The Wily Wapiti

[timmy]

I thought that this little clip would be enjoyable for all:

Wapiti

Warning: if you watch this at work, please be sure to turn down the volume before clicking the link. If you are at home and have a dog, he may find the clip interesting, too!

I love the Wapiti (American elk) most of all among our North American game. They are beautiful, smart, and have excellent senses. Remember that they were originally plains animals, forced by the encroachment of humans into forest areas, where they adapted and thrived, as you can see here. We always said that if you can see them, they've already seen you, if you can hear them, they've already heard you, and if you can smell them, they've already smelled you. (from this clip, it should be obvious how this last case could hold true.)

Before you object to my saying and note that Mr. Bull Wapiti doesn't see, hear, or smell anyone around him, please remember that at this time of the season, he's got other things on his mind...

[shooter]

nice one.
did you make the video?

[Sakobav]

great video especially with sound on...

[Vikram]

That Elk call was hair raising with the speakers on.It looks magnificent- the antlers, size and symmetry of the beast. BTW, at the end of it, was it shot with an arrow?

Thanks for the video,Tim.


Best-
Vikram

[eljefe]

what spooked him? the camera panning?
Great stuff.
WWhats the normal caliber for this guy?

[winnie_the_pooh]

please remember that at this time of the season, he's got other things on his mind...

Reminds me of the fellow I almost ran over some days back.He saw a girl he knew across the road.So focused was he on her,waving and smiling that he stepped in front of my car. Nice video.

[timmy]

Gentlemen, the video was sent to Gail by her cousin in Montana. I can't tell you what he was hunting with. The bull was spooked when he caught scent of the hunters. One of the interesting things about the video to me is how steep the mountainside is -- toward the end, note the angle of the trees to the ground. Mr. Bull takes right off. They really are amazing creatures!

[TwoRivers]

what spooked him? the camera panning?
Great stuff.
WWhats the normal caliber for this guy?

That would probably depend on who YOU are. If you are the type who reads a lot of magazines, and readily believes what he reads, nothing less than a .300 Magnum. If you are not that type, and don't know any better, anything will do, from a .30-30 on up. I have seen Moose taken with a .243 Winchester, .257 Roberts, and .32 Winchester Special; and wounded and lost with a .350 Remington Mag. In Sweden the 6.5x55 is still considered an adequate cartridge. A 7x57 does fine. I have neighbors who came up from Arkansas with a .32 Win Special, and use nothing else. Don't know how many they have wounded and lost.
Most anything will do, if shot placement and bullet choice is correct. Moose are considerably bigger, and they are taken with anything from the .22-250 (by natives in the north), to the .458 Winchester. Also frequently wounded and lost with the more suitable bigger calibers. Interestingly enough, In the Yukon Territory, the .358 Norma Magnum is a favorite Moose cartridge among the indigenous hunters.
Discounting the less frequently encountered "exotic" cartridges, most of us would probably agree on a minimum of a .270 Winchester with heavy bullets. Also depends whether it's in heavy timber, or more open country. A .270 Winchester through the .338 Win Mag would probably encompass most choices for Wapiti.

[ckkalyan]

Awesome video Timmy!

I reason that the stalkers were downwind from the elk - note the direction of movement of the leaves in the wind - which could explain why the bull took off when he was only, oh so close to the chap behind the tree (not to disregard the effect of riotous hormones ).

The shooters sure seem to have done a great job - with keeping as quiet, silent and motionless as possible, right up until that last moment! As eljefe probably guessed right - maybe the camera panning, minor sound of lens movement, perhaps?!

Muchas Gracias for sharing.