most popular caliber for mule deer and elk

[theGinsue]

Yeah, the last 2 posts are exactly the info I was looking for.

Appreciate the info gents.

[sniper7]

I have never hunted elk with a rifle. I use a .50 cal muzzleloader or a bow.

for deer I use .243 as that is the only rifle caliber I have other than .223

Some day I will have a nice 300 win mag. then when I get a deer it will be processed on the spot

[TennVol]

Some day I will have a nice 300 win mag. then when I get a deer it will be processed on the spot

I am a firm believer in the theory there is no such thing as using too much gun for your quarry. Dead is dead. I want my deer/elk to drop where they are shot. I don't mind "losing" a bit of meat by erring on the side of a bigger caliber. I'm not a huge fan of tracking deer/elk for a long ways after they've been shot.

As long as you can shoot your rifle accurately, use whatever caliber floats your boat. Just use one big enough to get the job done and put the round where it needs to go (shoulder, heart, lungs).

Just my $.02 worth....

[sniper7]

I am a firm believer in the theory there is no such thing as using too much gun for your quarry. Dead is dead. I want my deer/elk to drop where they are shot. I don't mind "losing" a bit of meat by erring on the side of a bigger caliber. I'm not a huge fan of tracking deer/elk for a long ways after they've been shot.

As long as you can shoot your rifle accurately, use whatever caliber floats your boat. Just use one big enough to get the job done and put the round where it needs to go (shoulder, heart, lungs).

Just my $.02 worth....

I feel the same way, I like to be prepared and be able to shot very accurately, but there is a large difference between at the range and being in the woods getting ready to take an animal that is staring at you or pissed and your heart is racing!
I have tracked an elk for about 3 hours after a .50 cal shot that went through both lungs...elk are amazing and have a huge sense of wanting to live...deer and antelope IMO are happy to die for the most part, but elk struggle to the very end.

[cowboykjohnson]

Some day I will have a nice 300 win mag. then when I get a deer it will be processed on the spot

Sniper, Tonight or tomorrow i'll find the picture of a buck I hit with mine at around 300 yds, it's pretty tore up. I was using 180gr accubonds.

[theGinsue]

I'm not a huge fan of tracking deer/elk for a long ways after they've been shot.

Oh yeah, tracking an injured animal has never been something I've particularly enjoyed. What makes it even worse is that they always seem to move FURTHER away from any roads or access points making your job of hauling the animal out even more difficult.

I feel the same way, I like to be prepared and be able to shot very accurately, but there is a large difference between at the range and being in the woods getting ready to take an animal that is staring at you or pissed and your heart is racing!
I have tracked an elk for about 3 hours after a .50 cal shot that went through both lungs...elk are amazing and have a huge sense of wanting to live...deer and antelope IMO are happy to die for the most part, but elk struggle to the very end.

I've noticed this too. While antelope move quickly, they often stop a few hundred yards away just long enough to get a good shot off. The deer seem to practically beg you to shoot them and if you do, don't move to far before dropping.

[Irving]

That's why you have your buddy circle the deer and you both shoot it at the same time while facing each other. Duh.

[Colorado Osprey]

Sniper, Tonight or tomorrow i'll find the picture of a buck I hit with mine at around 300 yds, it's pretty tore up. I was using 180gr accubonds.

People that don't belive that there is too much gun for deer and antelope need to go spend some time at a wild game processor. I can tell you that after spending a couple hours with my butcher this year the amount of waste from too big a gun and/or poor shots was phenominal. On average 30-40% of havested meat from deer and antelope was thrown out.

Some animals the entire hind quarters were tossed. Others front half's were tossed.

I have shot one deer many years ago under 100 yards with a 300 WinMag pushing a 190 grain bullet.
The whole front half had to be thrown away.
I will never do that again.
Bullet entered the front shoulder exploding the shoulder sending schrapnel of bone and ribs through the ribs and removing the far shoulder.

[GunTroll]

What he^ said!

[cowboykjohnson]

I shot towards the lungs behind the should knowing there would be damage. It tore up the ribs, but no major meat was lost.