Bowhunting with Jeff Lindsey | The Lindsey Way
When it comes to bowhunting elk, The Lindsey Way’s Jeff Lindsey doesn’t just show up, he shows out. We caught up with Jeff, a longtime Swhacker Broadheads partner and a familiar name in the FL Outdoors community, to dig into the tactics and gear that helped him punch a tag out west last fall.
From setting up the shot to trusting your equipment, Jeff’s got a few key lessons every elk hunter should keep in their back pocket.
1. Avoid a shot where the elk is angled towards you.
If there’s one shot angle to avoid, it’s quartering-to. “Every time that animal turns toward you, your margin for error gets smaller and smaller,” Jeff shared. A tough angle like that can lead to deflections or missed vitals. Wait for a better look—it’s worth the patience.
2. Be prepared to cover multiple shooting lanes.
Elk are wild cards. They don’t always come in where you expect, especially when you’re calling or dealing with tough terrain. Jeff recommends that both hunters stay ready and cover different lanes. “It’s not just about being in the right spot—it’s being ready for the unexpected,” he said.
Doubling up on coverage means you’re more likely to get a clean shot if a bull slips in from an angle you didn’t see coming.
3. Know your elk anatomy.
One of the biggest mistakes hunters make is assuming elk are just giant whitetails. “The lungs on a bull stretch back a lot farther than most folks realize,” Jeff said. If you don’t know where those vitals sit, even a good shot can turn into a long track job.
Do your homework before the season. Study anatomy charts. Understand where your arrow needs to go when the pressure’s on.
4. Practice on a full-body elk target.
Jeff doesn’t just shoot reps at a block target. He likes to practice on a full-body elk target whenever he can. “It helps you lock in that mental picture of where to aim when it really matters,” he said.
Visualizing the exact shot placement and working with a life-sized silhouette trains your brain and your confidence to line up the kill shot when the moment comes.
Why Gear Matters
Last fall, Jeff was running the Swhacker #243, and it delivered when it counted most.
“I was super impressed with that head,” Jeff said. “It lived up to the hype. Rarely did an animal run more than 80 yards. It saved me on my elk, too. The shot was a little lower than I wanted, but that 3-inch blade still nicked the heart and dropped him fast.”
A perfect shot is always the goal, but in the real world, things don’t always go exactly as planned. Having a broadhead that opens wide and cuts deep can mean the difference between a long day and a short blood trail. Over-prepare. Take top-tier gear. Be patient. And do what you can to get the best shot window.
We’re proud to have Jeff Lindsey as a part of the Swhacker family. He brings the same grit, discipline, and attention to detail to every hunt that we build into every head. And we’re always glad to catch up and learn from someone who has been there and done it at the highest level.
Stay sharp, hunt smart, and good luck this elk season.