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

A buddy of mine went on a cow hunt recently and filled his tag. Two mortal wounds with a 6.5 Creed, still needed a finisher. His story got me to thinking about hitting elk hard but seeing little to no reaction.

I killed my first bull, a 4x4, with a 30-06, 180 grain round-nose Core-Lokts. 65 yards maybe, three shots like Lee Harvey, no reaction. Fourth shot broke his shoulder and that was that. First three shots double lung but didn’t hit much bone, maybe a rib or two. None exited.

Second bull, a big 5x5, same rifle and load, 50 yards, first shot through the ribs didn’t even slow him down, neck shot did.

Hit a spike bull at 40 yards or so, 30-06 with 180 Partitions, he just kept walking but he stopped bugling. Double lung and exit, no major bone. Headshot from behind put him down.

A 4x4 at 90 yards with a 300 Wby Mag, 180 Partitions, after the first shot through the ribs he just casually started walking off. Second shot through the ribs stopped him, third shot in the neck dropped him.

And then some dropped like they slipped on ice, similar placement.

So I told my buddy sometimes they just don’t want to die.

Any durability stories?




P

Lung or double lung is not an instant mortality shot. They have to bleed or suffocate.

Not a matter of durability. Have had several that took 1 double lung shot get out of site.
Tracking them always resulted in a dead elk! I just don't think they are wired to DRT
without a CNS hit for the most part.

Yep….walking little bull, 35 or so yards, broadside hit behind the shoulder with a 270 grain bullet from my .375 AI. He May have started walking a bit faster, went about 10 steps, turned hard left, and collapsed about the time I touched the trigger for the second shot! Sometimes they just don’t realize their dead!

This event helps reaffirm my belief that ft/lbs energy mean very little to big game….because he got hit with a lot of it, well big numbers anyway! 😉 memtb

Yes a solid double lung with a hard cast 45-70. Went a 1/4 mile. I thought it was very bizarre and although big, I don’t think elk are all that tough.

My experience as well. A 180 Partition from a 300 Wby Mag carries a lot of mail. The 2 1/2 year old 4x4 shrugged it off like nothing.

Similar sized bull a few years later took a 140 Partition through the left scapula, double lung no exit, from my 7mm-08 at 68 yards. Dropped before I could cycle the bolt and get back on him.





P

I have only killed two bull elk, one with a 7mm rem mag(175gr PT) and the other with a 338-06 (210gr Barnes X). Neither showed any sign of being hit but both fell with 50 to 100 yds of impact.

Several times. Reaching for a second round (Ruger #1 7-Mag) thinking I had somehow missed, and they tipped over.

If it acts like nothing happened, then took some time to go down, likely it was in shock. You hit a major blood vessel and the blood pressure plummeted. The brain was suddenly left dry. Lack of blood to the brain shuts down the entire system. It's like a person who goes into shock after an accident. It's often fatal if something isn't done to immediately restore the blood pressure.

I once put 4 rounds in the lungs of an elk. He just stood there like I'd missed. After 10 or 15 seconds, he slowly started going down. I'd put all 4 in a 4" circle. The lungs were jello and the far shoulder was broken. The 1st one put him in shock and he would have gone down just the same without the other 3. Don't stop shooting, though, as you don't know if he's in shock or not. If the pump's still running, he could still take off.

Come on guys……we all know that any elk will be thrown to the ground when absorbing 3000+ ft/lbs energy! 🤔memtb

Most of mine that I can remember have at least reacted to the shot, though they usually make it 20+ yards before going down, regardless if double lunged or had a shoulder broke.

I do recall one doe antelope that simply wouldn't die. I felt bad about the situation. IIRC, she took a 69 Sierra .224 bullet at about 100 yards which absolutely DESTROYED the lungs. She made it 3-400 yards literally with chunks of lung falling out of both the entry and exit hole, as well as her mouth. I don't recall any animal ever loosing as much blood as she did, let alone by a 60-70 lb animal and go that far without lungs. When I found her she had her head up still and was bedded down. I believe I shot her 3-4 more times at 50 yards and she still wouldn't die. I subconsciously don't like head shots so I kept shooting her in the chest. Finally I came to my senses and put one in the noggin, ending it.

I was SO glad I was alone. It was embarrassing how it went down.

The only bull I ever killed, a rag horn, took a 180 grain Weatherby factory load from a 300 Weatherby at about 60 yards.

He never even flinched that I could tell. I chambered another one quickly and when I centered him in the scope I noticed he was swaying slightly.

I kept the crosshairs on him and after a few seconds he reared up on his hind legs and went straight over on his back and rolled down hill until he hit a tree.

My example of one

KC

Moose sure can soak up lead with little reaction. Never have done a legit elk hunt.

I had a buck this year that fooled me. Double lung shot. Buck walked calmly down the beach and stood there. Thinking i missed I put another one in him. When I went to him I could see a huge blood trail from where I initially hit him. My buddy who was in the boat saw the play by play and saw zero reaction from the initial shot too.

Yup. 20+ years ago, about 180 yards. 7mm Rem Mag, handloaded 175 grain Nosler Partition at about 2900 fps. Went in behind the front leg, took out the big blood vessels and top of the heart, proceeded to exit.

