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Your elk hunting rig #9585122 02/08/15
Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 3,073 WV StudDuck OP Campfire Tracker
OP StudDuck Campfire Tracker Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 3,073 WV	For those of you who elk hunt and actually still do some walking; what is your go to setup? I'd like to know the make, model, caliber and optic you rely on and please tell me how many miles you cover a day on average. 24HCF in its entirety, is solely responsible for why my children do not have college funds, my mortgage isn't paid-off and why I will never retire early enough to enjoy the remainder of my life.

GB1

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9585192 02/08/15
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 631 lebanon, pa A Apparition Campfire Regular
Apparition Campfire Regular A Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 631 lebanon, pa	Lets see, on my rifle hunts, Ive carried a savage 110 in 7mm08, A3O3 30-06, Savage 110 7mm rem mag and last year win 70 in 270wsm. Scopes have been, Tascos, Simmons, Burris and Leupold in that order.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9585204 02/08/15
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,257 Brad Campfire 'Bwana
Brad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,257	Originally Posted by StudDuck For those of you who elk hunt and actually still do some walking; what is your go to setup? I'd like to know the make, model, caliber and optic you rely on and please tell me how many miles you cover a day on average. My elk hunts are typically backpack hunts... going into a wilderness area with enough to stay out for a number of days. Think steep country. Weight is important. Anymore my elk hunting rig will be a Kimber Montana 84M/L chambered in either 7-08, 308 or 270, though I wouldn't hesitate to use a 260. This year will be with my 308. Mileage varies day to day. “Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9585399 02/08/15
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 14,104 Boot Heel of New Mexico mudhen Campfire Outfitter
mudhen Campfire Outfitter Joined: May 2005 Posts: 14,104 Boot Heel of New Mexico	My current rig for serious hikes is a Weatherby Back Country in .300 WM with a 3-9x33 Leupold Compact scope. I'm too far along in years for death marches, so if I cover 5-7 miles a day that takes about all the energy that I have. If I'm hunting thick aspen woodlands or mixed conifers, I will carry a Ruger No.1-S in 9.3x74R with a 1-4x20 Leupold VX-III scope. Last edited by mudhen; 02/08/15. Ben Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9585404 02/08/15
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 20,193 T_Inman Campfire Ranger
T_Inman Campfire Ranger Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 20,193	I use a variety of stuff, but mostly bolt guns from .25-06 to .300Win. I've got a 6.5x284 being built right now that'll be carried a bit this coming fall. I've been known to carry a Weatherby Accumark in .340 Wby too. When on horseback I often carry a Marlin 1895 in .450 Marlin...mainly because it is so much easier to fit in a scabbard. I cover anywhere from 5 to 20 miles a day, depending on where I am at. I cover a lot of ground before and after dark, simply getting to where I want to glass from.

IC B2

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9585467 02/08/15
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,428 3 340mag Campfire Regular
340mag Campfire Regular 3 Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,428	Originally Posted by StudDuck For those of you who elk hunt and actually still do some walking; what is your go to setup? I'd like to know the make, model, caliber and optic you rely on and please tell me how many miles you cover a day on average. If I back-pack into deep creek or grizzly creek drainage, several miles into the canyons I hunt, I generally take my 35 whelen 7600 slide action , but I'd point out that the rifle choice is more due to familiarity like an old friend, and any of several rifles I own would work just as well, both the 340 wby and my sako 375 H&H have made that trip several times as has my browning BLR in 358 win, its NOT the rifle its the skill you have using it! Id use my 257 roberts BLR on a hunt if thats all I owned and I doubt it would effect the results I load a speer 250 grain over 53-54 grains of imr 4320, and a fed 215 primer, in my rem 7600 slide action, its dependable and accurate up to at least 250 yards and Ive found its well suited to longer trips than the 340 wby that I generally use if I only intend to glass and stalk or the 375H&H sako carbine I use if I want to spend the day sneeking thru dark timber at a snails pace. but I'd point out your area might not be as steep and wooded as where I hunt where ranges tend to be short but walking 4-5 miles along a canyon each day does tend to get results and the pack out is always a huge P.I.T.A. Last edited by 340mag; 02/08/15.

