Question for the guides

Not to get into the shot placement argument, although I a firm believer in it... What do y'all like to see the lil hunters use on game like a cow elk? My daughter is 10 and she shoots a 243 with 100 gr partitions. She uses this gun/caliber pretty darn well. If I was to find her a cow elk hunt, would y'all allow her to use a 243? What's your thoughts, would you be comfortable with it?

Thats a pretty small caliber for that large of an animal, but its all about shot placement.

I would accepts a .243 with that type of bullet and try to get it under 100 yards or right about that to go for a head shot. It's a meat hunt so a head shot would be where you may want to put it anyway to save the most meat. Most kids actually handle doing that very well from my experience. Better than most adults that I encounter even. I have used that same round on red deer and it's worked well, even on trophy hunts. If it can handle that, it should certainly be able to handle a cow elk.

We shot a cow stag with a 270, five times. 4 in the vitals and finally one in the head. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Wow, 5 times, was it poor bullet construction or are they that tough?

Curtis, I actually ran across one of your ads an that's what got me thinking....

Looked like the bullets held up well. The head shot did her in. I'm not sure what to tell you as I have heard of numerous people taking elk size animals with one shot with a 270. 99 percent of the hunters I have seen use magnums though. I'm not saying it isn't a wise choice for a 243. I just hate to depend on a head shot.

This is to funny. I have guides say all the time (we do not allow anything smaller than a .243 for elk hunts. Them i ask what about a bow? (No problem)
I have take elk with a .22.
Choose the gun the hunter is comfortable with and can make a good shot!

I have seen alot of elk taken with a .243. One of my lady managers Stacy has taken 9 cow elk 9 years in a row.

I'm pretty confident I'm my kids ability, but at the same time I wanna be sure the guide is okay it.

243 should be fine with good shot placement

243 should be fine. My wife took her bull elk last month with a 110 gr. .308 and the bull went 40 yards. It's all in shot placement. Try to get a nice slight quartering away shot and slip that bullet past the shoulder blade and into the vitals and you will not have any problems.

HF hunt for elk you should be fine with a 243,It like shooting a cow. Out west fair chase, use the bigest gun U can shoot!! Wild elk are tough to bring down!! U may have to shoot 200 to 300+ yards .

It would be a HF hunt for her....

BEST OF LUCK

It will handle it...all about placement...and a good solid bullet...ttx

Funny how we can sit here and debate the 243 for this hunt. Bring in the 223 for deer and oh my gosh!!! What are u crazy???!!! That's a varmint round!!!!! Get the hint. If its legal and your ok with it go forth. May not be for everyone but if your ok with your daughter best of luck.

What's the difference between a HF cow elk and a low fence western cow elk ???

There it is

Its like vampires and warewolfs

Wow, I was thinking that it may be a little easier to get closer in a HF than a LF situation, and i could take her at any time.and sure, lets go 223 why not....
My question was what do you as guides prefer to see the kids shoot? How would you feel about a young client using a 243? I hear all the time, use what your comfortable with, use what you shoot t the best.......

You're a guide, gimme your input.

And for the record, no hunt has been booked. I know what my child is capable of, and I sure don't plan to put her in a situation where she would have to learn failure the hard way. I've never shot an elk, so I thought I would ask.....

Agreed, but we have our ranch rules to only use a .243 as a minimum caliber allowed now.

We can have the same argument on preferences of mech vs fixed blade broadhead too.


Im not going to debate in this one any further but I will sit back and eat my and just watch this time.

Curtis, it wasn't your ad, it was another members. Sir I apologize for the mix up.

OK thank you for clearing that up.