Shoot or pass?

[Ucsdryder]

Opening morning, 30 min after shoot time, cow only tag. 3 cow elk are out in a sage flat. Crosswind at 15-20mph and snow coming down hard enough that it takes a minute to confirm the animals are elk even with binoculars. Distance per range finder is 539 yards. There is zero chance of closing the distance. This is your one chance before they head out of town.

 

[Swede]

I would pass. Even with a good rest, that is too far for me, especially under those conditions.

 

[cnelk]

What\'s the gun?

 

[Ucsdryder]

I guess it\'s whatever gun you take with you. Was curious how many people feel comfortable with the shot.

For me it\'s a 30-06.

 

[cnelk]

539yds is a long shot under very good conditions, let alone bad conditions.


Not for me. And I carry a .340 Weatherby Mag
Plus, what if one of those \'cow\' elk turned out to be a spike that had antlers 12 inches long....?

Pass for sure...

 

[bnsafe]

nope, i pass

 

[WW]

WAAAAAAAY out of range even under good conditions. Strong cross wind and you said the snow is coming down hard. Those conditions give you plenty of opertunity to close the distance without getting caught.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Brad you were right on. The elk hung around for a couple minutes and then took off. As they skylined one of the cows had 10\" spikes!

I never considered a shot, I tend to think I am a good shot but that was well out of my range given the conditions.

In perfect conditions that\'s still a poke. My bullet drop is 49\" with a 200 yard zero.

 

[cohunter14]

If viability is that bad, then there is no way you can take that shot. Even if you are 30 yards from an animal, if you can\'t guarantee what that animal is AND what is around the animal should you miss, you can\'t ever take the shot.

I subscribe to the theory of using 1,500 foot pounds as a minimum for elk, so if you are packing a 30-06, that is probably on the edge or outside of that range even with perfect conditions.

Now, in a situation where I could see good enough to know what I am shooting at and what the backdrop is, I would take that shot. Even with 15-20mph winds, I am going to get somewhere between 12.5\" and 16.5\" of wind drift with my current setup. If you play the middle of that, you have a 2\" margin of error on either side. I\'m okay with that.

 

[Ol' Arky]

I\'d pass the elk deserve that...

 

[Ucsdryder]

I guess I didn\'t really expect any different answers from this forum but I guarantee that\'s not the norm for all hunters. It\'s always hard to watch game walk away.

 

[bowhunter]

Pass.

 

[StartMyHunt]

Definitely pass. As others have said, be sure of your target. Too many bad things can happen if you pull the trigger and it was not what was intended.

Mike

 

[Bowfreak]

Opening morning, 30 min after shoot time, cow only tag. 3 cow elk are out in a sage flat. Crosswind at 15-20mph and snow coming down hard enough that it takes a minute to confirm the animals are elk even with binoculars. Distance per range finder is 539 yards. There is zero chance of closing the distance. This is your one chance before they head out of town.

I might as well turn around and shoot in the other direction. I don\'t shoot rifles anymore and while I was a great shot when I was younger, I couldn\'t hit them at 239 yards now. Pass.

 

[Baby Huey]

I can shoot confidently at that range in conditions I am comfortable with. That amount of wind and poor visibility is a pass for me, regardless if it was opening day or the last day of the season.