Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Your elk hunting rig

I use a M70 EW in 300 WSM with Talley lightweight rings and VX III 2.5-8 Leupie. It weighs a shade less than 8 lbs and shoots 180 Nosler Partitions into 1 MOA. I tried a few lighter rifles but find I like this rifle as it sits. I can live with an extra 6-8 ounces on this one.

I normally camp along some type of road access with road being loosely defined and hike in from there. I just about never find elk within 1.5 miles of the trailhead/road. On average, I hike 2-2.5 miles in, then start hunting. I tend to be at a spot at daylight, hang out till 10 or so, then still hunt to/through bedding areas during mid day, then find a suitable afternoon sit, sit till dark than head out. It makes for a long day. I'd say I average 10-12 miles in a day and 12-1500 feet in elevation. Some days more miles, more elevation, some days less but not many less.

One of the best things I ever bought was a postal scale - I weigh everything I use and cut weight anywhere I can. I normally don't carry a range finder or spotting scope and set up accordingly. I carry items in my pack without cases. For example, why carry a sheath on a folding knife? Or a bag/pouch/box for a compass? Everything gets weighed and lighter alternatives evaluated and replaced if need be. I usually only carry 5 extra cartridges as well. I've never gone through a full magazine let alone extra bullets.

All depends on the draw here in New Mexico. If rifle, I WAS using a Rem 700 SS in 338 Win Mag wearing a Leupold 3-9x40 and 210gr Nosler Partitions. But alas my son's roommate just acquired it from me. I'll have to settle for my Model 70 Alaskan in 338 Win Mag topped with a Leupold 2.5-8x36 and 225gr Partitions.

Last year's hunt was with a Marthews ZXT slinging Easton Axis arrows and 100 gr muzzy 3 blade broadheads.

As for distances, typical day can range from 5 to 12 miles. Out well before sunrise and back after dark.

Been a TC Omega the last few years.8.5#.

Milage varies. I would guess 8 to 10 on average.

Custom Remington 700 with a 24" lilja barrel. Rimrock stock. 3x9 leuplod vx3. Chambered in 30-338 win mag. Shooting 165 grain accubonds over a stiff charge of RL-19. weighs in around 8 lbs.

My elk hunts have been pack in horseback type. Rifle is a jap Mk 5 26" 300 wby slinging hand loaded 168 TTSX. Best dang bullet I have found for this purpose where shots will be 100-400 cross canyon.

I like to carry my 30-06 Interarms Mark X , but more and more I find myself reaching for my Savage 16 .308 because it's lighter and handier (topped with the same scope). And, actually, I prefer to hunt elk with my bow over carrying either of these rifles

I'd say my average hike is 4-5 miles for an entire day. Some may do 8-10 mile days, but I prefer to take my time and hunt, instead of burning through the woods (spooking elk, instead of shooting them).

Mine is a Kimber Montana in .300 WSM with 180 gr Barnes TTSX hand loads. I left the miles of hiking behind, along with my 60th birthday some years ago, but a good mountain horse still gets me where I need to go in the Wind River Range of Wyoming.

donsm70

Either a 7.5lbs 7mm mashburn 160 grain accubonds 3x9-40 Remington 700 or a 7.5lbs 338-06 25 grain accubond 2x7-33 Remington 700. Couldn't tell you how many miles I cover in a day as Ive never really kept track and it varies depending on the plan and the day.

I like many others have a plethora of rifles, all bolt actions. In many different chamberings.

One of my favorites is a custom 721 I built for myself in 30-06, It has a Pac-Nor 1-11 barrel and wears a 3-9 Zeiss West German scope.

I have four EW Model 70's 264WM 300 WSM 300WM 338WM and a All wear 4.5-14 Leupolds

FN Patrol Bolt Rifle in 300WSM in a McMillen Super Grade style stock. Kahles variable 2.5-10

Several Weatherby MK 5's in 257 300 30-378 338-378 378 and 416. All have Leupold scopes that range in power from 3.5-10 to 6.5-20.

I have more but only these I would use for Elk.

My wife only has one rifle for Elk and that is a Weatherby Vanguard in 270 Win.

What rifle I use depends on where I draw the tag. And of course I take back ups.

