most popular caliber for mule deer and elk

[newracer]

I use a 300 win mag for elk and 30-06 for deer. Could use either for either too.

[Batteriesnare]

I've always used my trusty .308 for a couple Muleys and antelope here. Drew a elk tag once, but all the elk in Estes Park know where it's safe to hide....and taunt.

[Colorado Osprey]

I voted "other"
300 WinMag for elk, lever action 30-30 or 45-70 for deer because where we hunt the deer are always close in the brush/scrub.

[Paradude54]

Thanks everyone for all the input. Despite my dislike for belted cartridges maybe I should have included both the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .300 Winchester Magnum.

[CowboyTuff]

7mm Rem Mag

[Troublco]

I have used my 700BDL in .308 exclusively for the last 10 years for everything from Antelope to Elk. My last Elk was a good size cow shot at 350 yards. I got her in the liver with a Sierra 165 Game King HP, and when I came down off recoil and reacquired her in the scope she was knocked on her back with her legs flailing in the air. She did pop up and run about 600 yards into a sage bottom, but she wasn't going any further. Now, I wouldn't use a .308 for anything larger but I wouldn't have any problem using it for any other Elk. The only other limitation I put on .308 is that I won't go out farther than 500 yards except for field goats, and then I won't go past 600. And this is with a Springfield 6x40 rangefinding reticle scope, not a standard duplex.

[10x]

A while back Cal from the Shooting Den told me that for antelope, deer and elk seasons 80% of the ammo he sold was 30-06, 270, 308, 7 mm Rem mag and 300 Win mag.

[Paradude54]

A while back Cal from the Shooting Den told me that for antelope, deer and elk seasons 80% of the ammo he sold was 30-06, 270, 308, 7 mm Rem mag and 300 Win mag.

Thanks again for all the input. This is a small sampling in the big scheme of things, but I think that in prepping we all need to keep in mind what is most popular, not neccesarily the ideal and that's why I put the survey up. Looking back, even though I don't personally like belted cartridges, I should have included the 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag though.

[rhineoshott]

Other,
I do most of my hunting with .22LR. Mabye if I have some distance shots I'll use a .17 HMR

joking

[Colorado Osprey]

Other,
I do most of my hunting with .22LR. Mabye if I have some distance shots I'll use a .17 HMR

joking

There is actually more to that than you might think.
Nationally, there are more deer taken with 22lr because of poaching than taken with any "other" caliber.