Bull Elk - Take the shot?

[joelkdouglas]

Great pics by the way! Scouting an area for this fall?

 

[6mm Remington]

I'm surprised to see I'm the only one to say they'd shoot at the bull in the first picture. If you look close you can see the back edge of his shoulder in the gap of the ferns (actually you can see close to the middle of the shoulder right along the edge of the ferns). There is also a nice little gap in the ferns right between his eyes also. As has been said the ferns are so close to the bull the chance of bullet deflection is pretty low. You could always try a step to the left to expose more of him but with a big enough gun I don't worry about stuff like that. It's a hard raking angle but with a .416 hole through the length of him he wouldn't go anywhere. I've seen elk whirl so fast that you'd never get a shot if you waited.

BTW @ 25yds my gun shoots about 1/2" low. I think holding it still would make more of a difference then 1/2".

I said I'd shoot him on the first picture. I would just want to see what it looked like through my 4x scope, but I too feel the bull presented in the first pictures is a good shot. My decision still would be what it looked like through my sights (either scope or open) when I was actually standing there on the ground. It's hard to say with certainty just looking at a picture, but I agree with you ......shoot that bull!
David

 

[nvbroncrider]

I agree David worst case scenario take two steps left and whack him.

 

[SJB358]

I would probably be packing my 35 Whelen with 250 PT's or 225 AB's or the 45/70 with Dave 405 Hardcast bullet in my Guide Rifle. I would take either shot given. Seeing how close the ferns are on the first shot, I would try and plant the bullet right on the near leg.

2nd shot, same thing. Pretty sure I would have a favorable outcome. I have always wanted to try out the PNW elk hunting and think the 45-70 would be the rifle that would get alot of carrying time out there. Great post Guy.

 

[sask boy]

Well guys, I guess I would have to take him with my new little lady 8) her name is 35 whelen she would be wearing a Leica scope and 225 ABs. If he presented either one of those shots to me I would take him and then call in the young guys to haul back to camp :mrgreen:
At my age I need young hunting partners so that I don't hurt my back doing something foolish :wink:

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Africa Huntress]

Guy, if I knew I was going to be jungle hunting, I would take either the lever action 45/70 or even the 416 Rigby, specifically for the reasons shown in the first photo. I would feel comfortable taking either shot at 25 yards with these guns. I find myself in situations that require closer shots than I anticipated when I entered the field, so I would know where my bullet would be at 25 yards.

I might add that if I was male and a marine I possibly would not need a rifle. A good knife should suffix with my strength and stalking skills. For those marines on the forum that dont know me, dont take offense this was directed at Scotty and David LOL

 

[super-7]

I would be using either a 7mm rm, 30-06, or 300 win mag, with a suitable bullet likely a PT. shot #1 is a bit iffy would have to pull up and look thru scope, But i think its probably a done deal with a brisket/in front of shoulder shot.
Shot #2 definitley the same as wildgene, where brisket and shoulder meet, looking to take out far shoulder. I would have to say that anyone feeling the shot to the left of the fern will gett lungs, I don't beleive it would. To me he looks to steeply quartering too, and a shot left of the fern in photo 2 would be a gut shot, if you had some luck maybe a piece of liver, but I would suggest you would have a tracking job at hand.

 

[DrMike]

I might add that if I was male and a marine I possibly would not need a rifle. A good knife should suffix with my strength and stalking skills.

Yeah, Aleena, I used to use a big rock, but I'm getting older and have to rely on something more certain. Consequently, shooting something in that tangle requires a young Marine to haul it out for me. :grin:

 

[CatskillCrawler]

With my Barska 6-18x40 Hot Magnum dialed up to 16x (won't focus past 16x for some reason...), I can easily pick out his left ear where I would place my 55gr PSP at 3401fps(MAX LOAD - careful!) out of my .223Rem and .....yeah, first pic isn't a shooter scenario.

I would shoot the second pic if I thought he was ready to bolt but would probably wait it out for a little less angle. Definitely doable as is with a stout bullet but would rather see him turn.

Nice pics!

 

[DrMike]

With my Barska 6-18x40 Hot Magnum dialed up to 16x (won't focus past 16x for some reason...), I can easily pick out his left ear where I would place my 55gr PSP at 3401fps(MAX LOAD - careful!) out of my .223Rem.

Yeah, but would you put the bullet into the ear? :lol:

 

[CatskillCrawler]

With my Barska 6-18x40 Hot Magnum dialed up to 16x (won't focus past 16x for some reason...), I can easily pick out his left ear where I would place my 55gr PSP at 3401fps(MAX LOAD - careful!) out of my .223Rem.

Yeah, but would you put the bullet into the ear? :lol:

Probably right thru it as I would be shaking so much from being 15 yds away. I would just create a story for the next hunter who actually kills it. "Lookie here! Looks like someone put a bullet right thru this bull's ear!" :grin:

 

[sask boy]

Hey Mike, your idea of 1 young marine is good but 2 would be even better then we would not have to get our hands bloody :roll:

Blessings,
Dan

 

[DrMike]

2 would be even better then we would not have to get our hands bloody

Good thinking, Dan. I was always a bit slow on that part of the hunt.

 

[6mm Remington]

I would be using either a 7mm rm, 30-06, or 300 win mag, with a suitable bullet likely a PT. shot #1 is a bit iffy would have to pull up and look thru scope, But i think its probably a done deal with a brisket/in front of shoulder shot.
Shot #2 definitley the same as wildgene, where brisket and shoulder meet, looking to take out far shoulder. I would have to say that anyone feeling the shot to the left of the fern will gett lungs, I don't beleive it would. To me he looks to steeply quartering too, and a shot left of the fern in photo 2 would be a gut shot, if you had some luck maybe a piece of liver, but I would suggest you would have a tracking job at hand.

Super 7 I might have been one of those, but when I meant just to the right or the left of the fern, I was speaking directly about the single most prominent stem that supports the plant. That was how I meant it, but it must have been clear as mud!
David

 

[6mm Remington]

I might add that if I was male and a marine I possibly would not need a rifle. A good knife should suffix with my strength and stalking skills. For those marines on the forum that dont know me, dont take offense this was directed at Scotty and David LOL

Aleena sorry to say my dear if you thought I was a Marine you were mistaken. If I ever had been though, I would be very proud to say so as I am certainly thankful and honored by what all of our military folks do for us. Now that being said, the phrase "strong like bull" does seem to fit, and the willingness, but maybe not the brightest :idea: in the box to pack them out of anyplace you shoot them. That's at least what my buddies and I tell each other!
David

 

[big rifle man]

On the first picture I would wait for better presentation, if it didn't happen so be it. On the second picture I'm sure my .338RUm would fill the bill. The other half is figuring out how the heck to get him out of there.

 

[FOTIS]

Hell yes 378 bee with 250 TTSX at 3250 fps?

 

[Africa Huntress]

I might add that if I was male and a marine I possibly would not need a rifle. A good knife should suffix with my strength and stalking skills.

Yeah, Aleena, I used to use a big rock, but I'm getting older and have to rely on something more certain. Consequently, shooting something in that tangle requires a young Marine to haul it out for me. :grin:

Excellent idea Dr. Mike or as Sask boy says, even two would be better. We shoot and then set back and let them go at it LOL

David, oops, my error. We can still joke with Scotty when he shows up LOL

Guy, seriously great post, great pictures, and like I said, probably both with the equipment I mentioned

 

[SJB358]

I would be honored to carry any elk for you all!

 

[DrMike]

Oorah, Marine. You live a bit far for me to depend on, however. I'm not waiting to take the shot. :grin: