My first elk. Dec. 27.
 

This year I drew a late season antler less elk draw. I got permission from a farmer to hunt his property where according to him there was a herd of 60-70 tearing apart his bales. On the morning of the 27th I walked 500 yards down the road in the dark and then snuck into position on the property. The elk had a trail packed on the north side of the property where they were leaving the field in the morning. Nothing showed up other than a dozen whitetails, so I walked right into the yard and found out the farmer out up an elk fence the day before to keep them out. I went back to my friends house where we are staying and he told us the elk were in his field that morning while me and my dad were gone. The small band of elk that hang around his place usually hang around for a few days and then leave for a few weeks. The last time he saw this herd was December 9, so we knew they would be back. Sure enough in the last 30 minutes of shooting time they came out again and we ranged them at 600 yards. Moved the custom turret on the huskema scope for 600 yards and I took a practice dry fire shot at the cow I picked out. Click, crosshairs perfect on her shoulder. Put a live round in and shot. I knew I hit her hard as the rest of the elk started to go while she stood in the same spot. My dad had a tag as well so I passed the 300 RUM to him. The elk had no idea where the shot came from and were running at an angle and closed the distance to 500 yards. Got the scope turret turned back for 500 yards and my dad dropped one on the run. Meanwhile my elk is still standing in the same spot so I took the gun back,
Got it set up for 600 yards again and settled the crosshairs on my elk. Held steady behind the shoulder and squeezed the trigger. No reaction. Put another shell in and held for a high shoulder/spine shot.
Squeezed the trigger for the 3rd time and dropped her. We left the elk for 2 hours while one of my dads friends got us a snow machine. I never got the chance to take nice field photos; however, my dad took some pictures in the barn after we pulled them out with the sled. I did take some field pics of mine with my phone when I found her.

Well, I'll probably catch heck for this comment from some members, but why would anyone shoot at a running animal at 500 yards?!!! Geez Louise!!! The last two pictures of the hunters with the cows are fine, but I also am wondering why the other pictures needed to be posted. What gun and caliber are you shooting?

Maybe an unpopular position, but I completely agree. Also let the first cow suffer a while before finishing her from the first less-than-perfect shot. These kind of stories just leave me cold.

1 - Because the shooter and rifle are clearly capable
2 - Because I took lots of pictures and wanted to post them
3 - Custom Rocky Mountain Rifle built by Corlanes in Dawson Creek BC 300RUM.

You don't know where I hit her, so how can you say the shot was less than perfect? Have you ever had an animal run after you shoot it through the lungs? Well this one didn't run. It stood there for the 15-20 seconds it took for my dad to knock his down before I shot it again.

1---Baloney!!! The rifle might be a tack driver on paper, but that doesn't mean squat when shooting a running animal at 500 yards. You dang sure aren't shooting AT the animal at that yardage to hit it when it's running!
2---IMHO the other pictures served no purpose, but to each his own.
3---That's nice!

Now as to your retort about him not knowing where it was hit. You didn't either at 600 yards and if was standing there that long IMHO it should have immediately been shot again without waiting for another animal to be wacked at running before finishing the job. As Big Uncle stated in his post, not only does stuff like this make me cold, but it also shows a lack of respect for both animals in this case! No need to reply because you've already proved with your other answers that you aren't among the biggest percentage of hunters by doing what you did. I wonder which animal went down that was running compared to what was being attempted at that distance.

At least there isn't a cheezy video to go with the heroic tale, like that other dude that posted on here a couple weeks ago.
Come to think of it, we haven't heard from that guy since we didn't applaud his self absorbed tales of daring exploits in the untamed American wilderness.

Do you mean the brave mule deer sniper? "Send it!"

Actually I was thinking of the intrepid whitetail slayer who was so enamored of the blood trail created by his .308.

What gave me pause was, who the heck goes hunting with one rifle for two people??
BUT I will cal BS on the 15 to 20 seconds from son shooting to father taking rifle adjusting BDC shooting watching elk fall, handing rifle back son readjusting BDC back to 600 yds and shooting again................plus why take the time to fiddle with the turret when you are in a ever changing range situation???
I would think that we are getting what is a spiced up version, that this individual thinks we want to hear to make it more exciting!
Best hunt I had was when the elk walked within 75yds of the suburban as we were getting out! Dropped within 50yds of the rd. great hunt!!!!!!

BS has a very short shelf life around here. LOL

Off to the dumpster with this one !!

***I hope so!!! A running shot at 500 yards---yikes!!!

I've shot about 25 elk myself and have been in on the taking of around 100 others. Elk are tough and I have always went by the theory of shooting again if it is still on it's feet. It seems to me that by turning your attention to another animal and shooting while it is running can easily lead to having 2 wounded elk to deal with.

You can brag about the gun and the shooter being capable but that doesn't negate the fact that the elk being shot deserved better. Bad form in my humble opinion.

Gotta love the internet!!!!!! :)

If it's the superhighway for information it must be the JFK Airport for BS.

This rifle has a muzzle break and has very minimal recoil. It's like shooting a .223 Rem. The animal never left my scope when the shot went off and I also had a friend watching through binoculars, so yes we all knew where she was hit (behind the shoulder done deal). Also when I skinned it out you could clearly see the entrance wound, so again I do know where all 3 shots hit. At the 500 yard mark there were 3 elk running. The front one being a yearling, the middle one being an adult cow, the back one being a yearling. My dad picked out the big one in the middle and she dropped. There you have it lol there was no wondering which one he hit when the middle one dropped. I'm sure taking long shots may not be accepted everywhere; however, in my area of the world it's becoming more accepted every day with the technology and equipment available to hunters. As to your reply about "not aiming AT the animal running at that distance" clearly a good lead was required. Opinions are like *******s, everyone has one. I respect your opinion, but I don't remember asking for it? I also have my own opinions on ethics and I reserve the right to have it:s4: Happy New Year :barmy:

OMG you must be one of those road hunters! People in my area frown on that type of thing. Shooting from roads hahaha brutal. :s4: Just kidding of course! You know I usually wouldn't pipe up with my opinion regarding the elk you killed near the road, but since you gave me you're opinion on the elk I shot at 600 yards there you have it :) We both had our own rifles. I use a model 70 7mm Rem Mag, my dad carries a model 70 300 H&H; however, we only have the one custom rifle with a long range scope for those long distance opportunities. Of course we need to take the time to turn up and down turret at different ranges, otherwise you would be guessing the point of impact at different ranges. Are you familiar with Huskema optics and how they work? Look into them, because they will change the way you look at long distance shooting. Best of the West on the outdoor channel isn't BS those boys know what they are doing and also what the equipment they use is capable of.

I never posted this with the intention of starting an ethics war. Nothing anyone says will change my personal ethics in terms of hunting. I hunt within the legalities of my provinces Wildlife Act and at the end of the day that's what matters. If you don't agree with something someone posts then ignore it. It's much like immigrants moving to a country and then complaining about how it's so much different than their country. If you don't like the country you immigrated to then leave! If you don't like a thread then move on! No reason to start an argument with a stranger on the internet while hiding behind the safety of your keyboards. I wish everyone a happy New Year and see you in the field next hunting season :)

BS to all your posts Sir! We don't give a flying flock how good you or your Dad can shoot ANY rifle at any distance on paper. You do whatever you want, but please know that you're in a small minority of people that would shoot at any animal running at 500 yards. Yep, that shot requred a lead just like a flying bird and all it was to hit at that distance was a GUESS. The guess turned out as a vital hit and it was PURE LUCK, so don't say there was any skill involved. Yes, there's a lot of long range shooting getting started, BUT it dang sure isn't at runing game and I know all about the scope you used and all the other ones that have adjustable turrets. Your retorts that you came back with were as bad as your initial post detailing how you shot those two animals, no ifs, ands, or buts! Put crappola out on the internet, especially a well respected hunting website like this and you better be prepared for more of what you just got in response from ethical hunters! PS: When you watch any Best of the West or other long range shooting shows that are on the TV and you see them shooting a running animal please come back and tell us because there has yet to be one and I watch them all!!! Until then, please think before you post this kind of stuff because you will get a negative reaction and posts every time even if you don't ask for them. Hunters need to stick together to keep our "house" clean and IMHO you dirtied it doing what you did and posting it up! Also, I'm not hiding behind a keyboard and I'll give you my name and address any time you'd care to come down and discuss this face to face, as I dang sure ain't wasting time and money to come up and talk with you after those last three posts!!!

