Elk - Is frontal really an option?

Hunting
1

Asking all you experienced elk hunters…

Is a frontal shot with a rifle really an option?

I know it is for Archery, this video is pretty well circulated and viewed. In it, they mention that a frontal shot from a rifle is definately going to take an elk down. This surprised me as I thought that a frontal shot was a sure fire way to ruin the meat as it seams like the bullets is just going to rip through to the guts.

Thoughts and experience?

Thanks

1 Like
2

I haven’t personally shot an elk frontal, but I wouldn’t question it if I have a deeper penetrating bullet.

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I haven’t personally made that shot, but my friend did this past fall. It was extremely effective. Elk went 15-20 yards.
As far as ruining the meat, I’ve dealt with a few gut shot animals and have never had ruined meat to speak of. I trim the outside layer of the meat, which usually has developed a dried outer rind by the time I get to the butchering at home, so anything that actually contacted the innards doesn’t get consumed. I’ve never noticed problems with it leaching into the meat. Get it gutted or quartered and cooled asap and you should be fine.

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I took my first elk, a huge matriarch cow with a frontal shot at 80yds, with a 7mm rem mag. It turned and dropped 5yds from where I shot it. Hit center, pierced a lung, hit ribs from the inside and didn’t come out. Foaming pinkish blood coming out of bullet wound. Had about a pound of bloodshot on the front quarter where the bullet hit the ribs.

A great first experience!

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Thanks for sharing this experience. I think before I asked this question I would have passed on this shot but I certainly won’t now.

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I made this shot 2 years ago…it’s can be a clean shot but with a smaller margin of error. I will shoot a broadside elk out to about 500 yards if everything is perfect. I wouldn’t take a frontal shot beyond a couple hundred yards max. That’s just me.

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I am a guide and I have seen elk shot frontal with a bow and a rifle. It is a smaller target than a broadside shot but extremely lethal from my experience if you hit the right spot. You will never see quite as much blood as from a frontal shot.

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I have done it for deer - which is way smaller area to hit. I would for elk and bear. I shoot barnes coppers. Range depending of course.

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For a frontal shot don’t you aim right or left of center if the animal is dead on oriented toward you? The thinking is, you are aiming for a lung.
I am no expert, correct me if I am wrong.