As I'm now getting ready for the long awaited, out of state trip, to fill 2 elk tags & one mulie tag, I was wondering how many rifles do hunters take with them on an extended trip (3-4 weeks)and how much ammo for each?

Thanks in advance for you answers.

Herb D

Herb D,
I don't know what calibers you are considering but any elk rifle will do nicely for mule deer so you do not need to duplicate for that reason. I take a single rifle to Idaho each year with a scope on QD rings sighted in for the rifle. I also go with a number of friends so if the rifle went bad, I could borrow one after they tagged out. For the ease of mind you could take a second rifle along but I doubt and hope you will not need it. You have also invested a lot of money and time dreaming to have a rifle glitch doom your hunt. Even the most perfect of rifles can get in a rodeo with a horse or take a serious fall. Are you horse packing in? I am assuming with two elk tags you are hitting two states on separate licenses.

Forgot the ammo question. If you sight your rifle in at each camp (assuming 2) and have a problem and have to do some tweaking, you could burn up a box just resighting in twice. That assumes the worst case situation where you need just one more shot to make sure, then just one more. That would leave you one box to hunt with if you took two to begin with. It is overkill but take 3 or 4. The horses won't mind.

[ 10-05-2003, 20:15: Message edited by: Customstox ]

sounds like one rifle and three rounds should be enough .

Seriously, I would want a spare rifle along, preferably of same caliber. For your intended game, anything from .270 Win through .338Winmag will serve you well.

If you take 100 rounds, you should have more than enough. Just figure checking zero before the hunt. Possibly rezeroing if anything happens.

One rifle and 20 rounds COULD be plenty, but considering the time/cost of an out of state hunt, might as well bring an extra rifle, and plenty of ammo, for any unforseen eventuality.

MM

Even though I live within 150 miles of where I hunt elk, I normally take 2 rifles and about 20 rounds of ammo for each. My normal elk hunt is for 5 to 7 days staying in a camp trailer in a camp ground near where I am hunting.

I usually take one rifle for longer shots (7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, or a 30-06) and one for short range shots (45-70 or an 1895 Win in 30-06 with iron sights) this way I can carry a rifle suited to the type of terrain and cover I will be hunting in that day.

How I hunt and the terrain varies according to where I see sign and how the elk are responding to hunting pressure, open sage areas wioth fingers of timber to heavy dark timber.

[ 10-05-2003, 20:13: Message edited by: Elkslayer ]

I take two identical rifles and 20 rounds for each rifle.

One rifle, it has a scope and open sights. If the scope fails I would take it off. I carry about 20 rounds. Good Luck on your hunt! What state? I have never taken more than one rifle.

[ 10-06-2003, 03:36: Message edited by: kudu56 ]

My son and I hunt with the rifles chambered the same, .358 STA's, and I load two boxs for each rifle. I take one backup (.340 Wby) rifle between us. We have used the backup three years out of twelve, usually a scope thing, either percieved or real. For instance a hard fall for the primary rifle will necessitate taking the backup the following day. This year a grandson is going with a .338 Lapua that he can shoot with great accuracy, we will take two backups, another .340. It is better to be safe than sorry. Good shooting.

I take two rifles, the spare is just in case Murphy shows up to try to ruin the hunt. I am not one to borrow another hunters rifle under any circumstances. Trying to hunt with a rifle I have never touched does not appeal to me at all. A hunters rifle is an extension of that hunter, and becomes his right arm in the field. The spare rifle is a must in my book of hunting rules. The only time I did not take a spare rifle with me the scope failed while checking zero the sunday before the hunt. Lucky I was not to far from home, I drove home and back to camp that night with a spare rifle and scope that were not faulty. Did not hunt until Monday afternoon the first day of the hunt, but sure as hell learned my lesson when it comes to taking a spare rifle along.
I would much rather have far to many rounds needed to do the job rather than run short since I reload all my hunting ammo. I take 100 rounds for each rifle I take with me. My two favorite Elk cartridges are the 300 Winchester Magnum and the old stand by 30-06. My 30-06 is alwyas my backup rifle and will do the job should the 300 Win-mag fail me for some unforseen reason.

I ALWAYS take two rifles on a trip out of town. The .300 Win Mag is the main battery for Elk and the 7mm Mag is the backup.

I take about 50 rounds for each, in plastic boxes that are DIFFERENT colors.

The only difference between hunts is the caliber of the rifles, depending on the game.

HTH,

I hunt elk 40 minutes from home and always take two rifles and 20 rounds for each. Considering the time and money your going to invest i would definately take a backup rifle. As they say "sh!t happens" and it will at the worst possible time! Good Luck and shoot staight.

Long trip, long planning, ton of cash invested -> I usually bring 2 rifles, or at the very least a backup scope mounted in the right rings and sighted in. Unless you are backpacking or horse packing, bringing two rifles is almost the same hassle as bringing one.

