Elk, just for fun...

[Guy Miner]

Two scenarios:

1. You're three days into a week-long elk hunt. This good bull knows something is amiss, but hasn't got you located. He's at 220 yards. Temperature is 18 degrees. Wind is left to right at 10 mph. Do you take the shot? From standing? What's your aimpoint? Which rifle, scope/sights and cartridge/bullet are you using? Why?

2. You're three days into a week long elk hunt. This is the best chance you've had at any bull, and he's a good one. He knows exactly where you are and hasn't let you get a clear shot yet. Always keeps a tree between you and him. He's at 120 yards. Temperature is in the 20's and the wind is dead calm. Do you take the shot? From standing? What's your aimpoint? Which rifle, scope/sights and cartridge/bullet are you using? Why?

Let's have some fun with this - chime in even if you're not really an elk hunter. For this, you are!

I took both photos yesterday, here in Washington. The top one was at the Oak Creek winter feeding area, not far from Yakima. The other was while out in the hills, walking with my wife, near the Naches River. I tried to get a better photo of that bull, but he was too wary!

Guy

 

[JD338]

Guy,

Great pictures!


#1 I would hold on the point of his shoulder and take the shot! I would be using my M700 LSS with a Mark 4 4.5-14x40mm chambered in 338 RUM and loaded with 250 gr PT's at 3024 fps.

#2 I would pass on the shot and hope he steps forward and exposes his vitals to me. Its only day 3 so I have lots of time! Most likely I would be using my 338 RUM loaded with a 250 gr PT. If I knew my shots would be under 200 yds, I may be using my M1895 Guide 45-70 topped with a Leupold VX-3 1.75-6x32mm and loaded with the 300 gr PP at 2200 fps. My other choice would be my M700 Classic 35 Whelen topped with a VX-3 2.5-8x36mm and loaded with 250 gr PT's at 2550 fps.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Guy,

Always fun to see the photos. The elk are certainly looking hard to see what you are.

#1 I would definitely take the shot. I'd do all within my power to break the near shoulder. Any of a number of rifles would work for me. My 350 RM scoped with a Leupold VX3 3-9 X 40 and loaded with my load of 200 grain TSX at a MV of 2750 would work very well, or my 325 WSM topped with a VX3 3-9 X 40 and charged with a 200 grain PT at 2800 fps. Actually, I wouldn't be uncomfortable using my 7mm WSM with 160 AB at 3000 fps or my 7mm RM with 175 PT at 2850 fps. Also, my 300 WSM with 180 grain Fail Safe at 2950 fps would work equally well.

#2 Like Jim, I'd wait, hoping he steps into the clear; there is just enough branches to ensure deflection that would risk a wounding shot. If he stepped clear, this would be a perfect shot for my 356 topped with a VX3 2-8 X 32 and charged with a 250 grain Kodiak FN at 2250 fps, or my other 356 topped with a Kahles 1.5-5 and charged with a 220 grain Speer FN at 2450 fps. Both have taken fame at similar ranges, dropping the animals with authority.

 

[str8meat]

first pic is just wrong, you cant hunt a the feeding station. unless your native american. 338 rum 225 ab is sleepy time for that bull. bull number 2 looks to be in the nile feeding station too. oh well let him clear the trees and sleepy time for him too both bulls in the neck. season over

 

[str8meat]

guy did you happen to stop the sheep station ? theres one heckuva bull in there with bout 100 cows.

 

[Guy Miner]

Didn't get to the sheep station, spent a good chunk of the afternoon hiking above the Naches River, found a herd out in the timber, near the Nile feeding station. Then wandered down to Oak Creek and watched the elk at that feeding station. Quite a group, several 6x6's about the size of the one in my "scenario" and a mess of cows & calves. Along with half the other guys and gals watching the elk, I was sure picturing one of those bulls in my crosshairs during the season. Ah well... Next year! :grin:

 

[Guy Miner]

BTW - since I'm so fond of my .375 H&H Number One, with the 260 AccuBond, I'd likely be carrying it, or the old .30-06 M1917 and 180 gr Nosler Partitions. Either way.

The bull out in the open - I'd favor left into the wind a bit, then send the bullet low into the chest. I think either rifle would do fine. At 220 yards I'd prefer to go to sitting for stability, maybe even using shooting sticks.

The bull behind the trees - well - I don't like the intervening branches much so I'd likely try to wait for him to take a step or two forward. Or try to get real low and maybe shoot under those branches, although I was pretty low when I took the photo. He was a sneaky bull and kept trees between us for a good half an hour while we watched him.

Here's another shot of the herd in the trees at the Nile feeding station:

Guy

 

[str8meat]

not many spikes, but a ton of cows

 

[Guy Miner]

Exactly. I've been surprised the last couple of years that I haven't been able to draw a cow tag. Don't have a lot of points, four I think. I'd really like to draw a cow tag next year, even for archery.

