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An Outdoor Life report published Oct. 9, 2026, challenges the popular idea that elk are unusually difficult to kill. The writer describes three bulls killed with a 6mm Creedmoor and argues that shot placement, rather than a very large cartridge, is central; the account is personal experience, not a controlled comparison.
Outdoor Life published a report Oct. 9 challenging the idea that elk are exceptionally difficult to kill, with writer Tyler Freel describing three bulls taken during one hunt using a 6mm Creedmoor. Freel argues that well-placed shots matter more than using an unusually powerful rifle, while acknowledging that his account is based on personal experience rather than a scientific test of cartridges or animal responses.
Freel recounts a hunt on relatives’ land where elk had been damaging crops. He carried a 6mm Creedmoor loaded with 93-grain copper bullets. He says he and hunting companion Frank killed three bulls during the week, within the stated bag limit for that hunt. The shots were taken at distances from 150 to 350 yards, and, according to Freel, none of the animals traveled more than about 10 yards after the fatal shot.
The account includes an important qualification: one bull required a second shot. Frank’s first shot hit low and broke the animal’s offside front leg below the brisket, Freel writes. After the hunters waited and saw the bull move with the herd, Frank fired again at 350 yards; that shot hit the ribs and stopped in the opposite shoulder. The episode illustrates that a poor hit can lead to a follow-up shot, rather than proving elk are unusually resistant to bullets.
Freel contrasts this hunt with his first elk, a New Mexico bull he shot in 2021 with a .300 Winchester Magnum. He says the first lung shot was followed by another lung shot before the bull stopped. Across the accounts, he presents shot placement and the resulting wound as the main factors, but the report does not provide a controlled comparison between firearms, ammunition, or shot locations.
What Elk Hunters Can Take From It
The report speaks to a familiar debate among hunters about whether elk require heavy cartridges. Freel’s account challenges the assumption that a larger rifle alone makes a hunt more reliable, and it points readers toward accurate shot placement as a key consideration. That message matters for hunters choosing equipment, but it should not be read as proof that every smaller cartridge is suitable in every situation.
The practical takeaway is narrower: in the examples Freel describes, bullets that reached vital areas caused the animals to die quickly, while a shot that struck low did not. The article does not establish a universal minimum caliber or replace guidance about ammunition selection, hunting regulations, distance, skill, and ethical shooting. Its evidence is a set of firsthand accounts, not a broad sample of elk hunts.
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A Reputation Built on Hunting Stories
Freel says elk have long been described by hunters as exceptionally durable, a reputation that has fed decades of discussion about cartridges and bullets. He argues that stories of animals traveling long distances after being shot may be repeated without reliable information about where the bullet struck. In his view, hunters can also blame an animal’s supposed toughness when a shot or equipment choice was at fault.
He compares elk anatomy and characteristics with those of other deer, while cautioning that any animal may survive or travel after some injuries. Freel says his own experience hunting moose and grizzly bears has not persuaded him that an animal’s reputation alone predicts the outcome when a bullet or broadhead reaches the heart or lungs. These comparisons reflect his experience and interpretation; the report does not present a formal anatomical study.
““It doesn’t really matter what you shoot them with if you hit them in the right spot.””
— Tyler Freel, Outdoor Life writer, paraphrasing relatives he asked about elk
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Limits of the Hunting Accounts
The report does not establish how often elk survive particular kinds of hits, compare different cartridges under controlled conditions, or define a recommended caliber for elk hunting. Its three-bull account is anecdotal evidence, and outcomes can depend on factors such as bullet construction, shot angle, distance, and the exact point of impact. The report also does not provide independent verification of each shot’s path beyond the author’s account.
Freel’s conclusion—that elk are not as tough to kill as many people believe—is his interpretation of those experiences. It is not a claim that elk cannot withstand poorly placed shots or that all smaller rifles and loads are appropriate. The source material offers no additional research or expert review to resolve those questions.
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No Further Test Is Reported
The source report presents the author’s observations and does not announce a follow-up study, additional field testing, or a change to hunting rules. Readers seeking equipment guidance will need to consult applicable regulations and reputable hunting instruction, and assess any cartridge and bullet for the conditions in which they will be used. The broader claim about elk toughness remains a matter of interpretation unless supported by systematic evidence on shot placement and outcomes.
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Key Questions
What is the report’s main conclusion about elk?
Freel argues that elk are not as difficult to kill as their reputation suggests when a shot reaches vital organs. He presents this as a conclusion from his hunting experience, not a scientific determination.
What rifle did Freel use during the hunt described?
He says he used a 6mm Creedmoor loaded with 93-grain McGuire Ballistics Copper Rose bullets. He reports that he and his companion killed three bulls during the hunt.
Did every bull fall after one shot?
No. Freel says one bull was hit low by Frank, breaking a front leg but not immediately killing it. Frank fired a second shot, which struck the ribs and stopped in the opposite shoulder.
Does the report prove that small cartridges are adequate for every elk hunt?
No. The report describes personal hunting experiences and does not compare cartridges in a controlled study or set a minimum caliber. It cannot establish that a particular rifle and load is suitable for every hunter or hunting condition.
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