I will apologize for the length of the setup in the question but I think germane to the question. Short version is I had a dozen elk come by me Thursday that were shot out lower on the mountain (I found out after). I was on my way back to the truck when I heard elk up and to the right of me and ran/walked 400 ish yards back up the hill to a bowl approx 400 yards across just in case. 2 minutes after I got there I saw the lead cow for about 20 yards to my right then behind brush. 10 other cows/spikes followed and the lead cow crossed in front of me between brush (3' opening about 100 yards away) just as I saw the bull take up the rear. to the right. Counted points and small 5x5 and figured they would all follow the lead. They did and all moving quickly. I waited for the bull and thought he may have taken a detour as there was clearly more time between him following and the rest of the heard and he trotted quickly across the opening. I fired, saw blood in my scope and his momentum carried him through the opening while he spun. I could see his right neck and part of his head and he was turned almost directly away from me but obscured otherwise. He then stepped to his left and I could not see anything. That felt like forever but in reality 1-2 seconds. At the shot the herd ran back towards the bull.
Everything else that follows I could not see and where my questions comes in. Within about 30 seconds or so I heard something large fall and 2 loud groans in quick succession. I processed in my minds eye a bull down and death groan(s). I waited 10 minutes and snuck up the 100 yards.
As I got to the opening in the brush and about to enter the opening I thought 2 things - I wish the sun would not be in my face and visualized where he should be laying. I snuck around the corner and no bull. I looked up as I saw the bedded bull turn his upright head 30' away and took off like a loaded spring. No struggle and full speed. He went around the bush he was bedded and I ran up to see pieces of his antlers glistening in a thicket as he left and he was gone.
Backed out and gave it a few hours - literally could not find anything after the bed when we returned (no blood at all). I've beat myself up over this and 2 things. Should have made a better initial shot and should have assumed the elk was not only not dead but would run and prepared accordingly.
So the question is - what did I hear? Obviously the falling was the elk bedding down hard. What were the groans? Is that indicative of a certain shot or hit? Should those sounds told me of the type of hit? Appreciate any help/thoughts anyone can provide.
Thanks.
Everything else that follows I could not see and where my questions comes in. Within about 30 seconds or so I heard something large fall and 2 loud groans in quick succession. I processed in my minds eye a bull down and death groan(s). I waited 10 minutes and snuck up the 100 yards.
As I got to the opening in the brush and about to enter the opening I thought 2 things - I wish the sun would not be in my face and visualized where he should be laying. I snuck around the corner and no bull. I looked up as I saw the bedded bull turn his upright head 30' away and took off like a loaded spring. No struggle and full speed. He went around the bush he was bedded and I ran up to see pieces of his antlers glistening in a thicket as he left and he was gone.
Backed out and gave it a few hours - literally could not find anything after the bed when we returned (no blood at all). I've beat myself up over this and 2 things. Should have made a better initial shot and should have assumed the elk was not only not dead but would run and prepared accordingly.
So the question is - what did I hear? Obviously the falling was the elk bedding down hard. What were the groans? Is that indicative of a certain shot or hit? Should those sounds told me of the type of hit? Appreciate any help/thoughts anyone can provide.
Thanks.
