but I'd call and ask the guide about 2nd person
doing the shooting. Or ask when you get there.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793434 06/14/17 08:11 PM
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I doubt if the guide will want two shooting at once but I was wrong once so anything is possible.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out.


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I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793449 06/14/17 08:29 PM
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One shot is not always enough but puts em down hard if the shot is right. Have hunted elk 29 years and only once had to have someone else do the backup shooting. Legalities if you taking the follow up shots would be a concern. If your tag is filled that would be a game violation. Guides in some states are legal to do just what you are asking.
No need to keep pumping lead into a bull if he is standing dead, but an iffy shot definitely requires follow ups.
I put a cow bison down with one well placed shot this winter while other hunters were blazing away at their bison every time they shuddered. Call the shot for him and let him take his own bull.
A cape buffalo and bull elk are no comparison.
Also depends on the adrenaline the bull has built up, during the rut or spooked and he may take a couple of shots to go down.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: Wytex] #6793459 06/14/17 08:40 PM
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Ask the guide how he feels about you giving quick follow up shot. Some guides believe if you ain't firing you ain't frying. If you are on the ready and see bullet hit and animal doesn't show signs of terminal hit then burn more powder on him!


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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793460 06/14/17 08:45 PM
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Right off the top of my head, I can only recall twice having to shoot a bull more than once and one of those was really not needed after looking over the bull. 18"-20"+ kill zone is pretty liberal.

I'd discuss it with your FIL, if he is really OK with it, then ask the guide and ultimately follow what the guide says.


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Dennis

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793515 06/14/17 09:54 PM
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in different thread, hunter conservation was brought up... Theirs big difference shooting target & live animal... On this forum seen the boxing matches bout neighbor hunting fence line... usualy in the HF threads... Mods had ta lock it down, scratch think then it goes ta Bunker & aniliesed.. flag



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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793525 06/14/17 10:06 PM
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Make darn sure you're both shooting at the same animal, if it comes down to it!


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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793539 06/14/17 10:29 PM
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Personally, I'd try to avoid the situation, of two shooters. It can make for a safety scenario, it's double the noise, and then there's the possibility of multiple elk, and two getting shot at once. Empty your rifle at home, take a knee and dry fire, sit and dry fire, use your pack and dry fire. Make a good dry fire shot, and cycle quickly. This is how muscle memory is built in.

I shot my elk in one shot, but once I saw the bullet impact, I quickly cycled another round. In fact, I believe I couldn't find my brass, because I had more important things to be concerned about at the time. It was told to me, "keep shooting, until they quit moving". I was ready for a follow-up, but didn't end up needing it.


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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793552 06/14/17 10:45 PM
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YES! Keep shooting until he is deader than a doornail. If i see my elk even flinch, I shoot him again. We have had people lose elk because they were hesitant to shoot them again. Don't be that guy, trust me, it sucks.

A wounded elk can run straight up a mountain side and be 10 miles away before you even catch your breath.

Hell, we had a guy one time shoot his elk, elk dropped. Walked up to it, put his gun down and was getting his knife out of his pack, elk got up and ran off. True story! It's a miserable feeling after you've been hunting your butt off for an opportunity.

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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793603 06/14/17 11:45 PM
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The bull I shot last year I drilled in the boiler room at 100 and change. I knew it was a great shot. However, he did not DRT and the cow in front of him bolted for the steep ravine a couple hundred yards away. No way I was going to let him do the same nor even think about it. Didn't even hesitate. I chambered another round and fired a second good shot. Down he went. Artists don't admire their work until the work is finished. Same should hold true for the hunter. Know your surroundings, potential pitfalls if they do run, etc. Take out the possibility of extra work. That's my .02 anyways.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793662 06/15/17 12:28 AM
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Cycling a bolt is much faster than most think, it is not a 5-10 second routine, it takes one second. Reacquiring a target can take longer, but the second hunter/shooter after being startled by the shot has the same issue.
We have practiced cycling a bolt and shooting, and I was amazed at my daughters speed and accuracy. Some thinks she is firing a semi-auto when she is pig hunting.


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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793693 06/15/17 01:02 AM
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I would never want anyone else shooting an elk I made the first shot on. Ever. Each hunter should be responsible for taking their own animal.

It's not necessary. They are not dangerous game. Each hunter should plan to take and make a good first shot and be responsible for any actually needed follow up shots. It's not a good mindset to think in terms of assuming the possibility of a poor first shot. JMHO.


