Elk hunting has become a very popular sport, and even though they are a large animal, they can be very difficult to locate. They can sneak up on hunters with out breaking a twig, or disappear in seconds. Elk can sometimes be easy to call or silent and difficult to call in. It takes knowledge to get game, but it also takes a little luck. One should scout the hunting area to find the elk's bedding area, food, and water source.
There are three species of elk in North America. The American Elk are found west of the Mississippi. The bull can weigh up to 800 pounds, and cows weigh around 500 pounds. The Roosevelt Elk is largest of the elk species. A bull can weigh up to 1,000 pounds, and the cow weighs around 600 pounds. The Roosevelt Elk are darker in color, and found in rugged terrain long the northern Pacific coastal mountains and western slopes of the Cascades. The Tulle Elk is the smallest of the elk species, and found in parts of central California. The bull weighs close to 600 pounds, and the cow weighs around 350 pounds. Tulle Elk are light beige in color with dark brown manes.
The most popular rifles for hunting elk are the 7mm mag, .308, .30-06, .300 mag, and .338 magnum with dead bolt action, and a variable power scope. Check the ballistic chart for the caliber and bullet weight of the ammunition you will be using. It is the bullet's speed and weight that will kill the elk. Be sure to check the scope setting on your rifle before starting the hunt.
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