OH mr moosey you done did it now... not only are you a liar and a idiot, you make fun of calling me a road hunter....how does me driving up parking and getting out pulling all my kit out and shouldering my pack and gun and then have a bunch of elk walk by equate to me being a road hunter????? I think that was a pretty lucky day for me... I did NOT shoot from the road yes I was near the road, but I was not in my vehicle nor did I spot the animal from my rig!!! You just continually dig a bigger and messier hole for your lies!!! BUT I can show you my Disabled persons permit if you'd like to see it!!! You really should maybe stop and think a bit before ya post here, you know nothing about us, BUT you continually enlighten us about your up bringing and moral compass....I'm sure your dad is real proud!!!!! you are starting to sound like a kid that was in here ....what was his mname??? Genesis or some such come in here braggin about the 400yd head shot he made on his elk, and then got upset when we called BS on him!!!! I'm done with this idiot

Hahaha typical American responses! If any of you posted this type of disrespectful **** on Alberta outdoorsmen you would get banned real quick! My elk was standing my dads was running. I won't question him if he wants to shoot a running animal. You all call me a liar even though none of you know me. All completely uneducated. Look up albertaoutdoorsmen forum and read my thread. Read the responses. Huge difference between polite Canadians and arrogant Americans. I live in Lethbridge on college campus unit r1 if any of you tough guys wanna talk about it.

Here in Canada we call people like you weekend road warriors.

The man is disabled! Didn't you catch that part? Or are you just choosing to ignore it? Have you no respect? I find it humorous that in your initial post the farthest you mention being away from a vehicles is 500 yards and you state you shot the elk in a man's hay meadow yet now seem to want to try and play this as some sort of strenuous wilderness excursion by criticizing the way a disabled man hunts! Yeah, that will win you a lot of support.

Here in America we call people like you fools and braggarts. I've spent a lot of time in Canada and I'm glad that the attitude you're displaying isn't common there, but then you look pretty young and probably still have some growing up to do. You're now trying to come off like you are some highly experienced world traveled hunter and pseudo "wannabe" tough guy by saying: "I live in Lethbridge on college campus unit r1 if any of you tough guys wanna talk about it." Well I was raised in the mountains of CO and I'm over 50 years old. I guarantee you I can out walk you, out run you, probably out shoot you and without a doubt could hand you your butt in a fight. But then, I've been in the military for the last 25 years (which is longer than you've been alive by the looks of your photo especially since you say you're in college) and it wouldn't be fair to take such advantage of a child would it? I'm willing to bet that you, like most youngsters, have an alligator mouth when hiding on the internet and a tweety bird butt when face to face with someone.

By the way, here's a newsflash: This isn't some Alberta based forum so trying to point out whatever is on that forum is not only a moot point but also a rather shallow attempt to gather support for your extremely dubious position. This entire post seems to be little more than an attempt to have others stroke your ego and when that didn't happen you try to reference another site where your ego is being stroked. It almost seems as though you need assistance to justify your actions. That is something a child does and not something a man, firm in his convictions, does. Food for thought there, Junior.

There is nothing remotely ethical about shooting 1 animal and turning your attention to another before the first one is down for good! Your hunting party very easily could have had at least 1 or 2 wounded elk on your hands and that fact seems to escape you. I'm qualified as an expert rifle shot in the military and have done a lot of shooting out to 1800 yards. You got lucky. Period! Luck, not skill resulted in neither of those animals being wounded, especially the running shot. 6 inches is the difference between a clean kill and a gutshot and your crosshair will probably cover most of that 6 inches at 500 yards. That's a risky and unwise shot to take as a first shot on an unwounded animal. Now, I understand that you were not the one that fired the running shot, but you are making a very lame attempt to defend it.

Long range shooting is specialized shooting and when the target is a living breathing animal, capable of feeling pain and suffering, special considerations must be factored in. Taking a shot at a known distance to a standing animal is one thing but when it is moving a whole bunch of things come to play. You have a constantly changing range. Animals don't always run in a straight line they tend to zig and zag. The movement of the shoulder can actually deflect the bullet slightly. The wind may not be the same where the animal is compared to where you are and any bullet can suffer from wind drift. No piece of ground is perfectly level and elevations change as the animal runs over slight hills or through low spots (if the animal enters a low spot when the bullet arrives it will hit high and if they are on a slight hill even a foot high it will hit low). You have to physically move the rifle to keep a steady lead so the shooter can cause uneven movements himself throwing the point of impact off. There is a flight time to the bullet and an animal can slow down or even stop while the bullet is in flight. Any one of these variables could have resulted in a bad shot and a wounded elk, remember 6 inches can make the difference.

Young fools, like you, know everything and those of use that have been hunting for decades don't know a damn thing do we? Before you think I don't know anything about hunting and shooting, take a second and look at the 52 pics on my photo album on this site. I've been around the block a few times and know what I'm talking about.

