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I Looked Up and the Elk Was Gone
Hi Marty,Last year, when i was elk hunting with my dad, my dad and I saw a group of elk maybe 50 yards away. We sat there for almost a half an hour spotting those elk. My dad gave me the rifle and said if you see a shot to shoot. I was looking for almost 15 minutes until I saw a 5 by 5 elk walk into view.
I put the cross hairs right behind the shoulder and went to flip the safety off. When I looked back through the scope, the elk was gone.
What could I have done to get that elk and can an elk or deer hear the safety being flipped?
I know elk isn’t your specialty but I just thought I’d ask.
Matt
Matt,
Thanks for the great questions.
There are a few different possibilities that could have resulted in the 5x5 elk disappearing.
It is likely you were hunting in the mountains. This being the case, the potentially ever changing wind direction would be one variable I would consider. Wind currents are constantly changing on hillsides.
Another possible scenario is the bull elk winded you and took off. Always be aware of what the wind is doing and which way your scent is moving.
Another factor was you taking your eye off the elk when you flipped your safety. Whenever I am hunting and spot an animal I want to harvest, my eyes always stay on the animal. If the animal moves while I am taking off the safety, I am able to follow its movements and keep my gun ready for a shot.
You ask whether deer and elk can hear the click of the safety. I have tested this on my deer hunting land, and my answer is yes. Moving a gun from safe to fire produces an unnatural, metallic sound which deer or elk are not accustom to and normally are not exposed to in their natural environments. This unfamiliar sound could cause them to bolt.
I have had deer as far out as 100 yards. I clicked the safety off, without trying to be quiet. As soon as the deer heard the metallic click of the safety, they went from feeding to looking straight at me. At fifty yards or less, not only did deer look my way, but they took off running.
Here is what I suggest to help you on future hunts. This method works very well for hunting rifles equipped with a cross bolt or button safeties.
Here are 7 Steps to Practice Quietly Moving Your Safety to Fire:
1) Make sure you are in a safe area to practice. You will be pointing your gun forward as if a deer or elk is in front of you. It may be best to do this at the range or wherever you safely sight in your gun.
2) Remove ammunition from your gun. It is not needed to simply practice moving your safety to fire mechanism.
3) Keep your eyes on the target at all times.
4) With your scope on the target and eyes looking ahead through your scope, carefully reach down to the safety mechanism.
5) Put your thumb on one side of the safety button and your index finger on the other. You will be “pinching” the safety between your thumb and index finger.
6) Move the safety button from safe to fire, by pinching the safety mechanism between your thumb and index finger. Keep a slight amount of pressure on the index finger side of the safety button while moving the gun from safe to fire mode with your thumb. This pressure with your fingers “absorbs” much of the metallic sound.
7) Practice taking the gun off safe as much as you can. When I was younger I would practice nearly everyday. It’s just like anything you want to get good at…practice, practice, practice. And make sure it is perfect practice. Practice alone does not make you an expert. It is PERFECT practice that makes you an expert. As a result of my practice, I have not had deer bolt due to them hearing the safety click.
With perfect practice you will be able to move the safety from safe mode to fire mode without any noise.
Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty Prokop
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com
Posted by Marty Prokop