Bull didn't even flinch.

I chambered a fresh cartridge and my buddy whispered "No, he's going to go down." And so he did, about six steps further. Then he dropped. Wow... I was impressed.



Regards, Guy

I called in a fairly heavy 5 point and shot him with a 400gr Power Belt from 35 yd. Broadside lung shot just behind shoulder. He stood there and coughed a bit. While I was reloading, he started walking down the hill so I laid on the call. He stopped and CAME BACK part way. Shot him again in the same place. He walked 40 yds and lay down, but head was up. I reloaded again and crept down there. He got up AGAIN and walked quartering away. Third shot angled forward in the chest and put him down. Brother down the ridge timed it and said 15 min between 1st & last shot! Tough critter for sure.

The common exclamation spoken after each of these events, “if I’d only used a 6.5 Creedmore”! 😂 memtb

Got to give them time to die.

Knockdown power is a myth.

Amen…..Absolutely! But, it sold a lot of new, improved cartridges! memtb

I put three 180 Partitions from my '06 in a large guard cow at 60 yards. All bullets in the left shoulder angling to the right hip. She acted like she had been bit by a horsefly at the second shot, otherwise nothing. I chambered a fourth round and she tipped over dead.

Two went all the way through, one stayed in the right ham under about 1.5 inches of flesh. Found it when butchering.

My new wife bought me a .338 Win Mag after hearing me whine about it for a couple of years. It doesn't seem to kill them much faster. But I do believe I can tell when they are hit. I think they flinch a bit.

I’ve shot them with lots of calibers, a .270 Win. on one end and .338 WM on the other. All with Nosler Partitions, and I’ve been happy with the damage.

I honestly don’t recall caliber making any difference, double lung shots. Most just walked off a ways, then tipped over about 30 seconds later.

My last bull in 21. Posted it on this forum. Three shots to the heart lung area at 310 yards with my 338. Showed no signs of being hit, other than the “whomp” of the bullets hitting. Just stood there, didn’t move a muscle. Then went down. A fourth shot was required to finish the deal when I walked up to him. Craziest thing I’ve ever experienced elk hunting.

I’ve had it happen with deer. The big Iowa doe I shot back in late December didn’t react to the 180 gr bullet from my .350 Rem Mag at 189 yards. The deer around her finally took off and she went with them, but left chunks of lung in the field and made it 25 yards to the field edge and collapsed just out of my sight. I put it through the ribs without hitting or breaking a bone. Double lung, jellied lungs.

I almost feel like it’s the rule rather than an exception. I bet over half of the elk I’ve killed or seen killed have shown no indication of being hit. The ones that have were mostly neck shots or shots busting the big shoulder knuckle, that will usually make them stagger a little when you break a wheel and they have to regain their balance.

Only real exception on a shot with no big bones broken that I can think of was the first bull I killed with the 270Wby. He was on a dead run at around 150 yards. I punched him behind the shoulder as he ran through an opening. He instantly skidded to a stop and put his head down, swayed a little and folded up.

I shot a cow elk, two years ago at approximately 50 yards or less. First shot high shoulder, she stood there looking at me, second shot top of lungs she stood there looking at me, while I was loading the muzzle loader for the third shot, she walked over a small rise, never to be seen again. Weapon 50 cal, muzzleloader, 120 grains of double FF and 300 grain bullet.

Eliminating a previous post

A small bull in Idaho took two 180 Partitions behind the shoulder, followed along with his cows for several hundred yards and then dropped like a rock. Another bull, shot in the chest made it over the edge of a steep canyon, never to be seen again. I prefer shoulder shots, they typically easier to find. There are many places where I hunt, that if an elk makes it a 100 yards out of your sight, its gone.

My experience is similar to many. Most if not all just seemed to walk off a ways and tipped over.

Only 2 bulls here:

CO 5x4 @ 250yds with an 8x68S with 200 grn Partitions, double lung, broke into a run and went about 60yds, stopped and fell over.

WA 5x4 @ 200 yds with a .350RM, 225 Sierras (3), two shots double lung, 1st shot no indication whatsoever and started walking, 2nd hit started trotting, 3rd shot I led him a little too much and broke his neck. At the 3rd shot he folded. The 1st two bullets were recovered under the off side hide, nice grouping about a coffee cup saucer sized group.

I must be doing something wrong. Cow or bull most of mine went maybe 50-60 yards on a death run. Many dropped on the spot. Less than1/2 dozen took two shots. Although they might hunch a bit. If I was confident of my shot and knew I put it in the right place, I gave them a chance to die.I very seldom shot at an elk running.

Only Elk I ever Shot twice was a Spike in very poor shape, all I had was a 22-250 in my Jeep, first shot, no reaction, 2nd shot he fell in the water hole. dead as a hammer, contrary to what people think Elk aren't bullet proof. Rio7

Rio7 "Only Elk I ever Shot twice was a Spike in very poor shape, all I had was a 22-250 in my Jeep, first shot, no reaction, 2nd shot he fell in the water hole. dead as a hammer, contrary to what people think Elk aren't bullet proof. Rio7"

Do that 10 or 20 times more and get back to us.

