I've never shot an elk in the timber or above 4,000ft for that matter, but I digress ...again if the kid can shoot the 30-30 with out sticks and other crutches let him shoot the 30-30 he's gonna be nervous as it is why make him have to worry about how to get some stupid set of sticks or a tripod set up to shoot off of...some times you only have seconds to make the shot offhand...I think some here haven't really done any real elk hunting and just want to try to show everyone how skookum they aren't..................... just my two cents worth, I don't know a whole heck of a lot but I go elk hunting every year and have been pretty much since 1963 with a shot time out to do some traveling courtesy Uncle Sam!!!