Guns and Gear for a Colorado Elk Hunt

by
posted on August 1, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
colorado_elk_gear_f.jpg

Editor's Note: Our own Shawn Skipper recently put the following gear to use on an elk hunt in the Centennial State. You can catch up on that story here.

To kill elk, you’ve got to find elk. At times, that can be easier said than done—so it certainly helps to call upon trustworthy gear. That, at least, I had in spades.

If you’re going to spend five days hunting the thick timber, you’re going to want to make sure your gear’s going to come through when it counts. And we were sporting some top-of-the-line optics. When afield, I carried my Leupold BX-3 Mojave bino and RX-1200i TBR laser rangefinder. The TBR stands for “True Ballistic Range,” and is a feature that marries laser rangefinding with an inclinometer and advanced computerized ballistics to produce measures that are accurate to less than a yard, no matter the angle at which the laser is fired. It comes in handy when preparing for a long-range rifle shot from a ridge, and should be of note for you archery hunters, too. And, of course, when we really needed to reach out and see what was around, we broke out a Gold Ring spotting scope, which is rugged, lightweight and easy to pack, wherever your hunt may take you.

After five days of hard hunting I was able to get on a bull, and that’s where the rest of my toys came into play. I was shooting a Ruger M77 Hawkeye chambered in .300 Win. Mag., and we’d topped it with a Leupold VX-6 that was set up with the company’s CDS—or Custom Dial System. If you’ve ever used the CDS, you already know how handy it can be. If not, pay attention.

If you purchase a Leupold Optic and tell them that you’d like to set it up with a CDS, the company will customize your scope’s elevation dial to match your exact load, velocity and conditions. Once you range your target, you’ll be able to turn the dial to the correct position, put your crosshairs dead on the target—in my case, the elk’s vitals—and squeeze the trigger.

Our optics were configured specifically for the .300 Win. Mag. Nosler cartridges we were shooting – so, had I wanted to reach out and touch a bull at 500 yards, all I needed to do was adjust the CDS dial, which offers quarter-MOA click increments. Once I had it set for 500, I could hold dead on, at least elevation wise. Easy stuff. I tagged my bull from roughly 230 yards. Granted, that distance didn’t really do much to test the rig we’d put together, but elk can be tough customers—I seriously doubt we’d have been able to talk him into standing still at 400 yards for me.

Latest

BTB 7Mm RUM Lead
BTB 7Mm RUM Lead

Behind the Bullet: 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum

Launching a 160-grain bullet in excess of 3200 fps, the 7mm RUM is among the fastest commercially loaded 7mm cartridges available.

USFWS Debuts 2025-2026 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps

The 2025-2026 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp—commonly known as the Duck Stamp—became available for purchase on June 27, 2025.

Tested: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener

Digital Associate Editor walks viewers through the features of the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener, the perfect tool for a hunter looking to keep all his knives factory sharp season after season.

Recipe: Green Curried Black Bear

Green curry sauce is an excellent base for simmering bear meat, making it flavorful, tender, and safe to consume. Read on for another instant classic recipe from Brad Fenson.

Coyotes to Competitions: An AR-Build for Accuracy

ARs make great coyote guns. But what would the absolute best coyote rifle look like? Digital Associate Editor David Herman builds his take on the best AR for shooters who like to plug coyotes in the winter, and ring steel all summer long.

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Sunday Hunting Bill

Legislation that will fully repeal Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban was signed into law on July 9.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.