How big is an Elk ?

[Zerstoerer]

I am going on my first Elk hunt soon.
For estimating distances and holdover -

I was wondering how big the average elk cow is.
Meaning inches by inches body length & height.

Is there a reference book out somewhere wich
list animal dimensions?

Thanks

 

[espanola]

We usually just measured them by how many hernias, heart attacks and slipped discs they caused...

Size kind of depends on where you're going. Do a google search for "average elk cow size" --I did and got 228,000 hits.

My experience has them around 500 pounds...height? I don't know--around 4-5 feet at the shoulder, 6 feet nose to butt.

The four measurements we always cared about when it came to cows was--how much did it weigh (by the time we had it back in camp the answer was "Too much.") ,how many injuries will hauling it out cause (see above) and how far did it fall down the mountain after we shot it, and how far did we have to haul it.

 

[sixgunner455]

A cow elk is bigger than the biggest deer you've ever seen -- taller, wider, thicker.

Advice I got when I hunted them the first time was, aim at the animal, don't try to calculate holdover/under. Especially if you aren't used to seeing them, you may not be calculating the distance properly. Just aim at the critter, don't aim above it -- you'll likely miss.

 

[Guntalk]

Get Closer

Basic rule. If you are shooting a flat-shooting rifle cartridge, such as a .270, .30-06, .300 mag, etc., and if you are at a range where you need to hold over an elk, YOU ARE TOO FAR!

Get closer.

You can hold on hair (one inch below the back line) and have a good hit on an elk with those cartridges (sighted in 3 inches high at 100 yards) out to about 400 yards.

Beyond that, many factors come into play, including wind, a rapidly-dropping bullet, shooter's ability of lack thereof, etc.

In short, despite what you read in the gun/hunting magazines, it's too far to take a *responsible* shot.

Get closer.

 

[Jeff Timm]

Hy thee down to the nearest Cabelas http://www.cabelas.com/ and look at a stuffed one. The two Cabelas I've visited had examples, full size stuffed examples of all major US Game animals.

Geoff
Who notes they were Utah and Kansas.

 

[MEDDAC19]

Think in terms of large pony or small horse and you will be in the ballpark.

 

[Bwana John]

There are at least 3 sub-species of elk in North America.
The Rocky Mountain elk, the Roosevelt elk, and the Tule Elk.
The Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt are very large but can have a wide ranges of sizes depending on its habitat, feed, and climate conditions, dont think pony, think horse. The Tule is quite a bit smaller, these guys are pony/large deer sized.

Elk that live in temperate rain forests and swamps are smaller, elk that live in open timber and desert/plains tend to be bigger.


As everybody else said, if you think you need "holdover", get closer!

 

[Gordon]

Silacci Ranch Tule Elk in Salinas Ca. Bull Tule elk average 450+ pounds with the largest 575 pounds. The cows are about 350-400.

 

[Smoke Rizen]

If you're looking for depth of the chest it will run from 24"-30" depending on the size of the animal. As to how big they are that's a complex formula with many variables Length X Heigth X Mass X Distance to the horses-squared, X elevation- to the enth power. I've also decided the body size increases, and the antler size decreases when the "ground factor" is computed.
Five more days!

 

[Dr.Rob]

It sounds sick...

but go down to your local zoo and see if they have one.

That's what my dad did his first elk hunt. Don't wear orange and pack your rifle or do anything else to sacre the kiddies, just go have a look. it beats all other forms of gaging distance you can imagine.

 

[mbt2001]

Ok, an Elk is about the size of an NFL lineman...

Actually, about 2 NFL lineman... About 600+LBS

that is smaller than a Moose and larger than a Deer.