Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting My Elk Rig

You made me go RE read the OP by saying 308 bullet. No doubt that 2900 fps will work ...(it's not much more than an 06 and some 06s will beat 2900)... but the 300 WM is capable of much more.

I would NOT shoot c/c at Elk with 3100 fps. But there are NPs, A frames, monos, etc.

Good Luck

Jerry

Much of the Adk's have blow down so thick you really can't hunt there and some of the higher elevations hardly see hunters aside from the random road hunter's. It is tough country indeed and hunter's need to pick there spots. 4.5 is close to normal carry. I know I shouldn't say this but my rifle is on my shoulder part of the time I am in the woods and my binocs the other times. Elk are not whitetail but I rarely bump into whitetails that haven't seen me first. Trusty lever actions fit the bill in the ADK's. Some of the southern ADK's just outside the park have long shooting well over 400-500 yards if granted permission to hunt the area.

Only two things you really need, be downwind and hold still.oops three things, luck trumps all the rest.

Nice shooting rig. Now, I want to hear about your training rig, I have a new Santa Cruz 5010 V2 with an MRP Stage up front.

Good comfortable ,yet supportive boots are more important then the rifle. With out the boots the rest is not needed. I wear Kenetreks.

Agree on how important good boots are. I use Meindl's when it's warmer and Schnee pacs when the snow gets deep. Your 300 mag sounds like a good bet, but my 300 WSM prefers 180 grain Accubonds. I think a 10x binocular is probably to much power for elk hunting, I use a 8x32 Pentax and have a spotting scope that usually gets more use from the truck. Good Luck

ADK, what state you hunting and what's your method?

A backpack hunt, or dayhiking out of a basecamp, etc?

I can't find 2,900 fps for '06 anywhere in my books or the online pages. My standard for '06 is about 2,700 tops with the info I have. PM on the '06, 2,900

I've spoken with a guide in Montana that will do drop camps in Idaho for a week into the Bitterroot Mts. He drops you off for a week and if you shoot your elk they will pack it out for you after. Wall tents set up for you with firewood and cots and such, just bring food, water, sleeping bag and gun. If I don't go there maybe thinking of easier hunts in Colorado. As for type of hunt, a base camp hunt with maybe a two night stay in the bush with a solo tent.

Garyfisher X Caliber 29er American made before they moved some production to Taiwan. I believe 2008 or 2009 was the last year for the X Caliber in America.

I have a pair of really heavy duty hiking boots with excellent ankle support that I use. Maybe Sorel leather pac boots in case of snow.

The 10x42 were a stab in the dark. Maybe a 8x or something compact after doing more research. I also have a nice compact Remington 700 BDL with a 24'' barrel in 30'06 I could bring. But not to stray from my original plan, Two more inches of barrel should be okay.

DIY or Guided on the easy Colorado hunts?

Colorado draw deadline is about 2 weeks away

I would not hunt that area.

I hear that the Bitteroots are good bear picture taking areas and plenty of wolves.....

Sounds like you're going to have fun... best of luck with your hunt!

If you can still-hunt whitetails in the ADK successfully you'll be a natural elk hunter. Just treat them like big whitetails.

Sounds like conditioning isn't an issue.

Boots, when you say you have "heavy duty hiking boots," are they comfortable? No blistering I hope? For me, I don't like to elk hunt in Sorels or the like. Lousy support. You'll feel it in the ankles after a day in the steep. I find a good, tall "Mountain Hunter" with the equivalent of 400 grams Thinsulate is a perfect "all-around" boot that will cover any condition in the fall Rockies. I'd be thinking that way.

Binoculars, that's personal. I like a small 8x32, but the 10x42 is essentially the "30-06 of Western binoculars." They're really never "wrong."

Rifle. I can guarantee you you'll get back from your first elk hunt thinking about a light rifle

Again, best wishes on your trip... Elk hunting is addictive!

I like the weight for a more steady rest. Just haven't made the trip yet. Thanks

They may be eating all the elk. I've heard similar storys about wolves. But the elk must still be there.

I packed a 9lb+ rifle like yours when I was in my 30's, but quickly gravitated to sub 8lb rifles for elk hunting. All my elk rigs weigh between 6.5 and 7.75 lbs with scope, sling and rounds. Anymore, the 7.75lb rifle feels heavy to me.

I still bet you'll be thinking "light is right" when you're done with your hunt. But that's part of the fun and discovery of doing it and figuring it out for yourself.

As to the Selway, I'd hunt there before I'd hunt CO. There are elk there, and you'll have a real wilderness experience with fewer people. There are bulls there to be killed. It's not loaded with elk, but they're there. Anymore, wolves are a fact of life here in the Northern Rockies. Actual hunters learn how to deal with them.

Lastly, a modern 22" 30-06 can push a 180 at 2,800 safely. Book loads are light in deference to old actions chambered for the 110 yo round. And there's nothing wrong with running your 300 Mag in the 2,950 range, though you can certainly add 100 fps to that, but you already knew that!

Best,

Brad

Being in Good Physical Shape is much more important than the rifle and cal you use when Elk Hunting

I get the sense he already knows that.