My go to setup is a Model 70 SS Classic .338 in a Mc Millan stock. It has backup iron sights and has a 2.5-8x36 Leupold scope on it. There is a newer K-4 Weaver backup as well. When I bought it I had it shortened to 23" and had a brake installed. I quickly took the brake off. I use 225 gr TBBC loads for elk.

We cache our camp in behind locked gates a few miles and hunt out of that camp. 5-7 miles is probably average. We have a couple of hunts we do as a group that take all day and involve a bit over 10 miles. That gets tougher as we get older though. I am the group geezer at 67.

In my youth when I was humping 5-10 miles per day with pack attached....I carried a nice, compact savage 99c in 308 ...loaded with 180 gr core locks. Never shot one with that rifle but loved lugging it around. Of the 9 elk I have shot, 7. We're with pre 64 270 featherweight and 150 np

M700 Mtn rifle, 270W, 150gr NPt's, bolt fluted and handle skeltonized, aluminum shroud, aluminum TG, B&C stock, Weaver mounts, Burris Zee rings, VX3 2.5-8.

It's not how many miles, it's elevation gain, and in what terrain that counts.......

Casey

OR......A Black Widow TD, Port Orford tapered cedar shafts, feathers, Zwickey broadheads.

Remington 700 Classic 350 Rem Mag, barrel cut to 20". Custom stock by ME. It did wear a Leupold 4x compact but now has a 2-7 Ultralight. Shoot 225 SierraGamekings.

This little 5 point was killed at 30 feet and I could still barely see him.

I also like to use:
Ruger 375 Ruger Alaskan Leupy 2-7
Rem 700 300 WBY. Leupy 4.5-14
Rem 700 30-06 Leupy 2-7
New this year will be a Rem 700 338 winnie and
Tikka T3 Super lite in 30-06 Leupy 2-7

Walk anywhere from 1-12 miles.

The last couple of hunts 300 Weatherby vanguard with a Timney trigger wearing a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x50 with a Z600 reticle zeroed at 200 with Barnes 180TTSX. It isn't pretty but is very accurate to 600 yards from field positions.

I typically walk between 5-12 miles in a day about 1-2,000 Ft of climb included depending on location. We often choose to hunt areas where ATVs are prohibited or couldn't normally go. At the end of the day and the end of a week or so the rifle feels heavy.

Remington Mdl 700 BDL in 7MM Rem. MAG, LEUPOLD 2 1/2 X 8 variable. Nosler 175 gr., 78 gr. H870 (still have 2 lbs.) Also Marlin 1895SS 45/70, BTB 425 gr., 46 gr. H322, old El Paso Weaver 2 1/2 scope.

Terrain varies. Mostly steep areas hunted with some flats and open areas. Bouncing on 80 years so shank's mare is limited. Did tag a spike last season. Looking forward to the hunt this year.

Weatherby Ultralight Mark V
338-06 A-Square
225gr Accubond @ 2600 + fps
Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36
Mountain Sling

I forgot about the how far you walk part, for rifle somewhere between 6-8 miles depending on the terrain. For bow, I usually spike out so I dont have to hike near as far, probably somewhere between 2-4 miles. I normally try to get at least 2 miles from the trail head before I set up camp.

A lot of interesting replies; elevation gain vs. miles is something I never considered....I expect it's a very true statement.

I plan on doing an elk hunt within the next couple years and I'm setting up my rig now. I got a good deal on a Remington 700 KS, 300WM that is 7.06 lbs without the scope; it'll go slightly over 8 lbs when scoped and loaded. I just wanted to make sure I didn't get too heavy.

I'm still young enough (44) and in good enough shape to cover the mileage most of you spoke of, but the weight of a good animal on my back would probably make me question just how fit I am.

I truly appreciate the replies, it's given me more to think about.

StudDuck - 3 to 4 miles of rough country is, well, rough. I don't question some of folks that have posted claiming big mileage, but I would venture a guess that the country isn't as challenging as some elk country. Another consideration is that dropping an elk 5 miles from the truck will result in at least 4 trips out (maybe 5 with gear). 4 round trips, at 5 miles each way, is 40 miles... half of which is loaded down with a heavy pack. Depending on weather, this can be stretched out over a couple days, but a lot of folks don't fully understand how much work is in front of them when they pull the trigger.

I'm not trying to paint a grim picture - it's a labor of love. Take your time and enjoy it - nothing better than elk hunting the high country!