Kill zone on various game

[Guest]

As I am a southeastern hunter, I know all about where the vitals are and how big they are on white-tails. I am in the process of planning some jaunts out west, and got to wondering, as I figure my point-blank-ranges for various guns to determine what to take, what are the kill zones on western game?

I am speaking specifically about the following:

Elk
Mule Deer
Antelope

But let's also add Moose just for the fun of it.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

elk- 15"
muleys- 10"
antelope- 8"

These are about the average measurements for a kill shot I have come up with over the years...

 

[Guest]

So Muley's are a shade larger kill zone than white-tails, according to your experience, as I usually use 8" as the standard on southeastern deer. Maybe it is just the difference in how we relate the information, or maybe there really is a difference. Thanks for the info. Makes planning a lot easier, as far as ballistics goes.

A followup question, though. What is the minimum energy y'all use for the various game? I use 1000lbs as a baseline for white-tails, but I don't know about elk or bigger stuff.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Well I guess on average, the muley is a little bigger bodied then the whitetail, in my area anyways, but not by much. They would still be pretty much interchangable for kill zone wise, but comparing our Oregon deer to your South eastern deer is not a real fair comparison.

Everyone has there own beliefs and personal limit on energy. I dont get caught up with everything I read by so called experts in the mags, it seems like they want you to use a frickin 50 howitzer anymore on everything. Get real.....

Deer aren't hard to kill, period. Poke a hole through there chest with something thats going to do some damage, get to the vitals, and your going to have your deer, simple as that. I've seen deer drop from 223-22-250, and 220 swifts w/55g bullets out to 400 yards on muleys and they dropped like a rock with shoulder shots just like they hd been shot with a 25-06 or 270, yet the remaining energy was like around 400-500 lbs. Go figure. I like to set my minimum energy for deer around oh say 700 lbs or so. I also like to set the minimum velocity at around 1600fps or so for reliable expansion if your using a thin jacketed bullet such as a ballistic tip or AB.

Elk are a different story. They are a little tougher, but not much. Still have to put the bullet where it needs to go, and you'll have your elk. I"ve personally shot all my elk with magnums, from 7 RM, to 300 Win, to 300 RUM, rom 200-525 yards. I feel you should take the biggest gun you can still shoot accurately. The "experts" say you need what, around 1500ft lbs to cleanly take elk, there smokin crack. From what I've seen, and I"ve killed 10 elk myself 5 spikes/5 cows, and have seen about 30 shot, I would set my minimum energy limit to right at about 1K ft lbs. If your using a good heavy for caliber bullet, its still going to do what it needs to, and thats get inside and destroy the vitals. Might take more then 1 shot, but elk are pretty tough and sometimes they dont just fall over with 1 shot.

I"m sure people will disagree with me, but as long as I follow those guidelines (they are on the extreme side of things) I'm pretty confident in my abilities to get the job done. 700 ft lbs for deer, 1000 ft lbs for elk, and a minimum impact velocity of 1600fps. Put the bullet where it needs to go with those figures and you should have your animal.

 

[Powerstroke]

Don't quote me here, I should look it up again, but Colorado requires minimum of a .24 Cal bullet weighing 80grns and making 1000 ft /lbs @ 100yds for elk. My wife has taken several elk now with 120grainers out of her .260