In later elk seasons after the elk have been hunted hard for a month or so stalking elk in snow through the trees has always been a thrill. I'll be the first to admit unless you are really adapt at throwing up a scoped rifle and making a 3 to 5 second shot. (better have your scope on low power). You'd be just as well off with a shotgun with slugs or more preferable 30-30, 444 or 45-70 or any other open sighted rifle. But most hunters don't hunt elk like that too much. They tend to watch large open area's and let hunters push elk across saddles and down canyons. Most cases unless your a tree hunter solely your going to wish you had something that would give you 300 yard capability at least. Especially if a 300 class bull or bigger steps out. Opps that will make you almost cry. Yeah it is what it is. Rifle hunt with a rifle unless you've killed so many elk that your into playing a chess game vs putting a rack on the wall and filling your freezer. I can't blame you I'm kind of in the chess game mode now.