Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Ever hit a bull mortally, with no reaction?

Don't believe I am required to try and please you, validate what you think or seek your approval. Deal with it.

Well, I am certainly no big elk hunter. I live in Florida, so the nearest Elk to my location are very far away. I have only killed one bull elk with a rifle and a couple of cows with a bow over the years. I shot a bull with a 300wsm 180gr NP at 285 yds. this was my first and only rifle elk. He was broadside and I put one right through both lungs tight behind his shoulder. He just stood there. He did a quick little shudder that was barely visible and that was it. So I put another one in the same spot. It ended up being about 3 inches from the first shot. Same reaction. like he was shaking off a fly. Never even took a step. I remember thinking, Damn, what an impressive animal. I chambered another round and put the crosshairs right on the point of his shoulder. I was just about to squeeze off the shot and I noticed he started to sway. I shot him in the shoulder and he continued to sway back and forth a few times then fell. It must have taken him 30 seconds after the 3rd shot for him to hit the ground. At the time I thought that reaction was pretty unusual. But I guess its pretty common. especially after reading this thread. The 2 lung shots were pass throughs. The third shoulder shot bullet was captured just under skin the off side shoulder.

You said you don’t buy off on the premise.

Please state what you think the premise is? And keep in mind that I added “immediately” before “react,” which you agreed that you understood to be what I was asking.





P

I’ve killed several dozen elk, most with 210 partitions out of a 340wby or 338. I tend to hold tight to the shoulder. I can’t think of a single incident where they weren’t visibly rocked. Most never made it 5 yds, and a bunch were bang flops. I’ve seen a bunch hit with everything from a 243 to 30-06. Most didn’t show much of a reaction. Even a 7STW slinging 160 accubonds at 3400fps didn’t show much of a reaction. Anymore, whether deer or elk, I keep shooting till they’re down. Fortunately, a follow up shot is rarely required. FWIW, moose are a very different in my experience. Those same 210 partitions gave no indication of a hit…..

Yep. Pretty sure the rest of us got it perfectly......

Thanks for the confirmation. I’m not always as clear as I think I am.





P

Thank God the reactionary police showed up.

I think you are shooting elk from the White River herd near the flat tops - average to plus body sizes at 6500 -10,500 ‘ on mostly public land so pretty much what I’m shooting (without horses darn it).

I’ve seldom had them drop on the spot when shooting through both lungs or even an off side shoulder. Mostly 7mm, some 30-06 & 300 Weatherby mixed in. We hunt near Ranch borders where recovery is always a pain if they cross so I don’t wait but finish them. Similar experiences in my group probably 50-60 elk taken in all.

Are you shooting them through the shoulder, always taking them unaware or just more patient on follow up shots?

Between my own hunting, family, friends and guiding I would say about 1 in 5 elk shot with a firearm fall down on the spot--and a portion of those that did were head or spine shots.

we are just average elk hunters mostly with our bows and arrows , we have shot a couple with a rifle too. bull elk have a will to live even if the bull elk is mortally wounded , dang they can be tuff to kill sometimes.we had one bull elk shot with a bow go close to a mile up and down some ruff foothills was one heck of a blood trail to follow. that bull at the end of his blood trail just stood there and bled ,then fell over dead never did lay down . bull elk during rut time die very hard .Pete53

[quote=specneeds

Are you shooting them through the shoulder, always taking them unaware or just more patient on follow up shots?[/quote]

Last 8 years were with a muzzle loader. Both lungs and waiting for a good shoot opportunity. Muzzle loader you don't get many follow up shots. So I had better do it right the first time.Those were all "B" tags.

Also hunted those years in Unit 54 ,north of Gunnison with a 30-06. I always waited for a good shot then also. I can' t remember very far back but I know the last 6 bulls didn't go 50 yards , three cows even less.

For many years before that, I hunted Unit 25 in the Flat Tops or Gunnison Unit 54, on cow and bull tags. Since about 1995. Before that almost exclusively in Unit 25 , back until about 1976. I had 1 hunt in Unit 201, 2 or 3 in Unit 49, 3-4 in Unit 86, and one guided hunt in Alberta

Almost every elk I have ever shot were unaware I was there.

My experience has been different. Between me and various partners, I've been in on about 2 doz elk kills, all with a 270, 300 WSM, or a 30-06. I've never seen one go farther than 50 yards.

But RC, going 50 yds isn't falling down on the spot. I've seen lots of elk run 20, 40, 50 yds. That is the norm with a well hit elk with a good bullet.

Two years ago I killed a Utah bull and Colorado bull under almost identical circumstances with only a shoulder shot available at ~60 yds with a 270 cal 160g NPt. Both bulls, thoroughly confused, turned and ran in my general direction 40-50 yds. The Partition demolished both shoulders on both elk. Yet they were able to RUN that far. I shot both of them a second time (because if elk are still on their feet I'm still shooting). It wasn't the first time I've seen elk run with two broke shoulders.

I much prefer shooting them in the armpit--more meat saved and they don't go any further than shoulder shots.

My brother killed a 4x4 Roosevelt bull a decade plus ago. 30-06, 180 Partition, maybe 100 yards, 1 shot. Broke right shoulder knuckle, through and through, broke left shoulder knuckle, exited. Quite the mess, really.

That SOB ran 100 yards through the puckerbrush and dies under a fir tree.