a great many guys seem fixated on the need for a high velocity flat trajectory rifle and cartridge combo,
theres millions of guys who are convinced that cartridges like a 7mm or 300 mag are required to kill deer.
and yes theres certainly advantages to using those in some areas.
magazines seem to be filled with stories of long range shots.
but Id point out that in 5 decades of hunting elk and mule deer ,
Id bet the average range Ive seen and killed elk and deer would be well under 150 yards.
shots over 250 yards in my experience are rather rare
the reasons simple, most of the photos you see in magazines are taken in national parks or taken ,outside hunting season.
deer and elk, are generally smart enough to stick to areas with cover, (like aspen, conifer or oak brush), once the shooting starts
you find you still hunt or even stand hunt in mixed cover, game tends to travel inside cover.
a skilled hunter should be able to get within 250 -300 yards of game in most of the hunted areas Ive hunted
many of the areas that held game looked similar to these pictures.