I've been looking for a smaller gun for whitetail and mule deer/elk hunting so as not to destroy all the good parts of a whitetail deer. Would be good for target shooting also (not long range).
I'm not sure where people get the idea that they can "destroy all the good parts" when you do ANY lung/boiler maker shot?
I'm thinking that some people take the animal in for butchering rather than doing it themselves, and they don't understand there is little to no meat going to waste. Even on a big Alberta Whitetail the front shoulder is only two inches wide and half of that is bone and sinew. I actually try to aim for the front leg so I don't have a thru and thru shot and end up chasing a runner for hundreds of meters before it dies. There is no meat on the ribs and even if the leg/shoulder is untouched there is only grind and sausage meat rather than any actual cuts.
I like to use a heavy bullet such as a 180gr to blast that bugger to kingdom come and watch it drop on the spot. Unless you hit above the spine there is nothing going to waste worth mentioning.
We appear to have a lot of guys who have never shot an Elk giving Elk rifle advice.![]()
I wouldn't do any of that messing around. Work up a load and shoot everything with said load. Get to know exactly how it preforms at all distances instead of messing with everything for different animals.
We appear to have a lot of guys who have never shot an Elk giving Elk rifle advice.![]()
We appear to have a lot of guys who have never shot an Elk giving Elk rifle advice.![]()
Between the blinkers works as well but it is sometimes more difficult to make and if you do make the shot my opinion is that it "kills to quickly", the animals heart stops instantly leaving the meat all blood filled...much better meat with a body shot that the chest cavity has a couple gallons of blood drained into it.
How, pray tell, do you know who has shot an elk and who has not?
Oh, I don't know. Just a wild guess.
Do we need to have a geography lesson?
Not everyone only hunts their backyard......
Not everyone only hunts their backyard......
You're from Ontario. Where have you been able to hunt Elk? It might be nice for others to see some opportunities you have had.
You're from Ontario. Where have you been able to hunt Elk? It might be nice for others to see some opportunities you have had.




























