Cow tag, in the timber...

[Guy Miner]

40 yards, she's moving slowly, haltingly away. Aware of "something" in your direction, but not spooked yet... You've got a cow tag, and an empty freezer that needs to be filled!



What are you hunting with, in timber? Do you shoot? Shot placement?

Guy

 

[tddeangelo]

Shoot in that position....no. It looks like a few more steps, unless she veers left, puts her in the clear. Then it's open season.

For shots like that, I usually try to hit the center of the opposite side's shoulder, or maybe shade toward the leading edge of the opposite side shoulder as my intended exit point, and shoot accordingly to hit that target. If she's posed exactly like she is in the pic when it comes time to shoot, however, it looks like her far leg is back a bit. I'd probably want to get a certain wound channel through the lungs and aim to have it exit at the junction of the neck/chest. Aiming for the leg, in that position, looks to me like it'd wind up being a liver/rear of the lung path through the vitals.

Rifle choice.....probably if I could magically select at that moment the rifle I own that's best for the job, it'd have to be my 45-70 Guide Gun. Or my 35 Whelen. Either/or.

 

[SJB358]

I am a shooter here Guy. Again, the 338 Win Mag and maybe just a little follow through as I drive a 210 or 225 in a direct path of the leading edge opposite front leg. Any of the good bullets we typically run in the PT or AB category will drive into the good stuff and the bigger ones will likely break that off side leg.

Cool picture Guy!

 

[DrMike]

Winchester Model 94, .356 loaded with 250 grain Kodiak bullets. Ideally, she would turn slightly toward her right and I'd hit the onside shoulder, dropping her as the bullet pushed through to the vitals. If she didn't turn, I'm sufficiently confident with that load that I would take the shot, hitting on the forward point of the shoulder. I'm confident that the bullet would push through, destroying the left lung and hydrostatic shock would disrupt heart beats, dropping her on the spot. Should she whirl, I would hit her with a second shot in the lungs as she turned. Threading the needle wouldn't be at all difficult in this instance; I've done it on multiple occasions.

 

[SJB358]

That is exciting stuff right there. Up close and personal with the elk in the timber! Yeah, I can't think of a better place to be!

 

[Guy Miner]

Mama and I have been having fun, going up and watching the elk in the evenings. We get a few photos when I remember the camera...

I'm hearing all these .30+ cal rifles and 200+ gr bullets... :grin: Certainly does seem to be that sort of a situation doesn't it?

I mean, a good old .30-06 with 180's would do, but... If this isn't a medium-bore/big bore situation, what is?

I'd like to have the Number One in hand, with the 1.5-5x scope dialed way down. 270 gr or 300 gr round nose soft point would be fine. Like others stated, reload instantly and get back on target in case she bolts. I'm thinking with the low powered scope, I could "thread the needle" too and get the bullet where it belongs. Might not be the prettiest shot, but I think I could do it without messing up and putting it into the guts... Yuck.

Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

That is exciting stuff right there. Up close and personal with the elk in the timber! Yeah, I can't think of a better place to be!

Very cool stuff indeed.

 

[NYDAN]

450 Marlin. I would try a shot right through the center of the chest cavity, just behind the right front shoulder angling forward through the chest.

 

[hubcap]

Hopefully I have my timber setup with me. 30:06 with 200 gr. PT,s. No scope. Probably try to hit a foot left of the right shoulder.

 

[Guy Miner]

Hubcap - what kind of sights do you have on that rifle?

Thanks!

 

[JD338]

Just a couple more steps and I would put a PT through her, aiming for an exit in the off shoulder.
My first choice would be my 1895G with a VX-6 1.75-6x32mm loaded up with 300 gr PTs. My other black timber elk rifle is a 700 Classic 35 Whelen with a VX-3 2.5-8x36mm loaded up with 250 gr PTs at 2600 fps.
Either one would fit the bill nicely.

JD338

 

[hubcap]

Hubcap - what kind of sights do you have on that rifle?

Thanks!

I use a Williams fully adjustable rear sight with fairly deep U NOTCH. It has increments marked on the side for precision elevation adjustments. Same thing on the top for left and right adjustments. Standard front sight .090 thick at the top. The Williams is a dream to use and makes it real easy to dial in a load. The rifle is a savage 110E with a blind magazine and a synthetic stock. It is light weight and easy to pack at high elevation on steep slopes with lots of timber. It points fast and hits hard with 200 grain PT,s.

 

[Guy Miner]

Nice!

 

[truck driver]

I know you guys may think I'm nuts for trying it with this caliber but I have killed lots of White Tail in Heavy timber and only had spot shots that you had to thread the needle and my Needle Threader is a Rem 725 semi custom 257 Roberts. The shot would be right behind the right ear with a 110 gr PT. I carry my Roberts when hunting heavy brush because it's capable of doing what I ask it to do.

 

[pre6422hornet]

348 in the vitals holding for the off shoulder. At 40 yards that is a no brainer for me. I have already shot one elk at 30 yards as it stood in its bed talk about a rush!!

 

[Tobey284]

If I have a cow tag that means I'm packing either a disc elite or tc omega, 110 grains blackhorn and 300 grain nosler mz. At 40 yards I'm gonna shoot, the moss covered limb in the foreground is basically pointing to my spot. Haven't used the nosler on game yet but have used similar designs on enough elk to know I've got elk sammiches.

 

[sask boy]

My 35 Whelen with my 225gr ABs would be up to the challenge :wink:. Aiming opposite shoulder I believe we would be filling one of our freezers for the winter !

Blessings,
Dan

 

[HTDUCK]

I know you guys may think I'm nuts for trying it with this caliber but I have killed lots of White Tail in Heavy timber and only had spot shots that you had to thread the needle and my Needle Threader is a Rem 725 semi custom 257 Roberts. The shot would be right behind the right ear with a 110 gr PT. I carry my Roberts when hunting heavy brush because it's capable of doing what I ask it to do.

Nope, you're not nuts.
My first reaction too.

Only difference I'd be shooting my Rem 700 280 and a 160 Partition.

 

[BD1]

I'll be the odd man out, given your pic, her halting behavior and a 40 yd shot I'd put a bullet right through the atlas joint at the back base of her skull. A close look at your pic shows a number of branches covering a bit of an off shoulder shot and given her current off fore leg position it would also likely mean putting a bullet through the grass bag. I don't care for threading bullets through branches and the back of the skull appears to be the largest open clear target in your pic. At 40 yds with her motionless in your pic, its not even a chip shot and you don't run the risk of ruining any meat, hitting a branch with a bullet or her running anywhere because brain shot animals don't run and you don't have a mount to worry about. Of course you could wait it out and see if she hopefully clears the trees and moves more to the right before getting any more nervous, but if she's already aware something isn't right, she's likely going to bolt at any moment.
My 2 cents............

 

[Gm weatherby man]

BD1, I like the way you think, though I'm not much for head shot, have done a few. I believe in this situation a head shot make good sense if your good with your equipment, but it's not about bragging right you got on the ground, but taking in a way that as much meat is not wasted as possible.killing a animal when never new you where there, that's the real challenge, something I learned from bow hunting over the years.