elk hunting
 

I'm thinking of going elk hunting and the guy I was talking to said I should be practicing at 50 to 75 yrds. Is this true How far do most people shoot when elk hunting? You guys that have shot elk how far was the shot?

RE: elk hunting
 

you can practice at 50-75 yards all you want but personally i would never venture past 40 yards at all when shooting at an animal............

RE: elk hunting
 

My closest was 5 yards, and all my other bulls have been within 10-20 yards. Majority of the bulls seem to be about 15 yards as the average, when they come in when cow calling, they just seem to want to come right up on top of you.

RE: elk hunting
 

You should practice that far but do not let the guide or any one else tell you how far you should shoot at an elk or any other animal. If your maximum range is 30 or 20 or 10 yards then that's as far as you should shoot. If your guide don't like it then I would find a new guide. I wouldn't dream about shooting at an elk with archery equipment that was 75 yards away. Fifty yards would be an absolute personal maximum only if circumstances were perfect. Under the usual circumstances 35 to 40 is a realistic maximum for me.

It isn't all that hard to get hot bulls to under 30 yards. They can come in fast, hot, and heavy and be right on top of you (literally) before you know it. Getting a shot off is another story entirely. With two people working a bull it should be much easier than if you were doing it by yourself.

RE: elk hunting
 

Right On!! ;)

RE: elk hunting
 

Longer shots at an elk are a definite possibility. Combine the fact that they are much larger then a whitetail and offer a much bigger kill zone, and it's reasonable to extend your normal maximun range from what you'd take on a whitetail. For me, the biggest challenge is judging distances in terrain that is very different from my normal hunting situation, on an animal that is much larger. If your hunting from a stand, I recommend carefully marking distances out to your maximum range. If still-hunting, you may want a range finder or you may have to limit your range a bit more. It will help to practice well beyond your maximum range (makes the shorter shot seem easier).

RE: elk hunting
 

50 to 75 yd shots no way. Too many things that can go wrong. My idea of bowhunting is being in close to the game, not flinging arrows at them. Like bigbulls said 35 to 40 yds is about max for things to go perfect with a bow. I'm just stunned someone suggested that to you.

RE: elk hunting
 

I too agree 50 to 75 is uncalled for, it's a lack of respect for the animal. You will wound more elk than you ever harvest at this range, especially when you add that equation of excitement, new bowhunter or not.

Most elk are taken at under 25 yds, for example, we took 5 bulls last season, the shots were 22,14,20,28,12 yards, I was there on all of them so this is fact not heresay. I also called a cow to 40yds that my 12yr old nephew harvested with a slug gun. So it's not to much to ask of your guide to do his job and get them in reasonably close to where you're confident in the shot. Remember setup is everything, it's the next most important thing to calling. Good Luck, elknut1

RE: elk hunting
 

Elk may have a much bigger kill zone than your average whitetail deer but you also have to remember that they are about 10 times as tough. Tracking an elk through the mountains because the arrow quickly ran out of steam and only took out one lung on a 50+ yards shot is going to be a looooooooooooooooooong and exhauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuusting experiance. This land aint flat.

Remember where they live and what they put up with every day of their lives when you take a shot that just may be too long. They don't get to walk out their bedroom door and open the food locker to a nice lush crop of corn.;)

RE: elk hunting
 

My question would be what pin you would use at 10 yards? That said I would only shoot at my comfort zone which is why we shoot dots all year long.

EDIT POINT: Working Bulls during the rut is the most fun you will ever have on an Elk hunt. If you are in the right place at the right time and get a shot. The rest is pure flat out unadulterated slave labor.