1st elk hunt/I need a psychiatrist

[HuntTalk Freak]

I guess I’ve gotten accustomed to hunting small TX whitetail, 223 will blow through both shoulders on them as well as the hogs we have, though I’ve gotten away from shoulder shots here. I figured a 7 mag would do the job, next time I know.

I’m not beating myself up as bad now though I’m still thinking about it several times a day.

Going to try and shoot that rifle this week and see what’s what. Our rifle season opens this weekend and I’ve done zero scouting or much prep. Haven’t even been to my place since late spring. I’m sure I’ll fill the freezer though.

 

[millerkiller77]

I guess I’ve gotten accustomed to hunting small TX whitetail, 223 will blow through both shoulders on them as well as the hogs we have, though I’ve gotten away from shoulder shots here. I figured a 7 mag would do the job, next time I know.

I’m not beating myself up as bad now though I’m still thinking about it several times a day.

Going to try and shoot that rifle this week and see what’s what. Our rifle season opens this weekend and I’ve done zero scouting or much prep. Haven’t even been to my place since late spring. I’m sure I’ll fill the freezer though.

Off topic. I was really surprised how small the deer are in Texas, especially at the southern end.

 

[woods89]

I guess I’ve gotten accustomed to hunting small TX whitetail, 223 will blow through both shoulders on them as well as the hogs we have, though I’ve gotten away from shoulder shots here. I figured a 7 mag would do the job, next time I know.

I’m not beating myself up as bad now though I’m still thinking about it several times a day.

Going to try and shoot that rifle this week and see what’s what. Our rifle season opens this weekend and I’ve done zero scouting or much prep. Haven’t even been to my place since late spring. I’m sure I’ll fill the freezer though.

From reading how he reacted, I think the bullet went high and hit the spinal processes, instead of the shoulder. I haven't ever done it myself but from what I've been told that's a classic response to a hit there.

Unless something really unusual happened, a shoulder hit with a 7mm magnum means a dead elk. If you bone an elk shoulder out and hold it up you can see light through it. I saw photos on another forum just today of a wrecked elk shoulder from a 22 Creedmoor and an 88 gr ELD-M.

I'm still interested in whether that scope is still zeroed.

Bear in mind I'm just an internet dude who wasn't there! I could be way off.

 

[HuntTalk Freak]

Off topic. I was really surprised how small the deer are in Texas, especially at the southern end.

I think they are bigger around the borders but smaller in the middle, yet more densely populated. I hunt the hill country, so basically the center of TX and my biggest most mature deer are still way small compared to three year old CO mule deer.

It’s fascinating to me the different hunting aspects and cultures as well as how the animals differ from region to region.

 

[brymoore]

I broke the shoulder of my first bull elk this season with a high shoulder shot in the scapula. He was very hurt but not dead. I walked up and broke his neck. He wasn’t immobile but he kept shuffling and laying down as I jumped blow downs to get to him in the brush.

 

[HuntTalk Freak]

Got up and drove the five hours to my lease, did a bunch of work and took a break and headed to one of my ranges. My father in law was with me but not a hunter or much of a gun guy so I didn’t really have a spotter. Shot off my camera tripod because I didn’t want to haul my pack out.
Shot two shots at my steel plate at 322 yards…..nothing.
Drove back across the draw and both shots hit the dirt pretty low under the plate. I dialed exactly how I dialed in CO. Obviously I goofed and contrary to what we had all been surmising, I hit low, probably the lower brisket or leg.
Pressed for time and still more work to do that’s all I shot today as we had to finish our chores and drive back home.
Did see around thirty deer throughout the day.

You can see my previous hits from my last session with the Norma 150gr I had been shooting all summer. I have another plate 30yds up the hill.

 

[woods89]

Got up and drove the five hours to my lease, did a bunch of work and took a break and headed to one of my ranges. My father in law was with me but not a hunter or much of a gun guy so I didn’t really have a spotter. Shot off my camera tripod because I didn’t want to haul my pack out.
Shot two shots at my steel plate at 322 yards…..nothing.
Drove back across the draw and both shots hit the dirt pretty low under the plate. I dialed exactly how I dialed in CO. Obviously I goofed and contrary to what we had all been surmising, I hit low, probably the lower brisket or leg.
Pressed for time and still more work to do that’s all I shot today as we had to finish our chores and drive back home.
Did see around thirty deer throughout the day.

