Elk Shooting Range
- Thread starter Turk
- Start date
I have shot two elk and I would say the average range was around 60 yards. One was around 100 yards, and the other was 40-50 yards. Both were moving. The long one was pretty much an all out run, the short one was a brisk walk. Long one was with a .30-06 180 grain Nosler Partition. The short one was a .338 Win Mag, 225 grain Remington Core Lockt. Both were shot a second time. The '06 was a pretty much perfect behind the shoulder shot, the elk ran approx. 50 yards and was trying to make it up a hill but couldn't do it. I didn't want to see it struggle and shot it again which dropped it stone dead. Both shots were through and through with nice expansion. The .338 was a terrible shot on my part. I had a narrow opening with elk running through. I told myself I was going to shoot the next one through. I didn't lead enough and the shot was too far back. I tracked the elk a short distance and found it lying down with it's head up. I shot it the second time in the back of the head. Both were cows.
I have shot them from 60 yards to 450. Average discounting two at much longer than normal ranges is just about 100 yards if I had to guess.
What types of shots you get depend largely on where you go and what type of hunting you do. Hunt in timber and you can go a lifetime shooting elk and not get over 100 yards. Hunt in open country at lower elevations or above timberline and you can get shots of 400 yards easily. Terrain and tactics will dictate your shots.
What types of shots you get depend largely on where you go and what type of hunting you do. Hunt in timber and you can go a lifetime shooting elk and not get over 100 yards. Hunt in open country at lower elevations or above timberline and you can get shots of 400 yards easily. Terrain and tactics will dictate your shots.
Long Range
I know where I hunt in Eastern Washington, there is a lot of looking over sage brush. Thinking back over several hunting trips, most shots I or my friends have taken are in the 250-300 yard range.
But, in Western Washington, you could go out with iron sights and be okay. You'd be lucky to see 60 yards in some of the forests.
I know where I hunt in Eastern Washington, there is a lot of looking over sage brush. Thinking back over several hunting trips, most shots I or my friends have taken are in the 250-300 yard range.
But, in Western Washington, you could go out with iron sights and be okay. You'd be lucky to see 60 yards in some of the forests.
The average range for the 30+ Elk I have taken has to be about 140 yds. However, they sometimes are seen from afar in the areas I usually hunt, and they are not easy to approach. The closest I have shot one is about 35 yds.[running from another hunter, who had spooked it] Farthest is about 425 yds across a clear cut. Most of the Elk I have shot have been taken with a 7mm or 30 cal magnum, but I have shot them with the 7x57, the 30-06, the 264 Win Mag and a couple of other calibers. Several shots have been on running Elk, but none of these were very long shots. Regards, Eagleye. 
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
yorec, I'd bet a lot of folks from the eastern US who go out west for elk-hunting for the first time have the idea they need a super cannon and a 20X scope, to deal with shots of mostly 500 yards.
Also, those "hunters" who lumber around in some noisy fashion, or who just park and pray in their vehicle, might never see an elk inside of 500 yards. You can imagine the stories they spread.
, Art
Also, those "hunters" who lumber around in some noisy fashion, or who just park and pray in their vehicle, might never see an elk inside of 500 yards. You can imagine the stories they spread.
, ArtOne elk just under 200, another under 100 & the rest under 40.
Did spook a huge bull once in dark timber that blasted away at about 5 yards. Thing ran right through 8" diameter deadfall, breaking 'em & Sam's right = change underwear. Never even saw him, but the size of the tracks & stuff he went through indicated big bull.
Most certainly depends on the type terrain you hunt. Everything from seeing 'em two miles off to not being able to within touching distance.
Did spook a huge bull once in dark timber that blasted away at about 5 yards. Thing ran right through 8" diameter deadfall, breaking 'em & Sam's right = change underwear. Never even saw him, but the size of the tracks & stuff he went through indicated big bull.
Most certainly depends on the type terrain you hunt. Everything from seeing 'em two miles off to not being able to within touching distance.
Of the elk I've shot the distance has been from 300 yards, the only one that far away, to 75 yards with most being under 200 yards.
Mostly used a 7mm Mag, with these other calibers tossed in; 30-06, 338-06, 35 Whelan, 45-70, .270 Win., 300 Win. Mag. but my favorite has to be the 7mm Mag for open country and the 1886 45-70 for timber humting.
The one elk shot with a .270 took a total of 5 rounds of 150 gr Hornadys as he made it to the timber on the far side of a meadow. Must admit the first shot was at 150 yards and was very poor placement on my part, this was a long time ago when I was just a pup.
Hope this helps.
Mostly used a 7mm Mag, with these other calibers tossed in; 30-06, 338-06, 35 Whelan, 45-70, .270 Win., 300 Win. Mag. but my favorite has to be the 7mm Mag for open country and the 1886 45-70 for timber humting.
The one elk shot with a .270 took a total of 5 rounds of 150 gr Hornadys as he made it to the timber on the far side of a meadow. Must admit the first shot was at 150 yards and was very poor placement on my part, this was a long time ago when I was just a pup.
Hope this helps.
Average is less than 200 yds. Longest 443 shortest at spitting distance. That 443 was a very unusual circumstance. Thats the one that most gun writers talk about, the unusual circumstances that is.
It also depends on the circumstances in the thick timber your shots will be close. Glassing meadows and canyons you'll see elk at longer ranges. It's your job as a hunter to get close to them before you shoot. Alot of people get the term hunter confussed with sniper they are two different things involved in the hunting of entirely different species under entirely different circumstances.
If you can get closer get closer if you can get steadier get steadier. Not my quote but words to live by.
It also depends on the circumstances in the thick timber your shots will be close. Glassing meadows and canyons you'll see elk at longer ranges. It's your job as a hunter to get close to them before you shoot. Alot of people get the term hunter confussed with sniper they are two different things involved in the hunting of entirely different species under entirely different circumstances.
If you can get closer get closer if you can get steadier get steadier. Not my quote but words to live by.
Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
H&H said...
"A lot of people get the term hunter confussed with sniper they are two different things involved in the hunting of entirely different species under entirely different circumstances."
I've thought that, but never had articulated it. H&H puts is very well. Serious good prose!
"A lot of people get the term hunter confussed with sniper they are two different things involved in the hunting of entirely different species under entirely different circumstances."
I've thought that, but never had articulated it. H&H puts is very well. Serious good prose!
I used to bartend in a Colorado watering hole popular with hunters.
I've polled this before many a time:
Folks with 20 plus years of hunting experience average answers in the 150 yard range.
Folks with 5 years of hunting experience average answers in the 400s.
Add 100 yards if the hunters are from other than the Rocky Mountian region.
Says a lot.
---
"It is hunting, not shooting. Learn the difference." One of the 20 plusers, halfway through a debate on why belted magnums aren't nearly as necessary as the ammo reps might have you believe.
I've polled this before many a time:
Folks with 20 plus years of hunting experience average answers in the 150 yard range.
Folks with 5 years of hunting experience average answers in the 400s.
Add 100 yards if the hunters are from other than the Rocky Mountian region.
Says a lot.
---
"It is hunting, not shooting. Learn the difference." One of the 20 plusers, halfway through a debate on why belted magnums aren't nearly as necessary as the ammo reps might have you believe.
Art Eatman,
You hit the nail on the head. Being from Michigan, I was ridiculed by a lot of my fellow Michiganders for taking a 30-06 to Wyoming on a hunting trip. It's amazing how many fellas in Michigan use .300 Win. Mags. and the like on whitetail where your lucky to see 500 yards, let alone get a shot. They buy these rigs and justify it by saying "just in case I go out west some day". I must have heard that one 1,000 times.