Drew a cow elk permit for 6 and 7 December. Shot an elk in that same area in 2003 at a distance of about75 yards.The animal was not recovered despite 5 of searching formany hours.

The animal wasshot throughboth lungs but the .45 caliber 300 grain TC PTX bullet did not expand. There waslung blood coming out both sides of the animal.She stood in one place for awhile,the blood coagulated and the trail ended.That elkwas found by a deer hunter the next day and was taken out. This still haunts me. That isthe only big animal that i have lost in a couple of decades.

Thenext time i plan on a shoulder shot. Maximum range will be around 100 yards. i have some320 grainand 370 grain .50 Maxi-Balls on hand. Would either of these get the job done with a shoulder shot? Or do i need to find something else?

I will sight in one of my guns for whatever bullet the elk hunters say will get the job done.Got plenty of time to order bullets and sight in a gun. My guns are an Encore, an CVA Mag Hunter and a CVA Stag Horn.