You can see my previous hits from my last session with the Norma 150gr I had been shooting all summer. I have another plate 30yds up the hill.

Where's it at at 100 yds? Still zeroed?

I had a scope lose zero on a flight out to hunt elk.( different brand, they have a great warranty ) Thankfully I caught it before we started hunting. It's hard to be confident after that, though, and I replaced it with a Nightforce SHV, which has been rock solid.

Rokslide has a pretty rigorous test they do for zero retention, and there's only 2 or three brands that consistently retain zero after getting knocked around in a fashion simulating a hard hunt.

 

[HuntTalk Freak]

Where's it at at 100 yds? Still zeroed?

I had a scope lose zero on a flight out to hunt elk.( different brand, they have a great warranty ) Thankfully I caught it before we started hunting. It's hard to be confident after that, though, and I replaced it with a Nightforce SHV, which has been rock solid.

Rokslide has a pretty rigorous test they do for zero retention, and there's only 2 or three brands that consistently retain zero after getting knocked around in a fashion simulating a hard hunt.

I didn’t check though I had plans to. I will go check at the local range next week. My windage looked about spot on still. I think just the change in ammo was the real difference and like I said earlier I should know better. It completely skipped my mind to verify the change at distance.

I don’t really baby my gear but I do try to somewhat protect my weapon, if that scope lost zero at 100 during that trip Leupold owes me some money. But I’d blame myself before the gear at this point.

 

[hank4elk]

I thought you did something crazy like move to the middle of no where and live amongst them....
...you just changed ammo without verifiying zero again....crazy.

 

[Lilhowie83]

Off topic. I was really surprised how small the deer are in Texas, especially at the southern end.

Blasphemy! Everyone knows that everything is bigger in Texas!

 

[HuntTalk Freak]

Blasphemy! Everyone knows that everything is bigger in Texas!

Us TX boys catch a lot of grief and stereotypes exist for a reason but I’ll be the first to say that old saying is a bit outdated and yes our deer are smaller than northern deer.

I’m not a Texas is better than anywhere else type guy, I’ve traveled all over the U.S. and love it all. I will say it’s a toss up on the worst drivers being Okies or New Mexicans though…..

 

[millerkiller77]

Us TX boys catch a lot of grief and stereotypes exist for a reason but I’ll be the first to say that old saying is a bit outdated and yes our deer are smaller than northern deer.

I’m not a Texas is better than anywhere else type guy, I’ve traveled all over the U.S. and love it all. I will say it’s a toss up on the worst drivers being Okies or New Mexicans though…..

I see you haven't driven through Colorado

 

[Stocker]

Us TX boys catch a lot of grief and stereotypes exist for a reason but I’ll be the first to say that old saying is a bit outdated and yes our deer are smaller than northern deer.

I’m not a Texas is better than anywhere else type guy, I’ve traveled all over the U.S. and love it all. I will say it’s a toss up on the worst drivers being Okies or New Mexicans though…..

Haven’t spent much time in Iowa huh?

 

[Rhcuam]

The impossible to penetrate shoulder

 

[Bill Zent]

I shot a big whitetail buck quartering to me and the Sierra HP Game King went from one end to the other and never opened, just a little flat on one side. It was recovered next to hip bone in back leg. Never shot another of those bullets! Just wondering if this could have happened in your case.

 

[HuntTalk Freak]

I shot a big whitetail buck quartering to me and the Sierra HP Game King went from one end to the other and never opened, just a little flat on one side. It was recovered next to hip bone in back leg. Never shot another of those bullets! Just wondering if this could have happened in your case.

I’ve been using game kings in multiple calibers for years and never had any complaints. I’m pretty convinced after shooting yesterday that I knocked his leg out from under him.

 

[Neumie]

Thanks for sharing your story. No criticism from me, gridding with my brother several years ago took 2 hours to find a cow that went <100 yards. Hidden under some thick down timber.

 

[Neumie]

Also, just ordered a CA Mesa FFT and can’t wait!

 

[Cornbread]

A doctor once told me years ago, in an emergency, for altitude sickness you can take a viagra. Seriously.

 

[Rhcuam]

A doctor once told me years ago, in an emergency, for altitude sickness you can take a viagra. Seriously.

That’s going to create another issue.