I have wanted to go on an elk hunt, but when I had the time and $ and in better health some other reason always came up.  Now my health is not quite as good and I can't do the hiking I used to and also never have more than a 3 or 4 days in a month free anymore.  Is it unethical to hunt a spot and stalk on a 6400 + acre ranch? 2 miles wide and about 5 miles long.  1 hunter and 1 helper in case my knee or ankle give out again.  The entire hunt would be done on foot and no shots over 100 yards taken.  I want to go for an elk so baddly, but I feel this is cheating somewhat.   What are your thoughts on this?

You do what you can, they have room to get away. Go for it and enjoy it, doesn't matter what anyone thinks, you limited in your time and health is an issue. Only other way would be to get with someone who has scouted in mild terrain, which can be pretty limited when it comes to elk. Good luck.

I agree, go for it! That is still plenty of room to be considered a fair chase hunt. I am guessing the ranch doesn't have twenty foot fences and you will still need to find them to get a shot. Good luck and good hunting!

2 by 5 miles is a pretty big chunk of land so I  wouldn't call it unethical.especially if your health limits your options.enjoy your hunt and don't worry about what other people think, you'll never be able to please everyone  anyhow.good luck and  GIT-R-DONE

TY guys for the advice, I saw the cattle fence and was thinking fenced in = not being fair. I know elk can clear 4 feet, but still had doubts. Not feeling as bad now about the choice now. Now anyone have an opinion about which rifle to use between .270 Win with 150 gr or .300 WinMag with 180 gr? I love shooting the .270, but several people tell me it is too small for an ethical shot on an animal that big.

if your comfortable with the 270 use it.I have shot several elk with mine and never needed a second shot. shot 2 of them at over 400 yards so it is quite capable of bringing down an elk

TY coyoteslayer, I asked why it is legal for elk in Pa if so many "experts" say it is too light of a weapon. I always thought shot placement counted for a huge part of an ethical hunt. Ty to everyone, you made me feel comfortable in my decision that as long as I am still having trouble hiking while carrying any weight that this hunt is not 1 of those unsporting shoots where the animal is not afforded any respct it deserves.

There was a great hunter I think his name was jack Oconners (sp) that ALL he used was the 270 for all his hunting. He was written about in a lot of hunting mags in his day. The 270 is more than enough for elk. Look him up.

SteelCandy
Don't know ya, and won't argue the weapon of choice! As long as it's legal! And ethical. Refering to your first post on this thread, I'm old 58, and I still chase them Wapiti around the mountains. You want a cheep Elk hunt on public lands. Get in touch with me soon! End of September is the deadline. I don't guide, just share my Elk camp with other inviteted NAHC members, friends and family. I've hunted Elk for over 30 years, and when I can't hunt them free, I'm done!!!! Only cost is getting here and shareing camp cost; food, gas, propane.

Dean
H2O Elkaholic
Wyoming

H2O that is a kind and generous offer, but I am still hobbling around and not sure if I will be up to hauling my azz up anything steep for a while yet. I would love to get more info though just in case. Thanks!

whoever said a .270 wont do the trick has never tried it. i use a 338 now but have shot many of elk with the .270 including a moose. placement placement placment, which im sure you know. good luck on your hunt. keep us posted

Settled on using my rem 700 bdl mountain in .270 Win shooting combined tech's 150 gr ballistic silvertips or nosler partition 150 gr bullets based on what my friends with experience with elk say. Unless anyone here has a better idea. I want to shoot each to see which my rifle likes best before having a bunch loaded.

The 270 has killed alot of elk everyone I have killed was shot with the 25-06 n New Mexico and did not get away I have seen Elk killed with the 243 with one shot to the head or neck it is alll about placement. As for elk they are very unforgiving and will run you to the ground if you miss but most will run about a half a mile and stop and look to see if you are still there so have a great hunt and be safe. As for being sick in New Mexico they have a handicapped hunt each year allowing them to shoot from a vehicle I have helped and seen some very great shots made. Good luck and God Bless all that hunt and fish teach a child.

I've taken all my Elk with a Remington 700 BDL in 7MM Rem Mag, and 160 Gr Nosler Partion rounds.  I've had many stand there and look at me like they hadn't even been hit.  None went very far!  I bought the 7MM Mag for geneal use.  Have said here before if I was to pick a gun for just Elk hunting I'd had gone with one of the 300 Mags.  And that I still stand behind!  But, after reading thousands of post here since 2002 I've learned there is nothing that beats confidence.
If your confident, which I'm sure you are, go with the 270!!!

Good luck and good Hunting!!!

Dean
H2O Elkaholic

The .270 is OK on Elk, .243 may take them down but is on the fringe of being reliable on having a real solid hit. I've heard of Elk running off with multiple hits and blood running out all over the place. I use a .30-06 Ruger M77.

As far as an Elk being able to clear a 4' fence, all I have to say is they don't need to. I was coming in to camp one night and a Rocky Mountain cow Elk was in the road. She took off at a dead run and I followed her for about a hundred yards before she made a left turn and headed for the timber. She hit a four-strand barbed wire fence and went right THROUGH IT. Wires sounded like a guitar being wound up tight and they popped one by one until she got all of them. She never slowed down or broke stride.

If what you are talking about is unethical as far as hunting goes, then my elk hunt was unethical as can be. Spent the night in the tent, got up and left walking from camp as the sun was coming up, shot my elk about 200 yards from camp at first light. I see nothing wrong with what you are talking about. I can run the mountains all day but that is why they call it hunting, you are locating the animals and you never know where you will find them. Helpers are not a problem or teaching our youngsters ( like I have been doing with my daughter for the past 3 years) to hunt would be unethical.

I personally use a .300 WSM with handloaded 100 gr. Hornady V-max bullets that sizzle!! However, both my wife and oldest son shoot their elk with a 25-06. Shot placement is the most important thing here. I have never had an elk get away with my or my families setups however my buddy lost one cow that he hit a little high with a .30-378 Weatherby. As for fencing, here in Colorado I have personally witnessed elk BLOW THROUGH a cattle fence and shred it like it wasn't even there. I have had them get into our hay by jumping a 5' panel gate so, in other words, do what you have to do to get your elk, and enjoy every day of it!!!!

David, I hear you on that fence!  General understanding is that elk seem to aim for clearing a height about 6" shorter than the fence is built! 

In the 2 months or so since my 1st post in this thread my shoulder is starting to feel well enough to handle the .300 WM so that may be an option for the hunt. Now if my ankle and foot cooperate I will be happy even if I don't get an elk.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice and words of encouragement!

well ,,i'm a .270 believer and those MAGNUMS.. are ok for those that need them but if you buy or reload a premium round the .270 will take down any north american game animal..the only one i havn't taken down is a kodiak ...but it's on my bucket list...lol...good hunting to all

So 270Thompson, when are you planning to be a Brown Bears dinner?