Son's first Elk (4x4 Rosy)

[LunkerBuster]

After 4 years of tagging along with Dad, my son got his first shot and first elk kill.

Last year I bought him his gun, a 300 RUM. At 14, he was not quite big enough to shoot the full loads so he shot the level II loads (equal to a 300 Win Mag). In my opinion, this didn't have the energy needed for the long range shots that is common where we hunt. So last year he was hoping for a closer shot. Well he is 15 now. This year during practice, he moved up to the full ultra mag load. So we did a bunch of long distance practice until he could hit a pie plate consistantly out to 500 yards.

We were hunting 550 and had spotted a herd on the hill side above us. After going from head and finding all the cows, we spotted this bull. I ranged it at 504 yards. Perfect! We settled down with a good, solid rest and he took the shot. The nerves got the better of him the first shot  as I saw dirt fly about 2 feet above its back. I told him to jack another shell, settle down and squeeze the trigger. Wam! One 180 grn hornady through both lungs!

Long story short, bull down at 504 yards! Then the fun began. You know that story goes!

[lewy]

Nice work- thats some long shooting

[LongTatLaw]

thats some nice shooting for any hunter!

that cant be done without some practice!

15 year old hunter tagging a 4pt rosey bull...thats a great start to a life time of hunting with dad!

thats also 2 cool points for dad...  1/10  of 15 year old boys DONT suck monkey turds...  sound parenting beat the odds!

[duckmen1]

nice bull
in my opinion 300 win mag has plenty of power at that distance
i shoot a .270 and that has enough out to 400yrds
once saw someone shoot a bull at 400 yrds with a .270 and dumped it in his tracks
min. recomended energy for elk is 1500 ft pounds and 300win mag has all of that at 500yrds

[washelkhntr]

Congrats!

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Awesome first pic,  son's smile is as big as that Bull's!   Not sure who was more proud,  son or dad?  Ahhh I know it was Dad!  GOod job to both of you.  Not bad considering the poor kid has a welder for a dad... J/K!

[eastside boy]

Good deal!!!  Congrats!!

[rackattack]

Nice job!

[bow4elk]

Nice job - great first bull!

[shoot-em-dead]

Good for you guys- put forth the effort and it pays off

[mtbiker]

Very cool and congrats!!!  BTW, you may want to have him point the rifle in a different direction for future photo shoots.  Sorry, but I couldn't help but notice.

[Jason]

congrats to your son on his first Bull!!
What the hell do you mean a 300win mag does not have enough energy for long range shots?

[carpsniperg2]

congrats to him.

[Wenatcheejay]

Tell him great job!

[LunkerBuster]

Didn't mean to start the "who's gun is bigger" controversy with the comment about the .300 win mag. That is a great caliber. What I meant is that where I hunt, if they don't drop where they stand or close to it, it is extremely difficult if they walk into the thick stuff, especially when it is raining (western WA)! The clearings are surrounded by almost impenetrable reprod and I prefer to have them drop in there tracks. Almost 10 years of shooting the 300 RUM has proven this.