Re: Your elk hunting rig 340mag #9585592 02/08/15
Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,969 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA KC Campfire Tracker
KC Campfire Tracker Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,969 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA	Originally Posted by 340mag If I back-pack into deep creek or grizzly creek drainage, several miles into the canyons I hunt, I generally take my 35 whelen 7600 slide action , but I'd point out that the rifle choice is more due to familiarity like an old friend, This year I hiked 7 to 8 miles each day. I could have hiked farther but I generally spend time sitting also. I backpack to hunt for elk also and I also use a heavy rifle for the same reason as 340mag. I'm familiar with this rifle, that breeds confidence so I'm competent with it. It's a T/C Icon Weathershield 30-06 pushing out 180 grain NPs at 2,880 fps. I carries a Leupold VX-3 3.5x10x40. It's heavy and ugly but it shoots MOA and it's nearly indestructible. KC Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9585649 02/08/15
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 938 Pueblo West, Colorado L Lee_Woiteshek Campfire Regular
Lee_Woiteshek Campfire Regular L Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 938 Pueblo West, Colorado	Mcmillan G30 338 Win Mag, Swaro 2.5-15 Z6i BT 4a Talleys. Usually 2-3 miles from trail head 9-11K. Lot of sitting, head back to truck slowly about 3pm. Leave in the dark, come back when its dark.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9586679 02/08/15
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 427 R roper Campfire Member
roper Campfire Member R Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 427	Originally Posted by StudDuck For those of you who elk hunt and actually still do some walking; what is your go to setup? I'd like to know the make, model, caliber and optic you rely on and please tell me how many miles you cover a day on average. I'd take 30-338mag on 700 action with 3.5x10 Leupold. Most times I'm walking in before daylight find spot were I can watch few hrs then start walking. I'll try find a spot to watch till last shooting light. Amount I walk depending on the weather and how much snows on the ground and how much I have to layed to walk. USMC Life Member VFW

Re: Your elk hunting rig 340mag #9586725 02/08/15
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 13,077 colorado 3 338rcm Campfire Outfitter
338rcm Campfire Outfitter 3 Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 13,077 colorado	Originally Posted by 340mag Originally Posted by StudDuck For those of you who elk hunt and actually still do some walking; what is your go to setup? I'd like to know the make, model, caliber and optic you rely on and please tell me how many miles you cover a day on average. If I back-pack into deep creek or grizzly creek drainage, several miles into the canyons I hunt, I generally take my 35 whelen 7600 slide action , but I'd point out that the rifle choice is more due to familiarity like an old friend, and any of several rifles I own would work just as well, both the 340 wby and my sako 375 H&H have made that trip several times as has my browning BLR in 358 win, its NOT the rifle its the skill you have using it! Id use my 257 roberts BLR on a hunt if thats all I owned and I doubt it would effect the results I load a speer 250 grain over 53-54 grains of imr 4320, and a fed 215 primer, in my rem 7600 slide action, its dependable and accurate up to at least 250 yards and Ive found its well suited to longer trips than the 340 wby that I generally use if I only intend to glass and stalk or the 375H&H sako carbine I use if I want to spend the day sneeking thru dark timber at a snails pace. but I'd point out your area might not be as steep and wooded as where I hunt where ranges tend to be short but walking 4-5 miles along a canyon each day does tend to get results and the pack out is always a huge P.I.T.A. I've shot a couple elk in Grizzly Creek, Lot of work to getem out of there!!!

IC B3

Re: Your elk hunting rig 338rcm #9586738 02/08/15
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,928 Southern New Mexico E elkhunternm Campfire Oracle
elkhunternm Campfire Oracle E Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 95,928 Southern New Mexico	A bolt action. Caliber,anything from .270-.375. Scope smallest is 1x-4x all the way up to a 3.5x-10x. Bullet 130 gr-300 gr. Barrel length 22"-26" depending on rifle/cartridge being used. Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard Ken

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9586898 02/08/15
Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 17,760 Wyoming W WyoCoyoteHunter Campfire Ranger
WyoCoyoteHunter Campfire Ranger W Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 17,760 Wyoming	Custom 700 .300 Win. 4-12 Leupold.. Molon Labe

