Hmmmm, I live at 5,200 ft, and this morning (Sep 21) I watched 4 bull elk for a half hour as they feed across the hill 250 yds above my house. There aren't many mountains around here that even get up to 11,000 ft. I guess the elk are where you find them.

My .30-30 would not be my first choice to hunt elk with, but if it was all I had, I know I could kill an elk with it. I have several friends that kill their elk almost every year with their .22-250s. The key being getting close enough, waiting for the perfect shot, and being calm enough to make that perfect shot.

The problem is that many novice elk hunters, regardless of their age or what caliber or cartridge that they are hunting with, do not hunt close enough, they don't wait for a perfect broadside shot, and they are not calm enough to make that quick killing shot.