Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting lets see your favorite elk rifle

Thanks
30/06, 168 ttsx, in pic she has 2.5-10 monarch. Now wears vx3 3.5-10 cds

I've purposefully waited for a calf to step clear of 200+ other elk...way easier to pack out and when your freezer is full already there's no point in shooting a big mature cow, from a practical standpoint at least.

Maybe from an elk management standpoint there would be reasons, but barring that I normally prefer a calf over a mature cow.

She wasn't shot on purpose. I was in thick trees, in middle of a large herd. She was the only elk I had a clean lane to shot without an elk behind her. She was fully grown, just no filled in yet. Made the back out easy, two quarters in the pack per trip. After shooting her I agree that the smaller elk are much easier to pack and taste much better. I'd take one of these every year if I could choose. I'll leave the big smart cows to care for the herd.

Calves are good vittles.

Nice photo and rifle!

If I'm going meat hunting I prefer a spike or calf, preferably a calf.

Something that I'e never seen addressed on the forum is the practice of hunters shooting the lead cow. They're big, old and tough, which makes me wonder why anyone would shoot one since they have no head gear. The worst part of shooting a lead cow is all her hard-won, critical knowledge and wisdom is lost to the herd. NOT a good practice...

A very good point!!! But....
If your carrying multiple tags or have multiple hunters.....you can end the season pretty quickly, if meat is all that you’re after!

Thanks to The Taxman Enforcer to the Obammacare Extortion, I sold off everything awhile back! It took me a bit of time/looking but I managed to obtain a like new Mod 70 FWT PF in 7x57 and an older Mod 77 "tang safety" 338WM. The stock of the 77 has been slimmed/trimmed and recheckered. I have it at the smiths for a new recoil pad and bedding (for strength, I had a bad experience with a Mod 77/338 MKII) it will be my primary elk/big hogs, etc ( using anything from the 180AB to the 250AB/PT) and a Beanfield deer rifle with the 160TTSX. These two rifles will go everywhere with me and back each other up. No pics of the 7x57 but I think I have one of the 77... only one I have. Just think of an older 77 that is so slim and trim and lively in your hands that you "wonder" if its really a 77! ha Its another reason for the Limbsaver pad!

cool great combo

I have shot a few lead cows over the years. I honestly think they're one of the hardest "trophies" out there to hunt.

If outsmarting the smartest thing in the woods is a person's game, lead cows can serve that purpose. Aged properly, they're not as bad as their reputation is IMO, though I do prefer a calf if given the choice.

This is irrelevant from your point of the herd losing the critical knowledge and wisdom (I am unsure if those are the right terms, but I see what you're getting at) but it is one reason why one person would shoot a lead cow.

That certainly qualifies for Pre 64!!

I hunt a couple for elk, depending on where I’m headed, and how far we’re hiking in...300 Wby on its 2nd Lilja barrel and a Sendero 300 RUM with a muzzy break that looks bedazzled with its side exhausts...😎

I haven't done nearly the elk hunting some of you have accomplished. My "do it all, including elk" rifle is a 30-06 Rem 700 CDL. It's pictured with an old 2-7x Redfield and is now topped with a 6x Leupold. Normally I use 165 gr Noslers.