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Old January 12, 2021, 12:08 PM   #1
SouthwestORV
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Cow Elk taken with Tikka 243 - picture

Hello friends,
What a cool forum! I've seen some discussion, lots of debate, some strong opinions, thought I'd share a photo from my 2016 Cow Elk hunt. My brother and I both drew cow elk tags, we wanted meat on the table for our growing families. We both tagged out day 1 of the hunt. I shot this cow at sunset with my Tikka T3 Lite in 243 Win. I used Federal Power-Shok 100gr ammunition. The distance was 150 yards. She fell right where I shot her. Then I hiked 1/2 mile back to my quad, rode several miles to find my brother in another location, and rode back with him to clean the animal - which is why it's getting dark as we took the photo. The whole experience was positive and unforgettable. I never ate a bite of that meat without gratitude, because I took her life. She was a beautiful animal. She was good eating for the whole family, wife and 4 kids.
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Last edited by SouthwestORV; January 12, 2021 at 12:26 PM.
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Old January 12, 2021, 12:22 PM   #2
Pahoo
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Nice work

Quote:
thought I'd share a photo from my 2016 Cow Elk hunt.
Nice work and one thing we all have in common, in this site, is sharing. Welcome to the camp ......

Be Safe !!!
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Old January 12, 2021, 12:39 PM   #3
SouthwestORV
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Nice work and one thing we all have in common, in this site, is sharing. Welcome to the camp ......

Be Safe !!!
Thanks Pahoo.
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Old January 12, 2021, 02:26 PM   #4
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Yep.

As has been proven over and over in real facts vs opinion, its the shot placement and the bullet that counts not the caliber.

My step dad's father (gone before we knew him) shot 6-8 Grizzly off his homestead with a 30-06. No drama. Now they need a 20mm cannon. Lewis and Clark worked their way across the US with a Pneumatic Rifle (the one firearm that they cold count on).

Let alone 1500 to the late 1800s across the US with muzzle loaders.
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Old January 12, 2021, 05:03 PM   #5
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Looks great. I know people prize themselves on shooting big bulls but if I ever were in an area that I could hunt elk and had a cow tag I'd take one in a second.
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Old January 12, 2021, 05:15 PM   #6
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Good job, good shooting, and thanks for posting.
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Old January 12, 2021, 05:20 PM   #7
SouthwestORV
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Originally Posted by RC20 View Post
Yep.

As has been proven over and over in real facts vs opinion, its the shot placement and the bullet that counts not the caliber.

My step dad's father (gone before we knew him) shot 6-8 Grizzly off his homestead with a 30-06. No drama. Now they need a 20mm cannon. Lewis and Clark worked their way across the US with a Pneumatic Rifle (the one firearm that they cold count on).

Let alone 1500 to the late 1800s across the US with muzzle loaders.
Yessir. I love my 243 for various reasons - one being my confidence with it. I think that confidence allows me to place shots well. I owned a 270 previously, and I did not feel as confident with it. I recognize my 243 is on the small side for big game, but the fact remains that the elk died, and died ethically.
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Old January 12, 2021, 05:28 PM   #8
SouthwestORV
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Originally Posted by Blindstitch View Post
Looks great. I know people prize themselves on shooting big bulls but if I ever were in an area that I could hunt elk and had a cow tag I'd take one in a second.
Thanks! I think it's fun. We get several herds in this area each summer/fall and if you set yourself up right, you can pick the one you want. Beyond that, my wife will never go for a set of antlers in the house. If I ever do get drawn for a bull hunt, the euro will go over my desk at the office.
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Old January 12, 2021, 05:31 PM   #9
SouthwestORV
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Good job, good shooting, and thanks for posting.
Thanks! I may be putting in again this year. My wife uses smaller quantities of red meat in meal planning, so that little cow lasted us until 2019! We ground most of the meat. Time to do it again. Crazy how I forget that with beef you have to drain off the grease/fat. Not the case with that elk meat.
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Old January 12, 2021, 05:33 PM   #10
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Nice cow!

Yum!
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Old January 12, 2021, 06:19 PM   #11
SouthwestORV
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Nice cow!

