After having stalked a herd of elk for about 1/2 mile, you come upon the herd on the north side of the mountain. The terrain is STEEP and covered in six inches of encrusted snow, making quiet movement impossible. Due to thick cover and darkness of area, herd can only be seen in glimpses and present only "texas heart shots". Herd settles and cow approaches to within 25 yards and presents an uphill and quartering towards shot. Fortunately, you have a cow tag.

At shot from 7mm Rem. Mag handloaded with Hornady 175 grain SP, cow drops instantly and rolls unto back. You are confident of your POI on front portion of left shoulder, but did not see impact. Your only view of downed elk is two legs sticking up, and cannot see any vital areas or eyes of elk. Legs are moving very slowly.

Do you:

1. Change position to attempt finishing shot, if required?

2. Maintain position while ready to send second shot should elk attempt to rise?

3. Other?

Had this situation this last year while hunting elk in New Mexico. Would be interested in hearing your responses. BTW, what I did was none of the above.

Just curious at your statement you did none of the above when "other" was your third answer choice. Reminds me of the way teachers used to grade my papers.

Redbird,

No trick question here, just didn't want to tell the whole story right off the bat. This is situation I had and am simply looking for opinions on what should be done in this situation.

I will say my initial response was to avoid making any additional noise by changing positions and risk spooking the elk into getting up and running. (Since I had shot the elk, maybe "spooking" is not the right word) I was figuring that if I had made a lethal shot, it would simply die on its own timetable, if not pushed.

As this was my first elk, I am certainly in no position to "grade" anyones response.

This happend during last moose hunt, we choosed Nr 2 with good result
PerN

No. 2 then as soon as you see someting solid to shoot at let her have another. If it still moves shoot it again.

No question in my mind. #2.

Allen,

As with all shots on elk, downed or otherwise, you get ready for a followup shot. If she is not where you can see her, then you get to where you can see her. The jig is up concerning not wanting to spook her. If she can get up she will, whether you move in on her or not. If she is only stunned you have a very few seconds where you will still have the advantage. Don't sit there admiring your work. It may not be done. If you were only 25 yds. away when you shot her the first time and she was uphill, then she cannot be that far from you now. You might wait for a wounded elk to expire when you are bow hunting, because you don't really have any other choice. She might have a lethal wound but it is dang scarey how far an elk can go, in rough country, even after they have been mortally wounded. Don't give her the chance to get her legs under her.

But then again, there is something here you haven't told us.

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Warren Jensen

Warren@lostriverballistic.com
lostriverballistic.com

#1-walking toward her, ready to shoot at the first upward movement, and probably put a head shot in her as soon as I can, unless she is obviously dead at that point.

Just as I chambered another round and before I decided what to do, she thrashed once and dislodged from the tree she had rolled up against. She shot down the side of the mountain on her back like a toboggan. Never regained her feet. She ended up sliding about 200 yards down and out of sight. Now I figure she is going to get to a flat area, regain her feet and take off. Fortunately, she left a trail of blood, fur and compacted snow even I could follow. Followed her down and found her crumpled in a flat spot where she had slid to a stop.

So I never got to make the decision of what to do. Had she not been shot in such a way as to die immediately or shortly after being shot, I probably followed down after her too quickly. But I guess that would be up to debate as well. Fortunately, she did not travel any distance under her own power.

The meat has been fantastic and so have the memories. Thanks to everyone for responding to my post and good luck.

Just because it worked one way one time does not mean it will twice...

Whatever suits you at the time, either way can work and either way can backfire...

Like Vegas, you just rolls the dice and hope you don't crap out....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

To dump a big game animal off it's feet in that manner you've either given her a lethal wound or a paralysing crease of the spine. Some use a simple rule of thumb of 'neck down = deer down' I do start to worry when deer can get it's neck up. Also slow windmilling of legs sounds like death throes not an attempt to regain feet.

If it's a lethal wound and you go forward quickly, you let her know you are there and run the risk of giving her a burst of adrenalin to find her feet and allow her to run off before you can get a shot in. She may go a long way before dying. If it's a crease of the spine she might get up and run but you would normaly get a chance for a shot just after she heaves herself up and before she runs off.

Therefore I would adopt your number 2.

If she had gone out of view I would wait at least 20 minutes before following up. By that time she might either have expired or lost enough blood from a non fatal wound to stiffen up and be approached to allow a final shot. If it's not in view you can hardly wait too long. I have cocked up in the past on this and it is allways been because I didn't wait long enough.

ps a dog helps.

[This message has been edited by 1894 (edited 06-04-2001).]

As you can see by my handle the animal I primary hunt is elk. I have taken quite a few over the year and each one is different. As several people have said elk are big tough critters. My rule of thumb is if the elk is still on it feet shoot again. If the animal goes down and you can still see it, get ready for another shot and watch it. If it gets its front legs up shoot again. If the animal goes out of site, bust your ass to get to a spot where you can see it again and follow the same rules. The only thing that is consistent is the fact that everything is NOT consistent. I have dropped elk in their tracks with one shot from a 270 and they hardly even kicked, however, I also hit a elk 4 times in the chest with a 250 gr bullet from a 338 mag and the elk stood and looked at me while I was reloading. After reloading I violated my first rule and watched the elk stand for about 1 minute before he fell.

I guess what I am trying to say is each time you encounter an elk and get a shot you have to evaluate all the factors in that particular situation and do what you think is right.

By the way congratulations on your first elk. It will be one you will remember forever.
Good Hunting.