I have done it 4-5 times more than that, after elk hunting for more than 50 years

Not a bull but a whitetail. Double lung pass-through with a .30-30, just turned and started to walk away, got a few yards and keeled over.

Upside is you've got a wife willing to buy you guns. That's a win all day any day!

Elk Man, I was killing Elk Before you were born, but i always ENJOY hearing from a EXPERT. Rio7

One of my local buddies is a retired outfitter. He carried a 7mm Remington Magnum when guiding, but after retiring from it close to 20 years ago switched to a .22-250 because he mostly hunts cows now, which tend to run in herds. He didn't want to shoot through a cow and hit another, and uses the same 55-grain softpoints he uses for hunting coyotes. He's killed at least 10 and maybe 20, all with one shot behind the shoulders. Some remain standing for a little while, but generally after the shot the herd mills around some, so he waits until the one he shot falls down. They generally go at most 50 yards.

Good bullet through the lungs will kill any elk walking.




P

Every elk I have hit "mortally", which is every one of the 25 elk I have killed, all died. Pretty sure that dying is in and of itself a "reaction." Just sayin...

Excellent point!

I shot at a bull named Big Morty one time. Don't know if I hit him, tho.....

When hunting the rut my favorite rifle is my marlin dark in 45-70. A 405 gr hard cast at 1600fps puts the hurt on them with high shoulder shots. They rarely get out of sight before they are hitting the dirt... generally speaking elk react pretty quickly at an impact (getting out of dodge)...moose on the other hand rarely show much sign of being hit (just stand there, then tip over)

Several years ago a friend of mine in PENN shot a large buck with a 35 REM at around 175 yards. The deer was feeding in a field and after the shot, the deer put its head up and walked slowly into the woods. He thought he had missed and walked into the field, the deer was dead just inside the tree line.

Yep twice. First one was 80 yds away feeding. Kind of 1/4ing away. 7 mag 160 gn nosler partition. Impact was the last rib on my side. Slug stopped in offside leg just under the hide. That bull never picked up him head. Minute later he crashed.

Second was a bull at 65 yds. Right behind the shoulder. 338 win mag 210gn partition. Bull just stood there, feeding w other elk. 30 seconds ltr he started puking blood. He locked his legs and had his head down, while gushing blood. When he started doing the chicken leg, the other elk payed attention. When he fell the others took off.

Last was a 50 yd shot w a bow. Perfect shot, he ran up hill and stood there looking around. About a min later his back end started to wobble, Down he want.

They are tough buggers

I’ve had it happen with Bulls & cows 7mm,30-06& 300 Weatherby. Most often shooting them on the move there isn’t a fast reaction. I think anyone taking traditional double lung shots will experience the lack of dramatic effect. Shot a huge cow through the lungs at 11 yards & she ran about 100 in the snow before falling.

At closer ranges high neck shot seems to be instantly fatal but is a smaller higher risk target. I’m sold on the Barnes for tough angles & think you give up a little performance with no bone contact.

Several times. Bull moose at 7 yards walking slowly, put .54 cal slug behind the front leg when it went forward for the next step. Bull never flinched or jumped and didn't change his pace. For a couple seconds I thought I had missed, but then he stopped and slowly looked back at me. I thought I was gonna get a stomping! But then he tipped over and rolled down a hill.

No way, I was told only a 338win mag or 30-378 weatherby could take down elk....kinetic energy and all.....


Lol

There’s always one guy…

My Dad shot a bull a few years back, shot twice, hit it twice. It never even flinched, so much that we thought it was two clean misses. The bull turned and started walking uphill, we waited for him to stop to fire a third shot, but as soon as he did he fell over dead. Both bullets hit perfectly a few inches apart, he bled out on his feet.

Do you not agree? There is no such thing as a mortal wound with no reaction. It simply cannot happen.

There may be a reaction……but, unseen by the hunter/shooter! memtb

Yep. I shot a spike one year in Wyoming twice through the lungs with a 308, 180 Sierra at about 50 yards. Zero reaction. He took 2-3 steps and started the sideways shuffle, hitting the ground.

180 gr NPT out of a 300 mag thru the lungs and heart, bull ran. Second shot to the spine, dropping rear quarters. He was still clawing with his front legs, trying to get away with with two mortal hits. Took a few minutes to give it up.

DF

Good bud shot one thru the chest with a 300 mag. Bull bowed up, just stood there. Hit him again, bowed up, stood there for a few minutes, then fell over. Both good hits, both mortal wounds. He didn’t run.

DF

That describes a reaction

That describes a reaction

That describes a reaction.

Dying is a reaction to a mortal shot. Doesnt matter if the hunter sees the death or not, it is a reaction which is why I said what I said.

Yeah, you’re right.

Just not much of one.

DF

Mac, you’re being a dick.

Do you truly not understand what I was asking?

Let me put it another way:

Has anyone ever shot a bull, mortally, upon which shot the bull failed to immediately react to said shot shot, despite the mortal placement of said shot?

Happy?




P

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.