Yum!
She was good eating, especially the stew meat and the tenderloin steaks.
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Old January 12, 2021, 07:47 PM   #12
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Great shot and a great rifle too. Thanks for the picture!!
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Old January 12, 2021, 08:24 PM   #13
SouthwestORV
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Great shot and a great rifle too. Thanks for the picture!!
Thanks! First shot hit the lungs, she was anchored in place - bullet did tremendous damage on the way through. I didn’t wait, I quickly reloaded and head shot her to put her out of her misery. She didn’t suffer long.
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Old January 12, 2021, 10:15 PM   #14
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I know a young man who took his first elk during late season 2020 wit a 90 grain Accubond out of a Browning A-Bolt. The .243 is capable of a lot with a well placed bullet.
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Old January 13, 2021, 05:26 PM   #15
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Nice shot; congratulations.
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Old January 14, 2021, 09:21 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by SouthwestORV View Post
Thanks! I think it's fun. We get several herds in this area each summer/fall and if you set yourself up right, you can pick the one you want. Beyond that, my wife will never go for a set of antlers in the house. If I ever do get drawn for a bull hunt, the euro will go over my desk at the office.
I'm in the same boat with you! It's a bit of let-down to shoot a trophy rack, then have nowhere to put the trophy. But I'm pondering a dedicated hunting wagon - maybe an old Blazer or 4Runner with a 6x6 Elk rack as the brush guard. Keep it the barn to keep her happy.
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Old January 14, 2021, 12:07 PM   #17
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argument

That should pretty much settle the argument one often hears that the .243 is not enough rifle for............... whitetails. I heard it often as a kid, and since it was coming from my elders, repeated it myself on more than one occasion, for much longer than I should have. Personal experience with and watching the .243 in action on deer changed that.

Congrats to you on the cow and a memory. Would you care to advise how much you suspect the cow weighed on the hoof?
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Old January 14, 2021, 02:13 PM   #18
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Thanks for sharing.
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Old January 14, 2021, 02:50 PM   #19
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Im very glad that you posted this. The picture is a good one. And, the written part is well written. Thank you!
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Old January 14, 2021, 02:58 PM   #20
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Congrats! I killed my first elk, a spike, at around 70 yds. with my 6MM Rem (on par with your .243) and used a 100 grn. Rem core lokt factory round to get the job done. He was facing me, and my shot just below his chin dropped him on the spot. This was back in the very early 80's, using my Ruger M77 tang safety. Pretty new rifle back then. Still have it, still use it, but not for elk anymore.

Seems you know your rifle and skill set very well! Well done!
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Old January 14, 2021, 07:41 PM   #21
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I have great respect for the .243 as a hunting cartridge. Several pronghorn antelope and 2 mulies have been felled using my Remington .243 rifle loaded with 95 grain Nosler bullets. None got away!

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Jack
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Old January 14, 2021, 08:56 PM   #22
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A guy who can keep his shots on a pie plate at a hundred yards with his 243, will kill elks deader than a guy with a 338 who can't. jd
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Old January 16, 2021, 10:05 AM   #23
SouthwestORV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest View Post
I'm in the same boat with you! It's a bit of let-down to shoot a trophy rack, then have nowhere to put the trophy. But I'm pondering a dedicated hunting wagon - maybe an old Blazer or 4Runner with a 6x6 Elk rack as the brush guard. Keep it the barn to keep her happy.
Yes. Yes. Yes. That would be awesome. Haha!
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Old January 16, 2021, 10:06 AM   #24
SouthwestORV
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Originally Posted by bamaranger View Post
That should pretty much settle the argument one often hears that the .243 is not enough rifle for............... whitetails. I heard it often as a kid, and since it was coming from my elders, repeated it myself on more than one occasion, for much longer than I should have. Personal experience with and watching the .243 in action on deer changed that.

Congrats to you on the cow and a memory. Would you care to advise how much you suspect the cow weighed on the hoof?
I do not know. We cleaned her in the field, and I'm not experienced enough to say with any confidence.
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Old January 16, 2021, 10:11 AM   #25
SouthwestORV
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Im very glad that you posted this. The picture is a good one. And, the written part is well written. Thank you!
You're welcome! In this area the fall cow elk YOUTH hunt is very common, and many if not most are taken with 243. I have seen lots of anti-243-for-elk posts over the years. But I live in a community where it happens in large numbers every fall. Just thought I'd share my own experience. I'm certainly not pushing any agenda that the 243 is the ideal elk round. But I do not subscribe to the often-seen position that "243 is a coyote gun at best".
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