If you can confidently place a bullet or arrow in the vitals the shot is ethical. Depending on conditions with a rifle my maximum would be around 600 yards in less than a 5-10 mile wind. Practicing in field conditions prone or off sticks I'm good to a little past that range. I've never taken a shot past 350 at an elk because the longer shots presented were not conducive to killing them cleanly and or a successful recovery.
For elk in my rifle choices start at 30-06 with 165 grain, 7mm Rem Mag with 150 and 300 Weatherby with 180 grain all Barnes TTSX bullets. I'd rather not explore the limits of how small i can go to kill an elk.
