Most large game bullets bullets have the energy to kill elk out to 600 yards BUT the drop and time in the air at that distance is almost 6 feet or possibly more and have a flight time of almost a second. this leaves a lot of room for error. Trigger pull, wind, elevation, humidity, and a half million of other factors come into play at that point. The gun and bullet can do it anytime but it takes a TON of time and practice for a human to do it. The humane shot is the one you can make time and time again with no second though. There are other factors shush as cover, ones ability to cover ground, angles of the shot/animal and your skill. All are important and make everyone's humane shot different. Personally I don't like shooting any caliber much past 500 yards but still have, my two hunting partners are different though, one has been a completive long range shooter most of his life and regular takes and makes shots i would not, my other friend has not rifle hunted much and wont shoot any gun past 300 yards. It is your choice to be humane and ethical not the rounds.

Depends on which Elk you are talking about Rocky Mountain Elk (500# or so) could be taken out to 600 yards or so with a good shooter. The Roosevelt Elk (1200# to 1400# or so) maybe 400 if everything goes right. Including the correct bullet and conditions. More on the shooter at these yardages then the caliber choosen to shoot them with. With the correct loads the 30/06 still is capable of retaining over 1500# of energy out to 600 yards

I have seen more than a few elk and moose taken very inhumanely at less than a hundred yards. The dude from Windsor, Ontario who shot a cow and calf moose at fifty yards sixteen times comes to mind immediately. I think you need to rephrase your question.

I am not sure which website you got your elk weights from, but most Rocky Mountain elk cows weigh between 400 and 500 lbs full grown and mature bulls 700-800+. Roosevelts cows go about a hundred lbs heavier and bulls 700-1100 lbs. Just sayin'

10jolsen, not to personally take issue with you, I'm sure your a decent, good man. But all my kills of Roosevelt bull elk have been taken very seriously, meaning I had the shot I was sure of or I wouldn't have taken it. I have to say honestly say, I have overheard more than once, bragging and bravado come from bow hunter's as to how many animals they " stuck " that day, but didn't finish the kill. Every one of my successful hunts has been as exciting as the first successful one in 1979. You know your rifle well, as well as using a well designed round, and have confidence in your own shooting abilities, and you'll have a satisfying and successful hunt. As rewarding as any sucessful bow hunt. I hunt low elevation rainforest here in Oregon. It's rugged, mean country where a 75 yd. shot is really out there. Be it rifle or bow, hitting the vitals is essential, anything else is unacceptable.