The BEST way to kill Elk

[royinidaho]

WildRose,

Help me out here, ok?

I've been a behind the shoulder deer shooter for so long I'm afraid I'll fall into the old habit in the heat of the moment when Mr. Elk presents itself.

The shot I've heard termed "high shoulder" seems a bit risky.

Put your X on this for me wouldja. Thanks

[HARPERC]

I haven't killed near the number of elk as a lot of the folks here. Not nearly even enough to declare a preference. I have killed elk from below sea level (a tidal swamp we hunted in hip boots) to the Wyoming high country. My preference is have a rifle/bullet that will do it all. Stuff happens out there, an angle that's read wrong, a range different than advertised, a gust of wind, an animal moves at the wrong time. Good intentions aside a shoulder shot can turn into behind it and vice versa. I will second the opinion to keep shooting, not much of a meat hunter myself but you'll never lose as much meat as the one you don't find!

[93trojan]

I've only shot one, so I don't have a lot of experience. What I can tell you is that I smacked one in the middle of the shoulder at 400 yds with a 338 225 TSX. He went downhill for 40 or so yards into some trees. I would have bet my house that he was dead. 30 seconds later, he came out of the thicket trying to get back to his cows! Second shot put him down for good. The only other animal that I have seen take a shot like that without going down is a cape buffalo.

Spotter Bob

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by royinidaho

WildRose,

Help me out here, ok?

I've been a behind the shoulder deer shooter for so long I'm afraid I'll fall into the old habit in the heat of the moment when Mr. Elk presents itself.

The shot I've heard termed "high shoulder" seems a bit risky.

Put your X on this for me wouldja. Thanks

Roy the drawing you have seems to be a bit off on the height and angulation of the Scapula and Humerus but it's pretty close.

Here's my Target point.

With a dead on strike you take out both scapulas and the jucture between the heart/lungs. High spine/lungs. Low Heart. Left lungs and ventral Aorta. Right longs Jugulars and Aorta.

No point of aim gives you a better chance of putting the animal down in the dirt because even if you are off fairly signficantly your likelihood of impacting major vessels or interrupting the CNS is very high.

Even if you are low enough to miss the chest completely there's a significant likelihood of striking both front legs at a point where it would put the animal down unable to move.

[Hbb6601]

+1 WildRose

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by Hbb6601

+1 WildRose

As my old comparative anatomy professor who was also an avid hunter once told me "If you hit'm there, there's a whole lotta stuff with names between the bullet and the other side"... .

[Sully2]

Ive never been fortunate enough to hunt elk but Ive read every stick of information on them and "it" that I ever came across....and have photographed them for many a year.

I have to applaud you on your choice of calibers Nunya because it rings right in with what Ive read for years....that the ".338 Winchester" was the "bee's knees" for elk.

Maybe someday when Im on the "other side" I'll get the chance...if Ive been a good boy all my life....