A young college punk spouting off about others hiding behind a keyboard is all he is!!! Hey Junior wannabe, please stay the heck up in AB since it's obvious us Americans aren't your cup of tea and we sure as he** dont need your type in our country with all the other problems facing hunting down here!!! Come back with more horse manure like you're posting and you may wish you hadn't since there are site rules about posting stuff that is detrimental to hunting, which is most certainly what most would say about what you and your Dad did. Have you seen any members coming to your defense or telling you how great you are? Heck no and I can guarantee there won't be any because you're flat out wrong! To come on here and expect to get a lot of "ATTA BOYs" when you should get a smack in the mouth for talking down to your elders and not being able to comprehend plain English would be more suited for you! With your attitude and lack of knowledge at an age where I've got longjohns older than you, I think you better take a step back and look at what you've stated in your posts and either offer an apology to the members or sign off for good!!! Cripes, I've been hunting 3 times as long as you are old and you come on and act like you're some marvel of the hunting world. Grow up and read what legitimate hunting is all about and how it's done. I can guarantee that nowhere will you read or see that 500 yard running shots at unwounded game should be tried. That BS is not in any "how to" or the "way it should be done" books!!!

"1 - Because the shooter and rifle are clearly capable"

First of all, glad you got your 1st elk. A freezer full of elk meat is a great feeling!

Second, regardless of your responses, you know as well as we do that this was a lucky shot. Just too many things could go wrong at that distance. As young as you are, deep down you know that.

I am glad it ended well. Nuff said.

Yes, a freezer full of elk is a great thing. However well this ended, THIS TIME, the result doesn't exactly justify the means.

Maybe it's different in Canada, but down here it's not generally considered very sporting or ethical to hit an animal and shift to another target before the first is down. So, from my perspective, while maybe a little bit harsh, the responses you're getting are generally what I'd expect. That's just the way it is here.

And while it comes up pretty frequently and while there ARE guys who are proficient enough to do it well enough to be predictable, long-range marksmanship skill doesn't come in a box. The one Huskemaw scope I've seen mounted on a rifle and used didn't make its owner any better at long range shooting than he was before he bought it. Either it had a mismarked turret cap or he was shooting ammo different than what it was calibrated for or under conditions significantly different than what it had been built for. Frankly, having tried it, I was quite happy returning to my Mark 4 and my dope book.

Enjoy those elk steaks and burgers. Be thankful you didn't land yourself a long trailing job.

at a running elk moving a mediocre 35 mph it takes 26' of lead at 500 yards plus bullet drop to make the hit, if your squeezing the trigger holding 26 feet of lead how can you still be holding 20" of up to make up for bullet drop? sorry I'm not buying the whole story.
RR

***RR---I'm glad you made that post because you're the guru of long range hunting/shooting on this website and what you posted is exactly why we are all calling BS. Even at half that speed it would still be a 13' lead for cripes sakes and he's trying to equate it with a standing target. In other words, he's trying to compare/equate that running shoot at 500 yards to LR hunting just because they're using that adjustable Huskemaw scope with adjustable turrets like you guys use and that know all the ins and outs of wind doping, etc. just to be as close to 100% sure you're on the button to hit a stationary target. Trying to equate themselves with guys like yourself that do standing shots with shooting at running game is an afront to you and all the rest of ethical hunters everywhere.

Why would anyone think these types of comments are appropriate?

Because he is a young fool and can't seem to accept it when several people hoisted the B.S. flag on the whole thing. This is a common thing for the youth of today who think the world revolves around them and all they do. There is an entire generation that cannot handle criticism and skepticism when they spout garbage.

Just think, in 30 years this same generation of youngsters will be running things! How's that for a scary thought?

500 is a relatively easy shot....at a stationary target, your on a bipod with a rear bag, you do not hafta swing the rifle and maintain a lead which is calculated according to the speed the intended target is traveling, while adjusting POA determined by the angle of the target with each step, the 300 RUM will not make 500 yards in less than 1/2 second so at 17.5 mph you would definitely need more than 13 feet of lead, and maintain the follow through after the shot, basicly its a 100,000 to 1 shot.
no not buying the gun and shooter are capable bit, have done a bit of shooting, it was pure luck if it did happen.
RR

Punks are punks, north or south of the border.

It's so much easier to be lucky than it is to be good, though :)

Gentlemen .....I think we have wasted more then enough good time on this BOZO, as entertaining as it was LOL!!!!!!!:party0007:

You can tell that the big game seasons are over. Leaves too much keyboard time.

Well put TX.