Re: Your elk hunting rig WyoCoyoteHunter #9587071 02/08/15
Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 6,374 N.E. Mn./ Mt H handwerk Campfire Tracker
handwerk Campfire Tracker H Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 6,374 N.E. Mn./ Mt	The last 5 years I've used my somewhat customized pre 64 M70 300 H&H w/ MCM legend (edge) stock topped with a swaro Z3 3-10x42. It weighs a little under 8 lbs. My hunt is typically hiking in/out 4-5 miles each way, gaining about 2000' with everything on my back. This set-up has worked great with 4 bulls out of the last 5 years.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9587134 02/08/15
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,146 Riverton, Wy B byron Campfire Regular
byron Campfire Regular B Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,146 Riverton, Wy	Ruger Hawkeye 338WM with a Burris Fullfield 2-7. Hike's can be a few hundred yards to several miles where I hunt.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9588375 02/09/15
Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,649 Indiana pointer Campfire Outfitter
pointer Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,649 Indiana	Ruger MKII SS/Lam 338 Win Mag with a 3-9X40 Leupold Vari-XII. Not sure how far we walk. At least a few miles/day, just depends on where we are. One place we rarely go more than a mile from camp, but camp is 7.5 miles from the truck...

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9588511 02/09/15
Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,533 Wyoming W wyoming260 Campfire Regular
wyoming260 Campfire Regular W Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,533 Wyoming	Between the wife and I we have three rifles in the house for mountain hunting, Ruger 7x57 Tikka T3 lite in .300 win mag Mauser 8x57 ( backup gun Never really used) All have a straight 6 x scope and all portable enuff for a ll day hikes. I use the .300 only because it came in a good deal and is lite, she does not shot it because it is light and the recoil is a bit much for her. The 7x57 was used successfully on an old bull with no drama and is a family heirloom of sorts. As to the OP's comment about " those of you that still walk" I do not know of too many places where elk hunting does not require a decent hike. A few private ranches offer some big money hunts on hay fields ,but that is about it. Most elk are killed in mountains or foothills and a decent hike is in order.

Re: Your elk hunting rig 338rcm #9588584 02/09/15
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,428 3 340mag Campfire Regular
340mag Campfire Regular 3 Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,428	Originally Posted by "338rcm" I've shot a couple elk in Grizzly Creek, Lot of work to getem out of there!!! yeah! I remember one trip out when both my buddy and I had easily 80 lbs of meat and gear in back packs plus rifles and about 1/2 way out we were 90% exhausted and I turned to RON and said...how much did we PAY to do this, and are we having that much FUN YET, .....neither of us could stop laughing at the absurdity and we could hardly breath even before that! but you pretty much have very little competition down in that canyon for that reason, you have to be 1/2 nuts about hunting elk to do that year after year Last edited by 340mag; 02/09/15.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9588618 02/09/15
Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 4,395 Helena, MT J JGray Campfire Tracker
JGray Campfire Tracker J Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 4,395 Helena, MT	Most of my hunts are day hunts and estimate I walk from 3 - 12 miles. I don't have a dedicated elk rifle and usually carry a couple of different ones each season. I carried M70's in 300 or 338 Win Mag for years but no longer have either. In recent years, I've carried bolt actions in 270 (Win and Wby), 7x57, 325 WSM, 9.3x62, and 35 Whelen, and single shots in 7x57, 300 H&H, 9.3x74, 375 H&H and 45-70. More and more, I'm grabbing the lighter/handier rifles and my preferences in optics have changed to smaller, more compact scopes (1-4x or 1.5-5x, up to 2-7x or 2.5-8x) etc. Future scope purchases will likely be low power variables or fixed 6x.

Re: Your elk hunting rig StudDuck #9588620 02/09/15
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,873 Deer Park, Tx R Reloder28 Campfire Ranger
Reloder28 Campfire Ranger R Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,873 Deer Park, Tx	Borden 280 AI - 7 lb Borden 300 WSM - 7.5 lb "I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee

Re: Your elk hunting rig Reloder28 #9588804 02/09/15
Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 942 USA P PWN Campfire Regular
PWN Campfire Regular P Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 942 USA	Ruger MarkII RS in 338 Win Mag shooting Barnes 225 grain TSX and topped with a Leupold Vari X III AO 3.5 x 10. Hikes have been up to 9 miles in a day. Most days average about 4 or 5 miles. I wish I had a lighter rifle when hiking up drainages, but the wieght of this rig helps settle the crosshairs and I have 100% confidence in the rig and the caliber. Knowing I am going to be carrying that pig makes me stay in decent condition all year and I save wieght in other item of gear. Perry

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