Elk with shotgun?

[Lab]

Daughter has a late season tag for a cow. Tons of elk are showing up outside of town on small ranchettes and neighborhood. Houses are very close and I don’t feel comfortable enough to let her use high powered rifle. Would a shotgun slug work in this situation? Felt like if I told landowners that shot would only carry 100 yards tops they would feel better about permitting her to hunt.

 

[Southern Elk]

I think it would work fine. Obviously you'd still have to be very careful about where you were shooting. Can she draw enough weight with a bow to be effective?

 

[mtmuley]

It works fine. mtmuley

 

[Fire_9]

Ive heard shotgun slugs can actually be worse for ricochet. Doesn’t seem possible but who knows


https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2012/8/23/are-shotguns-safer-than-rifles/

 

[1_pointer]

It'd work fine given the range limitations. That said, I would have her use the rifle unless mandated by law. Slugs will carry alot farther than 100yds and are a bit more prone to skipping off the ground than one might think...

 

[TRS_Montana]

I've shot two elk with slugs and both died quickly on less-than-perfect shots.
As others have mentioned, while a shotgun might ease landowners' minds, there are a couple of things to think about:

- I wasn't aware of the increased risk of ricochet associated with a slug, but I would trust what has been said here;
- Shooting a slug will likely result in greater recoil. If your daughter can shoot a rifle accurately, but will flinch with a slug gun, I think the rifle will be a safer tool.

I also think that not being a douchebag, and just getting to know the landowners a bit and respecting their concerns will go further to ease their mind than the weapon you are shooting.

 

[LopeHunter]

Slugs are like shooting a lugnut. They can deflect and tumble with a lot of energy. If you accidentally touched off a slug round in a 12 gauge at 33 degree angle above the horizon then the slug could travel almost 12 football fields before falling to the ground. I would prefer a hunter use a slug near my home rather than a rifle but you could get a pass through with a bullet and with a slug. They use buckshot for deer in some southern states where encounters are close and in brush. Those whitetail are usually less than 150 pounds on the hoof, though, rather than a 300 pound or larger cow elk.

 

[bigskyblueman]

They work quite well....

 

[Lab]

She is not strong enough for a bow and has not practiced with one- What about a crossbow???

Daughter has a late season tag for a cow. Tons of elk are showing up outside of town on small ranchettes and neighborhood. Houses are very close and I don’t feel comfortable enough to let her use high powered rifle. Would a shotgun slug work in this situation? Felt like if I told landowners that shot would only carry 100 yards tops they would feel better about permitting her to hunt.

 

[Southern Elk]

A crossbow would work well if it's legal. That would eliminate any concern about using a firearm near homes. I bet it would be much easier to get permission too.

 

[mtmuley]

2 and 3/4 20 gauge slug won't have a ton of recoil. Depending on shotgun used they are pretty effective further than you'd think. mtmuley

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I've killed whitetail and muleys with buck-shot as well as slugs in MT if you could get sub 20 yards buckshot could be an option. (Disregard just saw you were in CO buckshot is illegal)

 

[wytex]

Are they legal for use on big game in Colorado ? How about something like a 44 mag lever action rifle ? Might have a little less chance of pass through.

 

[Steve in Canton]

Why would you get her a tag if you are not confident in her shooting a rifle.

 

[Addicting]

2 and 3/4 20 gauge slug won't have a ton of recoil. Depending on shotgun used they are pretty effective further than you'd think. mtmuley

x2.

 

[Mudranger1]

I love my slug gun but lack of recoil has never been its selling point. It will flat put it on you. No experience with it on elk but I wouldn't hesitate on any size deer at 200 yards with Hornady SST's and with my experience with the bullets I would think they would work for elk

 

[bigskyblueman]

Winchester Partition Gold.....2 3/4 or 3's.....Performed well....

 

[Lab]

She is very good with the rifle it’s just that where the Elk are are located in ranches and a housing development do not feel comfortable letting her shoot a high-powered rifle around that many people and that many houses I wouldn’t feel comfortable even if it was me. Also a wounded animal that dies in your neighbors yard would be bad juju 3 acres a max of land.
QUOTE=Steve in Canton;2663126]Why would you get her a tag if you are not confident in her shooting a rifle.[/QUOTE]

 

[Bambistew]

Are there any rules on shooting/hunting in proximity to houses? Most states have a minimum rule.

I'm not sure I would feel comfortable hunting around that many eyes watching. Sounds like a good way to have the cops called on you and ruin the experience, what little an urban elk hunt would offer anyway.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Even though a shotgun slug would do the job on an elk IMHO it wouldn't be any better to use it in the area you're talking about than a rifle since a lot of people don't realize the potential of a slug gun and the distance a slug will travel. If you can get her a little practice with a crossbow and get her into a decent distance that she can put a bolt in the boiler room I would go that route.