Non-recovered Elk - my fault or bullet failure or both?

[Idaho Lefty]

Bummer you didn't find you quarry!

Please be aware, people.
Unless it's military, or some "anti terrorist" round, bullets don't EXPLODE or Blow up!

Place to put a Berger is BEHIND the front leg.

It's butt will come up & touch it's nose, then take off like a bat outta Canoe Creek (central PA reference) for 20-50 yards.

Have heard more than one person gripe about Berger bullet failure when putting it in major bone.

Put behind the front leg, does massive internal damage!
I have yet to have a pass through with a VLD.

Agree with this,. ^^^ hit the "Boiler Room" or,.. UPPER Shoulder ( CNS ) where shoulder Blade, IS,.. much, THINNER and way LESS Meat to, punch thru. It is also possible that, you "Hit" whats called, "NO Mans Land" ( Below Spine and just above the Lungs ).
I put, a Stryker 3 blade Broad Head, thru a NICE, 4 x 4 Mule Deer at 37 yds ,. Blood all over the Arrow and on ground,.. 20-30 Yds later,.. NOT, a freakin' Drop !
Grid searched by 3 of us,.. for a long time,.. NO,. Deer ! Hurts to lose and Elk, even more !!

 

[darreljwick]

I guess "long" is all relative. I shoot long range rifle competitions every weekend, so 375 yards feels close to me, but fully understand that others may consider that to be a long shot. Hitting where I was aiming was not an issue.

Right....Respected animals are a totally different level of sportsmanship than a target. I was taught to hunt, and that's what I do. Shooting long was something I did to protect.

 

[jrham55]

Agree with this,. ^^^ hit the "Boiler Room" or,.. UPPER Shoulder ( CNS ) where shoulder Blade, IS,.. much, THINNER and way LESS Meat to, punch thru. It is also possible that, you "Hit" whats called, "NO Mans Land" ( Below Spine and just above the Lungs ).
I put, a Stryker 3 blade Broad Head, thru a NICE, 4 x 4 Mule Deer at 37 yds ,. Blood all over the Arrow and on ground,.. 20-30 Yds later,.. NOT, a freakin' Drop !
Grid searched by 3 of us,.. for a long time,.. NO,. Deer ! Hurts to lose and Elk, even more !!

I've wondered about this "no man's land" as well. Is it even possible to go over the lung and miss the bottom of the spine? At the up hill angle I was shooting, I figured it would be possible to go under the spine and over the backside lung, but figured it would have to hit the front side lung….but maybe not…

 

[Ucsdryder]

Low entrance and high exit makes for a tough blood trail.

375 is a hell of a long shot?

 

[Ucsdryder]

I've wondered about this "no man's land" as well. Is it even possible to go over the lung and miss the bottom of the spine? At the up hill angle I was shooting, I figured it would be possible to go under the spine and over the backside lung, but figured it would have to hit the front side lung….but maybe not…

It's been proven over and over there is no "void".

 

[jrham55]

It's been proven over and over there is no "void".

So you're saying you can't shoot under the spine and miss the lungs?

I'm guessing the bullet never made it past the front side shoulder then in my case…

 

[Farmerbrown32]

It happens. But to hopefully help out this situation get a .30 cal or even better a 338 cal. They just plain kill better especially if the shot placement isnt perfect.

 

[Ucsdryder]

So you're saying you can't shoot under the spine and miss the lungs?

I'm guessing the bullet never made it past the front side shoulder then in my case…

Correct. The lungs fill the cavity.

 

[.7mm.]

I've had great success with Hammers on deer and antelope. Next year it will be my choice for elk.

I've had the exact same scenario as the original post but with a 169 grain hammer hunter going 3020 fps at the muzzle...I stopped shooting hammers after that. They worked great on my antelope and bear. But the elk I didn't recover turned me off of them.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I've wondered about this "no man's land" as well. Is it even possible to go over the lung and miss the bottom of the spine? At the up hill angle I was shooting, I figured it would be possible to go under the spine and over the backside lung, but figured it would have to hit the front side lung….but maybe not…

Yes, you could even, "Clip" a Lung up high and, they'll,.. Run, a mile !
Elk are, real TOUGH !

 

[darreljwick]

375 is a hell of a long shot?

Definately. Though, I did have to shoot on game at that range once, to put down a wounded animal.......

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Without seeing the Hit with, a good Spotting Scope / Bino's, it's hard to Tell, exactly WHERE,. your Bullet went.
Write it off, in you Head or it will,.. drive you, NUTS !
I watched thru 10 x 40 Bino's as, my son put, a .30-06 165 gr. Partition thru, a Bear @ 110 yds and watched the Ripple of Hide / Dust flew,.. upon Impact and he Hobbled ( Broke Off shoulder ) about 25 yards.

 

[Troutslayer2]

A wounded cow will try to rejoin the herd so best move in your case would be to follow all of them to where they bed down and hope that's where she bled out.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Thats a hell of a long shot on an animal. .....case in point. Darrel Wick

This is the long range hunting forum, perhaps you thought it was the short range forum?