+10 to Yote Hunter, every animal killed deserves an ethical death.
No real "hunter" need shoot an Elk at 400 yards. WY, ID & MT statistics state the VAST majority of Elk are killed (not just shot) within 150 yards. The "sniperwannabe syndrome" is not only making people spend a lot of money on silly guns and scopes (14 pound 338 Lapua mags with 6-40x65mm scopes) but is also encouraging and causing the loss of many fine animals.
"If you can't get it done with a 30-06, perhaps you shouldn't be trying it."
"Any big game too far away to be killed with a 3X riflescope is too far away."
We see the results here every winter/spring of the sniperwannabe syndrome. But what the Hell...Yotes, Wolves and Mr Griz needs to eat too. Who cares if the gut shot cow can't feed her calf, if the 6x6 with his jaw shot off starves to death, if the 3 legged spike can't escape the wolves... too bad the Elk are not armed too, might make golf a more interesting game for the "dudes" who never see the results of their irresponsible conduct.
The point is not whether a 280 or 7 Mag will do the job...they both will in spades. The point is: does the "nut behind the bolt" have the skills to make a good stalk and execute an ethical one shot kill at the shortest possible range?