About 20 rounds per rifle should probably do the trick. Do remember though, that sometimes shit happens and one has to sight in a couple of times. That can get pretty expensive in ammo.

Have a good trip.
- mike

My dad and I normally go hunting together. We each bring our main rifle and then a spare for a total of 3 for the two of us. Just in case

And usually bring 20 or so rounds for each gun.

Like most of the guys here I take (2) rifles & about 20 rnds ea. Caliber/rifle for the 2nd rifle varies on where I anticipate hunting, but I alwyas take the .338-06.

I leave a week from today for NW Colorado and I'm packing two rifles. Model 70 in 338, and a Model 700 in 270. I bought two boxes of ammo for each gun and have shot about half a box each for checking the zero on each rifle.
I have tags for mule deer and elk and will use the 338 for either, but if I shoot an elk first I'll then switch to the 270 for mulies.
Both rifles are topped with the same scope (Leupold 2.5-8X) so that part makes switching rifles a little easiere.

[ 10-07-2003, 06:11: Message edited by: jbmi ]

Ever hunt on one of those days when the snow coming down is thick enough that a scope offers no advantage whatsoever and might even be a deterent? I like to have one scoped rifle and one ready to go with the iorns for just that reason, but most often I grab the scoped rifle. It is also comforting to have a spare to fall back on, just in case.

This year I learned a lesson well. I took 2 rifles on my antelope & deer hunt. I got out to my buddy's house to get together for our morning hunt for antelope. I had left the ammo for the .300 in town. I did not want to go back to town & blow hunting time so I grabbed the back-up .30/30 and proceded to get my antelope.

I took a 7mm Mag for deer and the old .30/30 as back-up again. I got up in the timber and saw a deer at about 30 yards. If I would of used the big 7 I would have really done some damage to her. So I grabbed the .30/30 (she is in my freezer now). I was definitely glad I had 2 rifles on both times.

As for ammo 20 rounds per gun sounds about right. If they are both the same caliber I think I would fill one of those 50 round MTM boxes and go whack & stack me a deer and elk.

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies!

Hi again Customstox,

I enjoyed visiting with you early this year in Reno at the Engravers Guild Show. I'll probably be there again next year. As to rifles, my primary one is a heavy barreled 300 RUM that took an elk in Colorado last year, but failed me three weeks later by Pinedale Wyoming due to improper scope installation at the dealer (he failed to tighten the screws properly). That experience cost me a trophy elk and an unfilled game tag.

This year I have one tag for Hayden, Colorado where I hunt on a ranch. I will be hunting mainly on foot. There's a small chance horses might be available.

The other tag is a "general elk tag" again in Wyoming. I'll hunt Baggs and Pinedale again.
Then it's back to Colo. for a mulie!

For my backup I'm having a tough time deciding between a Ruger #1 in 375 RUM and a Hunter's Sweepstakes win at the Peppermill Casino in Wendover in 30-06 that impressed me with its accuracy.

Montana Marine

That's how I hunt deer in extreme nothern CA and I usually bring back two bullets.

I wish I had followed your suggestion last year regarding rechecking zero. I definitely will do it this time every week. Can you picture 11 missed shots at 4 bull elk grazing at 350 yards! They didn't even spook as my shots were that far off! Never again.

Elkslayer

It that an original '95 Winchester? I just missed getting one in an estate sale 45-70 for closer range sounds great! Someday I should try my Trapdoor Springfield on elk.

stubblejumper

Two identical rifles is a novel idea! Do you have a favorite?

Kudu56

I believe I'll be in your "neck of the woods" in Wyo. with one base camp at the Pinedale "KOA".

phurley

2 rifles chanbered the same is very practical. Where are you hunting this year?

Reloader66

I totally agree with you on borrowing guns.

C1PNR

I like your idea reg. plastic boxes of different colors. Mine are both green 50's. Could be embarrassing grabbing the wrong box and shoving a 300 RUM into my 375 RUM. Accuracy might suffer .

Ol Bull & mho

Yes, it has happened to me before.

tom holland

My Colorado elk season also starts on the 11th (this Sat. but it is an either sex hunt (maybe I'll take a cow this year). Then I have a deer tag there for Nov. 1st thru 7th North of Craig. I just might take 3 rifles with 50 rounds for each. That way I'll be covered if any coyote action should come along.

Wstrnhuntr

Love them snowy days! That's also why I'll have one with iron sights as backup. Next year I'll switch to quick detachable rings though.

WyoJoe

Gongrats on your 'lope' with a 30-30. You must have had a good stalk!

Well, it's less than 48 hours to D-day! Have to finish stuffing the camper and servicing the old Jeep. Good luck to everyone! And thanks again for all the responses.

Herb D ---- I hunt between Craig and Meeker Colorado, Unit 12. A great place to hunt Elk and Mule Deer. Good shooting.