Nope, the question is "why is a 30-30 NOT a pathetic caliber for elk?" (In short, show me its good for elk.) It IS NOT about deer hunting with a 30-30, its not about black bear hunting with a 30-30. IT IS ABOUT ELK HUNTING WITH A 30-30! No extrapolating that "if it was good enough for deer" then it must be good enough for elk! By the way, what do those Georgia deer weigh? 600 lbs for a "fair" bull versus what they weigh isn't even close never mind twice the toughness!

I'm willing to bet that a "small" portion of folks making elk commentary haven't hunted elk on public ground out West, with the related hunting pressure, and skittishness of game (read longer shots), but rather are just extrapolating their deer and deer gun experience into elk country - this "ain't" Bambi popping!

You haven't lived until.... nor will you believe your eyes when.... you see someone put the perfect behind the shoulder "deer shot" on a cow elk (maybe only 450lbs) with a .270 and she turns and runs off without so much a flinch nor a limp and then after tracking her through places a man shouldn't have to go (brush and black timber) and finally catch up with her a mile and a quarter later where she lay bled out and the earth, grass, and weeds tore up by her death throws. Sobering moment, pathetic (just to re-use an adjective) moment. Glad we found her, but.... "ain't" right. (And now we are talking 30-30's?)

Add the following to my "tag line" -- "Not using enough gun is one of those things NOT to do."

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/24/2003 02:32:36