Elk Hunting Cartridge Advice

[nmkid]

You never truly appreciate just how big a bull elk is until you're standing over the top of one. They are huge, have big bones, thick hair, skin, and hide, muscle, all that can make a little bullet hole seal up quite well sometimes.

This statement sent me back about 40 years when I killed my first elk. I must admit I was shaking like a leaf as I walked up on it from excitement. I said a short prayer for allowing me to be there and then wondered aloud, 'Now what do I do?' They truly are an amazing animal.

 

[AckleymanII]

Try and remember to not look at the horns in your scope when you are pulling the trigger!

 

[Jr solocam]

I remember my first bull, I practiced religiously at 700 yards. Shot him coming to a cow call at 18 yards....it was probably the best 10 seconds or so of my life. Insert sex joke here

Nothing massive but a nice 290" 6x6. It was kinda surreal just realizing how large they are in real life. We can debate all day long what constitutes a good elk cartridge, but if I am spending hard earned money for an out of state hunt, one of the 7 mags with with a 160-180 would be my minimum. And yes, I understand a .308 or .270 will kill an elk any any reasonable range....