| Going on an elk hunt can be one of your greatest | | | | Some prefer the added challenge that a bow and |
| activities and accomplishments in your life. If not | | | | arrow brings to a hunt. There is nothing like being 15 |
| planned out carefully, it can become one of your | | | | yards away from a 1000 plus pound animal. Hunting |
| worst experiences. There are many ways to hunt a | | | | elk with a bow is much harder than hunting with any |
| New Mexico elk. A hunter can choose an array of | | | | rifle. A very skilled archer would need to be within 60 |
| different weapons to harvest their dream animal. | | | | yards of an elk to shoot. A less skilled shooter would |
| Many hunters use bow and arrow, while some like | | | | need to be much closer than that. |
| black powder, for others a rifle offers the most | | | | Black Powder rifles offer another alternative in your |
| assuring method of hunting elk. Having a weapon that | | | | weapon arsenal. Hunts with black powder can be a |
| you are comfortable with and that is finely tuned is | | | | little easier than bow and arrow. You must be a good |
| critical to a successful hunt. Some hunters try and | | | | shot to hunt with black powder. You only have one |
| get away with using the same rifle for all their big | | | | shot at a time. Hunters must reload between every |
| game needs. Let me tell you, anyone who has | | | | shot. Many black powder rifles are open sight as well. |
| hunted an elk can vouch that all big game were not | | | | Meaning they do not have a scope on them, some |
| created equal. Having a higher caliber rifle for your elk | | | | of the newer models do come equipped with scopes. |
| hunt in New Mexico can help you be more productive. | | | | A major reminder, there is no single weapon that |
| There are many benefits that can come from having | | | | every hunter should use, or that promises the trophy |
| a higher caliber rifle. Yes a skilled hunter could | | | | elk. Remember finding a weapon that you are |
| probably shoot an elk with even a .22 caliber, but it is | | | | comfortable with, that you know how it shoots is far |
| not as secure and forgiving as some of the higher | | | | more important than having a weapon listed above. |
| caliber rifles. Most of us are not perfect shots and | | | | You must also put some valuable practice time in at |
| need all the help we can get. Some of the more | | | | the range or gun club before each hunt to maximize |
| popular caliber elk hunting rifles are: .300 mag, .308, | | | | your performance. Do not worry about keeping up |
| .30-06, 7mm, and .270. Of course there are many | | | | with the "Jones" do it your way, the way you know |
| other models that qualify as big game shooters, but | | | | how and then share your experiences. |
| these are some of the tried and true models. | | | | |