ELK Hunting?

R

Rubber Ducky

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Calgary
Gentlemen,

Anybody on this board into elk hunting? I shot my first elk last year, but since it was only my second day out at the time, I get the uncomfortable feeling that it was sheer dumb luck as opposed to any hunting skill on my part.

What I did was walk quietly through the woods and up (and down) the ridges blowing a cow call every so often.

I get too bored to just sit on a stand and so I love the slow walk and stalk.

Anybody here hunt using a different method?

Cheers,
RD
 
Sorry to get off topic, but my friends want to do some elk hunting and I was lookin for an excuse to get a new rifle anyways.
What's "sufficient" for elk? I want to say 30-06 for its versatility across the board but I hear others say "Oh 30-06 is BARE MINIMUM" for Elk. :confused:
Kind of like the 9mm vs .45 debate.

Anybody with experience care to shed some light?
 
my friends in wyoming shoot their elk every year with a .308win.

buy whatever tickles your fancy. personally I'd go build a .338-06 if I was anticipating Elk hunts....oh wait, I did :D
 
30-06 is plenty for elk. Some people use cartridges as small as .243 for Elk, but then you're getting into the debateable category...
 
I'll be going on my first true elk hunt next week down by Waterton and the 30-06 will be the choice. Of course the .444 will be tagging along. Trying the walk and stalk and sitting and glassing methods.
 
Elk Calibre

Gentlemen;

I have a Remington Sendero in .270 Win. The elk ran about 100 yards after it was shot through the heart. They're tough animals. I've been thinking of the new .325WSM. The AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine had an article about the 325 a few months back and it sounded pretty good. The only problem is that this magazine praises everything it reviews.

The real problem is convincing the wife that I need a new rifle.:) Anybody got any surefire techniques I could use?

RD
 
The only problem is that this magazine praises everything it reviews.
Click to expand...



.................They all do that. They won't give bad reviews to companies that will or are buying advertising space in their rags. Thats why these forums are a better source of info. Regular guys buying hunting gear with our hard earned dollars.
 
Don't tell her.:D


Rubber Ducky said:
Gentlemen;

I have a Remington Sendero in .270 Win. The elk ran about 100 yards after it was shot through the heart. They're tough animals. I've been thinking of the new .325WSM. The AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine had an article about the 325 a few months back and it sounded pretty good. The only problem is that this magazine praises everything it reviews.

The real problem is convincing the wife that I need a new rifle.:) Anybody got any surefire techniques I could use?

RD
Click to expand...
 
Rubber Ducky said:
Gentlemen,

Anybody on this board into elk hunting? I shot my first elk last year, but since it was only my second day out at the time, I get the uncomfortable feeling that it was sheer dumb luck as opposed to any hunting skill on my part.

What I did was walk quietly through the woods and up (and down) the ridges blowing a cow call every so often.

I get too bored to just sit on a stand and so I love the slow walk and stalk.

Anybody here hunt using a different method?

Cheers,
RD
Click to expand...

I couldn't hep notice how everyone kinda got off topic. Just to bring it back on track RD, blowing your cow call every so often probably did the trick for you. About 4 yrs ago, a herd of about 7 or 8 cows just blew out of a cutline right in front of me. They stopped and spotted me on the cut line. I had a general tag, so had to take a bull. I layed low and watched them without making direct eye contact (elk whispering), the lead cow looked in the direction that they had come from and gave a loud bark. The herd turned and took off in the bush, out came a nice 5 x 5 bull right behind them. As he crossed the cutline, I let out a cow call which stopped him dead in his track, and he turned to face me. The .338 WM caught him dead center of the chest. About 20 seconds later as I was admiring my elk from about 120 yds, a second bull came out..... 6 x 6. Anyways, enough said, long distance glassing, and a cow talk will do a nice job. A lot of pre-season scouting, elk a very finicky eaters, they will go miles for the best grass. If you learn where that is, I'll just bet you that you'll see elk there every year if there isn't too much pressure. I know such a spot, and elk are always close by, not necessarily every visit, but every year for sure. One thing that I don't advise is to be one of those id10ts that can't bugle to save their lives and let out bugle after bugle. If you're gonna bugle, learn to do right, at the right time and don't abuse it. Good Luck... PS got a undersubscribed cow elk tag in 312.

Elk2.jpg
 
Last edited:
well, couple days ago, sitting by a creek watching a mountain-side worked for me. the mountains where i am at are dry this year. i don't know for certain but i would think elk need to water nearly every day.

8x57, 200 grain nosler partition @ 2475 fps through the chest did him in. the cows he was with even helped me find him in the brush that he went down in, 2 of them wouldn't leave him and just stood there calling for him.
 
Elk Cow in WMU 312

gitrdun said:
... PS got a undersubscribed cow elk tag in 312.
Click to expand...

Hi Gitrun,

I've got an undersubscribed elk cow in 312 as well. :)

There are certanly lot's of elk in the WMU. Access can be hard to get, and I've done my share of grovelling, but it's well worth the effort.

RD
 
One of my favorite writers, Elmer Keith always said..."for Elk, nothing under .33 cal and 250 grs weight. I will not endorse any .30 cal for this fine animal." "Big Game Hunting," 1948 Umm, ya okay Elmer, unfortuatley all you had were crappy bullets that blew up on everything. Afterall a '06 with premium 180's should pretty much do the trick out to 250 - 300 yds on any animal (short of the big bears) on the continent. (But I still really really want that 9.3x62)
 
Bullets for Elk

Hi Glockster,

The .270Win 140 grain Accubonds I used justabout went right through the elk at 300 yards. I found it under the skin on the other side.

From what the other guys have been posting, this may be a bit on the light side. Any other opinions>

RD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom