Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Cow elk at 405 yards with the 30-06

I've been elk hunting in Oregon the past few days. Got a depredation permit which allowed me to take one cow elk. Often a cow elk hunt is fairly easy. This was one of the more grueling hunting days I've done, at least in the past 10 years or so. Steep and rocky ridges to climb, and the ground was so saturated with water from recent snow melt and rain that each step was a struggle. We put in almost five miles that day, all off-trail, and climbed two steep ridges to get to the elk.

Chukar flushed on one stalk, and the elk left quickly. So, onto plan B. The elk that we stalked on plan B left the area while we were moving in behind a ridge.

Then suddenly two groups of elk came over the ridge and clustered together 900 yards or so away... We set about closing that distance. Although the NRA calls me a "Long Range High Master" in competition, I'm not real keen on taking long-range shots at wild game. So, I wanted to get closer. After a long stalk, including at least 100 yards of crawling, we ended up at about 400 yards from the elk. I picked one out that didn't have another elk standing behind it, held on the front of her chest because of the strong sidewind, and on top of her back because of the drop at 400 yards. Zach ranged her at 405 yards. Steadied the crosshairs in my 6x Leupold and squeezed the trigger. We heard a loud "thwap" from the bullet striking! It had broken what some refer to as the "elbow" of her left front leg, entered low in the chest and hit the heart!

Now, it's good to know that elk are tenacious of life. With one leg useless and a bullet hole through her heart, this cow elk staggered a bit, then decided to leave the area! She went over a ridge and we went after her, then I finished her at much shorter range. I knelt beside her and thanked her for giving my family that good meat. She turned out to be a rather large dry cow, perfect for meat.

We de-boned her on the spot and loaded her into our packs, then hiked a mile down to the road.

This was NOT an easy hunt, I was literally exhausted afterwards. Fortunately I had two strong 38 year old guys with me who carried the bulk of the meat down the ridge. I carried the backstraps and tenderloins, heavy enough for 66 year old me.

We hunted some more in the general area for the next couple of days, but I never got another shot opportunity. What a great way to spend the weekend. Came home with some heavy and excellent elk meat. I don't know yet how much elk meat I've got, but it's a lot! Elk meat if you don't know, is delicious. I'm a happy hunter.

405 yards, Remington 700 CDL, 30-06 with handloaded 178 grain Hornady ELD-X bullets at 2790 fps via Ramshot Hunter, and a 6x Leupold scope. This rifle has been very successful for me over the years.





Regards, Guy

Congrats!! Thanks for sharing your great hunt. Nice looking cow. Enjoy.

Great combination

Congratulations, always enjoy your write ups. There is a lot to be said for getting to know one rifle through years of use.

Congrats! Its always satisfying to work hard and get rewarded.

.very nice!

Congrats on a successful hunt. nice write up. thanks for sharing.

Way to go Guy! How did that ELD X perform aside from the end result?
S.

It smashed the joint many would call the "elbow" then went through the lower part of the heart. We didn't find the bullet so I think it went out when we were field dressing the elk. Surely did work though. I've got a photo of the heart with the bullet hole. Will try to post that here.



Guy

Congrats on the elk hunt Guy! That is excellent!

Great shooting and cool to see that old CDL in the field.

Looks like it did just fine!
S.

Thanks Scotty.

A 30/06? You serious? I thought the other thread stated emphatically that the 30/06 couldn’t get the job done. 😆

Sincere congrats on a great shot, great animal!

Congrats Cascade!

At 400 yards? No way it would work. He should tell that elk to get up and get moving!

Interesting pic. I've never shot an ELD. As a comparison, years ago I got my hands on a bunch of 165 gr. Accubond blems that I use in my 30-06. I've shot a lot an animals with them, at least a half dozen through the heart. I've never had one leave a hole like that. A heart shot leaves the heart obliterated, sometimes literally in 2 or more pieces. They're much more explosive. At the same time, I've had a few come apart. One time I found the copper bullet case in a far shoulder. Later I found the lead core in the heart.

Another win for the 06.
Good job Guy!

Way to go Guy!

Thanks Fotis & all. It was a great hunt and a good way to start my 2023 hunting year. Am really looking forward to the great meals to come, and awfully glad that I was still able to get out there and get it done, with the help of a couple of strong 38 year old men. Without them, I don't think I could have done that hunt.

Regards, Guy

Great story and a great shot. And it's obvious you have experience shooting at distance because you knew just where to hold with the 6x. I hope she tastes great!

Huh. I didn't think the .30-06 was enough for elk. At least that's what somebody on the internet told me. Great story and great shooting. I can't even use a .30-06 for deer here in Iowa, yet I keep buying rifles chambered in .30-06 for some reason.

Awesome! Congrats.

Congratulation Guy, glad you were able to seal the deal.

Congrats Cascade well done sounds like it all came together perfect..mb

Congrats looks like great fun!

Congrats on the hunt, great shot. Thanks for the story, photos, and gun/load details.

Congrats to you!!!Enjoy the great eats.As we get older we find things that used to be easy isn't so anymore.Glad you had the help.

Nice. Love that location. I'm tired of hunting the timber and brushy understood and deadfall.

Congratulations Guy! Great story of a successful hunt!

Ron

CONGRATULATIONS

Outstanding! Recently saw you on youtube discussing the finer points of that rifle and your loads. Good stuff. When I grow up I want to be like you!

Great hunt Cascade and great shot. Although I have used a 300 win mag on elk, I've been thinking about going back to the 30-06 as I'm not getting any younger. I am always amazed on how some animals can even take a step, much less travel as your elk did, with a hole in their heart. Thanks for sharing!!

Good shooting and congrats on the cow!

Ha! That's funny. Thank you.

Ya, I have loved the 30-06 cartridge for a long time. Decades. It does what I need it to do.


Elk tenderloin last night.

Regards, Guy

Congratulations on a hard hunt done well.

I'm rather impressed with the size of the hole in the heart at 405 yards from the ELD-X

Guy, what scope and reticle did you use...it doesnt look like you were spinning turrets....

Good stuff, congrats.

Neat looking country.

Heck! It’ll even do the job at 475 yds.

Great story, thanks for sharing.
Also Nice shooting and a Nice looking rifle/set up

,
Well done sir! I'm a 30-06 slut, but not by choice.. Congrats on the bounty and man that's that good looking country...

Congratulations Guy!
I hope your next hunt, brings you more joy. (No hurting body parts)

You still hit a homerun. That cow is some of the best table fare out there.

Blessings your way my friend.

Pretty country. Congrats on your cow.

I've got a 6x Leupold, the 36mm version, with a couple of dots.

Keeps it simple for me.

Thanks all. It was a good hunt, and the meat is indeed excellent!

I think I'm skipping spring bear, so the next "big game" hunting I'll likely be able to do won't be until August/September. Should be able to get in some coyote hunting before then though, and maybe a sage-rat shoot in late spring.

Guy

That is an awesome hunt Guy! I don't care who it is, that's a long way out there for a field position shot! Good thing you got all that great trigger time in, few men can do that! You go buddy!

Thanks. I can't shoot from prone anymore due to a neck injury. Cheated and used a Bog "Deathgrip" tripod as a rifle rest. That helped significantly.

Regards, Guy

Very cool...well done!

Congratulations Guy, I really like the classic set up, 405 yards is no gimme.

Congratulations! I was doing the same thing on the same weekend not far from you. Like you, my choice was the 30-06, but unlike you, I got skunked.

PM with a couple of questions is headed your way.


Okie John

What unit/tag was one using that allows the take of more than one elk? First line suggests one should have been done.

If one does get a second go around, don't publish it.

The Bog "Deathgrip" is awesome I've made some great shots using mine

Oh - the next couple of days were spent chasing a band of feral aoudad sheep. Never did get a shot.

Guy

Nicely done.

I’m a big fan of the ELD-X bullet.




P

I was a bit skeptical of them at first, mostly I've hunted with Noslers. But... The accuracy, availability, and then that gel block test convinced me to give 'em a try. I am certainly pleased wih how well the ELD-X performed on that cow elk.

Regards, Guy

Same here Guy. I was very impressed with the 212 ELD in the 06. Made me a believer. I shy towards the heavier ones and try not to push them incredibly fast. Used like that, they’ve been great and accurate as all get out.

That 212 worked out well with a standard 1:10 twist or did you spin it faster?

Guy

Guy, I didn’t have one of them fancy Remingtons so I tried my old Featherweight P64

This was a dope check just before I left for Wyoming in 20..

I was prone out of the back of my truck



I never saw anything other than excellent accuracy all summer shooting this bullet in the 1-10 barrel.







And like you, it worked well on this little bull at 390



Count me in as a believer in them when applied decently.

Nice! I may try those heavier ELD-X's too.

Thanks!

I think you’d like them. A bit more mass never hurts and the BC on them isn’t hard to like. Out of the 06 you’ll never launch them hard enough to hurt them (200+ versions) and again, being able to buy the darned things is a nice touch by Hornady.

What is your MV with the 212 gr ELD X?

2720 is what I got with SB6.5, Lapua brass, CCI250’s.

Looks like it's time to break into the StaBall 6.5 and try some heavier bullets.

Guy

Yes, looks like StaBall 6.5 is getting great results. I don't think I have any to try.
Another powder to keep an eye on.

2720fps with 212gr pills in 06 is impressive to say at least.

Thawing habanero spiced summer sausage and elk backstrap steaks...

An excellent reward for the hunt!

Uhh, what time is dinner, again?

No kidding. That looks amazing Guy…. Lucky Dog!

My mouth is watering looking at those backstraps!

Congrat's Guy!

A friend took an elk at 742 yards a few years back with my 280 Ruger#1 with a 175 grain ELDX bullet
One and done.
His crew all shoot them in everything from 6.5Creeds to 300WSM
Cat