Can an elk jump the bowstring?

ThePeon · Apr 14, 2024

I was wondering if an elk can possibly jump the bowstring? Most people I have talked to or articles I have read act like mainly just deer will but not an elk.

Deerlove · Apr 14, 2024

ThePeon said:
I was wondering if an elk can possibly jump the bowstring? Most people I have talked to or articles I have read act like mainly just deer will but not an elk.

They will drop just like a deer, but as drastic.

TheButcher · Apr 14, 2024

The beauty of hunting elk with a bow is that you can get close. They also happen to be huge and provide quite a sizeable vitals area. I shot a cow staring at me at 70 yards, full frontal (my favorite) and the arrow buried in her back hip. She didn’t flinch. I shot a bull at 35 yards, broadside, who jumped the string as he was a little weary already but caused a heart shot placement to be a double lung situation that ended 70 yards, or so, later. They definitely can jump the string but unlike an Axis deer that can jump the string, flip around, do 30 pushups and make breakfast before that arrow gets there, elk don’t tend to be as fast.

ktg · Apr 14, 2024

At least 1 can. Ask me how I know.

JPickett · Apr 14, 2024

I’ve never had it happen but anything’s possible

WapitiBob · Apr 14, 2024

I've seen it twice; both times the bull had spotted the hunter at full draw and were just waiting for the guys to drop the string. Both bulls were long gone before the arrow even got there. 18 and 43 yards. The 18 yard shot was back in the early 80's, hatchet cam so not too fast. Nothin but dust when that arrow got there.

ThePeon · Apr 14, 2024

Thanks guys, the reason I'm asking is because I called a bull in a couple years back and he hung up around 42 yards looking for what was calling to him and I think he was getting kinda nervous and I thought I had him dead to rights when he turned broadside. Well the arrow was pretty much perfect left and right but went about 10 inches high and I still puzzle over it and looked for him part of 2 days. I felt like i made a real good shot. I almost wonder if he was getting skiddish not seeing what he thought should be a cow there somewhere and dropped at the sound of my bow. The only consolation was I think he was fine because I think it got that void above the lungs and didn't hurt him much.

WapitiBob · Apr 14, 2024

It's 2024 and there still isn't a "void" in an intact chest cavity.

TheButcher · Apr 15, 2024

ThePeon said:
Thanks guys, the reason I'm asking is because I called a bull in a couple years back and he hung up around 42 yards looking for what was calling to him and I think he was getting kinda nervous and I thought I had him dead to rights when he turned broadside. Well the arrow was pretty much perfect left and right but went about 10 inches high and I still puzzle over it and looked for him part of 2 days. I felt like i made a real good shot. I almost wonder if he was getting skiddish not seeing what he thought should be a cow there somewhere and dropped at the sound of my bow. The only consolation was I think he was fine because I think it got that void above the lungs and didn't hurt him much.

There really isn’t a void. If you shot high, you likely just hit him in the back straps. They bleed at first and then dry up. A little sore for a while but they will live.

callsalot · Saturday at 7:32 PM

I've never had one lung forward fast enough to beat the arrow but I have had them drop, meaning almost like a quick crouch down leaving the arrow just skimming the top of the back. Have had it happen twice over the years. They have amazing reflexes for sure.

BrowningRage · Sunday at 8:43 AM

Having watched no fewer than 1,428 bow elk hunting videos... I can concur that an elk will "dip" or "duck" the shot on rare occasion.

Blank · Sunday at 2:20 PM

The speed of sound is 1125 feet per second, so they definitely hear a bow shot before the arrow gets there. Depending how keyed up they are determines their reaction, and whether they move or not