Of course I sure wouldn't turn down a chance to hunt branch antler bulls again either! :grin:

 

[str8meat]

what unit are ya trying for the cow tag in?

 

[Elkman]

Nice pictures guy, I have been looking hard at the units in those areas for elk. Close to home and pretty good stats.
Elk 1 is DRT, hold just a little up and to the right of his right leg and through that little concave depression he looks to have. Goes in there and then out about 6 or 8 ribs back on the other side. Probably most any big game rifle will do the job, me I am shooting my Win Mag
Elk 2 can go either way, wait for a step or take him where he stands. Off hand would be dicey, off your knee would be so much better. A step or two to the left would also change the whole scenerio. With a good rest and the scope up, you could probably poke him right through the his shoulder. You would have to concentrate on missing those branches but there is lots of elk behind them for a good shot. There looks to be a 4 or 5 inch or bigger hole between those branches. It would look a lot bigger through a scope. The key is focusing on putting the bullet through the hole. Those are very small dead branches with lichen on them and even if touched are not going to offfer much if any resistence, I think he is a dead elk either way. EXCEPT if he turns and walks directly away , I have seen them do that, way to many times and not offer a shot. A little bit clearer view would tell me more about the branches. :grin: :grin:

 

[C.Smith]

#1 I would use my 7mm Rem Mag with 160 accubonds at approximately 2950fps topped with
Redfield 3-9x40 scope and shoot him 3/4 the way up on the foward tip of the shoulder.

#2 I would more than likely pass and wait for a better shot. I really worry about bullet deflection and wounding an animal. I actually passed on a similiar shot, with more branchs on a spike a few years ago up in your neck of the woods. Just could not bring myself to shoot.

Thanks for sharing the photos. I need to make the hour drive over and look at the elk. I did not know there was a sheep station over there.

Corey

 

[R Flowers]

I have to agree with the previous posts. The first bull is surely going to get shot at, the second will be safe unless he offers a better shot because of all the junk in the way.

For either one, I probably will be carrying my 300 Weatherby Mag fitted with a 4.5x14x40 LR Leupold. But, I might just as easily have my 338 Win Mag in my hand wearing a 2.5x8 Leupold. Either one would be shooting Nosler Partitions.

 

[skinner313]

I agree with Guy sitting down on the first one. No ethical shot at#2.
7MM rem.mag 160 accubonds bushnell elite 4200 3x9x50.

 

[Songdog]

First one would eat a 260 AccuBond out of the Rem. 700 XCR .375 H&H wearing a 3-9 Zeiss.... right on the point of the shoulder, just about where the sunlight ends.

Second one, I'd shoulder the rifle, pick a spot on the elk's front shoulder... then step ever so sloooooowly to my left. As soon as the crosshairs cleared the brush... whammy. Most of the time it only takes a small change in angle to free up some fur to shoot at... going to sitting, or dropping to prone would change the view entirely...

 

[hubcap]

#1 take the shot
#2 get set up for a shot and try to move him with a couple cow calls.

 

[Elkman]

Guy

Those elk in the timber look to be in pretty good shape. What did you see in real time? Is that the normal snow pack in that area, we have more just above the house.

 

[Guest]

Bull # 1 He's dead with the 300 Ultra Mag using either 180 E-Tip or the AccuBond @ 3300 fps on point if the shoulder.

Bull # 2 Wouldn't hesitate a second there's room to fit a bullet through the opening with either the 300 Ultra using 180 E-Tips or the 35 Whelen and 225 AccuBond, through the shoulders.

Don

 

[Greg Nolan]

#1 is all about old faithful and shooting sticks or back pack for steadying. 375 RUM and a 260 gr A/b through the boiler room.
#2 is giving me plenty of openings. The brush is close to the animal and my experience is that a minor deflection wouldn't move the point of impact more than 2 or 3 " from the point of the shoulder while clearing the tree by 6" or so. The reasoning is that the bull is watching me and at some point is going to spin and take off running away from me behind that cover rather than step out for a clear shot. The 416 rem with 300 gr. TSXs or 350 gr. Speer hot cores would work real well on this shot. Makes a big hole.
Greg

 

[YoteSmoker]

# 1 is dead, just to the right of the shoulder tip with 7mm08 140 TTSX, 30-06 168 TTSX or 7 Rem Mag 160 Partition....Doesn't really matter much at that close of range.

#2 will move either left or right and it will be game over with shot behind the shoulder, again with either 3 rifles and bullet combinations.

In my experience hunting elk, there is not a lot of time to run these game plans through your head as they are usually moving, quartering, and in timber.