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Follow up shot [Re: Simple Searcher] #6793848 06/15/17 03:36 AM
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Originally Posted By: Simple Searcher
Cycling a bolt is much faster than most think, it is not a 5-10 second routine, it takes one second. Reacquiring a target can take longer, but the second hunter/shooter after being startled by the shot has the same issue.
We have practiced cycling a bolt and shooting, and I was amazed at my daughters speed and accuracy. Some thinks she is firing a semi-auto when she is pig hunting.

cheers as FiremanJG posted, mussle memmorre... have done the fanning with my colt, (draw shoot hold down trigger palm hammor) it is rough on pistals, was never very accurate though, during our fastdraw starting out, we went for speed, not recommended, dropped mine few times... & while fanning one day felt slight pain in palm, broke end of hammer off... Also my <45 six shooter, doing the fast draw, had video of guy that won several fastdraw compititions, drew & hammer locked back, had to take apart & put back together... not sure bout rifles, fast drawing ya need heavey duty springs & its hard on them... cheers ta your daughter... lighting is bad, so grammer , might be worse than normal... cheap post any ways flag

Last edited by colt.45; 06/15/17 03:58 AM.


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Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6793935 06/15/17 11:27 AM
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Elk are tough animals. Among the toughest ungulates (maybe THE toughest).They don't often go down immediately even with a well-placed shot. Shooting while they are still standing is a good general policy. Especially if you are alone and can't see where your first shot hits.

That said, I'm not going to continue pump lead into an elk I know I've made a good shot on that's on its side kicking its last (as I might on a Cape Buffalo).


Originally Posted by Russ79
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.


Re: Follow up shot [Re: Nogalus Prairie] #6794052 06/15/17 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted By: Nogalus Prairie
It's not a good mindset to think in terms of assuming the possibility of a poor first shot. JMHO.



I always plan for contingencies.. it's just the smart thing to do. I shoot my FIL's rifle as almost as much as mine just in case I have a malfunction at an inopportune time. There is no different to me who gets the 'kill' shot.

Of course I will ask the guide and follow by his rules and recommendations. I just want to reduce the possiblities of a bad outcome and more lead equals more dead to me. This isn't something I would think of doing for the first time on this hunt either. We have done the old '1,2,3...shoot' frequently for hogs with success.

I plan on talking to the guide in the next couple of weeks and if he does say it's ok we would practice this scenario specifically before traveling.

Thanks for the other comments. I am ultra excited about gearing up for this hunt.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6794063 06/15/17 01:58 PM
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I've never hunted elk so I have no opinion. I hope you have a great time and make good memories with FIL.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6794224 06/15/17 04:11 PM
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I've only taken one elk, one shot. Within our hunting group, 3 elk were taken over the years, all were one shot ... but we were all hunting by ourselves and didn't have the opportunity of a second person taking a backup shot (none were needed in our 3 cases, but I could see the possibility IF we had another person with us). I won't say there is always only 1 shot needed but would hope that would be the case. An elk is a tough animal and can travel some ground if wounded, which can make a hard job even harder. If okay with the guide to have a second shooter IF needed, great but I don't think I would want lead pumped in until not flinching.

not trying to stir the pot ... but say your FIL takes a shot (good or bad) and you take the immediate follow up shot (good or bad) ... elk goes down, who's elk is it to tag? whether one or two bullet holes ...


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Re: Follow up shot [Re: PMK] #6794231 06/15/17 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: PMK


not trying to stir the pot ... but say your FIL takes a shot (good or bad) and you take the immediate follow up shot (good or bad) ... elk goes down, who's elk is it to tag? whether one or two bullet holes ...



We will both have bull/cow landowner tags so not sure if that would be a problem or not. I personally don't care 'whos elk' it is as long as we come back with an elk. I will check for all legal regulations if we do decide to take follow up shot.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6794243 06/15/17 04:34 PM
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Multiple shooters is a poor idea IMO. Elk are tough so make your first shot count and be ready to shoot again quickly. The roll of your hunting partner should be to keep his eyes on the elk post shot so you know which way it runs, especially if timber is thick.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6794751 06/16/17 02:57 AM
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I would do what you and him feel comforatable with. If yal dont care about who "got the kill" Id definitely be for a backup shot. My elk took 3 300 win mag rounds to the heart before it fell. Did it need 3? No. Byt bullets are cheap. Elk are not. Dont mess around.

Re: Follow up shot [Re: mattyg06] #6795357 06/16/17 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted By: mattyg06
Originally Posted By: PMK


not trying to stir the pot ... but say your FIL takes a shot (good or bad) and you take the immediate follow up shot (good or bad) ... elk goes down, who's elk is it to tag? whether one or two bullet holes ...



We will both have bull/cow landowner tags so not sure if that would be a problem or not. I personally don't care 'whos elk' it is as long as we come back with an elk. I will check for all legal regulations if we do decide to take follow up shot.

cheers flag



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