Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Minimum Elk Cartridge

If you are hunting in Colorado, the Minimum Cartridge/Caliber question has been answered for you, by the Colorado Dept. of Parks and Wildlife:

1. CENTERFIRE RIFLES
a. Must be a minimum of .24 caliber (6 mm).
b. Must have a minimum 16-inch barrel and be at least 26 inches long.
c. If semiautomatic, a maximum of six rounds are allowed in the magazine and
chamber combined.
d. Must use expanding bullets that weigh a minimum of 70 grains for deer,
pronghorn and bear, 85 grains for elk and moose, and have an impact energy
(at 100 yards) of 1,000-ft.-pounds as rated by manufacturer.

Their brochure doesn't list a maximum caliber restriction, so I guess if you want to use your .460 Weatherby, it's your call.......