Goat vs Elk

[Akula]

I'm looking for some thoughts from hunters who have had some experience with this. It has been said that Elk are tough animals (this I do not doubt,) and that bigger cailber rifles are generally preferred when hunting these animals to put them on the ground. I've also come across people mentioning that a Mountain Goat will take a lot of lead to put them down even when hit properly in the vitals. I am aware that any type of calibre when properly placed will drop just about anything on the planet, I'm more curious about what was harder to drop an Elk or a Mountain Goat?

[.330 Dakota]

I would say goat is a tougher animal

[kootenayslam]

I'd say Elk but Goat are tough too, i shoot a 280 but think i'm a bit undergunned.

[ThinAir]

Probably the toughest two animals of the bunch ....I've had experience with both. Goats hands down.

[BlacktailStalker]

Both my goat and elk went down with one properly placed shot this year.
Goat @ 285 yards and elk at about 120 yards.
In years past I have had "standing dead" elk that gave me enough time for 2 or three bullets in the same spot before falling but the initial shot emaciated both lungs and heart, hence standing dead.

It seems to me though some goats do suck up the lead !

[bforce750]

Goats are definately harder to drop.

[Amphibious]

pound for pound I'd go with the goat.

[Mountain Man]

Goats for sure !!!!!!!!

[tomahawk]

Goats are definately harder to drop.

Agree.............

[goatdancer]

Goats for sure. Many have twitched their way off a cliff, even with normally mortal wounds.

[todbartell]

I've seen five elk shot (all mature bulls), average distance they went after being hit has been about 20 yards. Longest runner was 75 yards shot with a 6mm Rem & 100gr Nosler Partititon through the heart. Short dashes with 300 Win Mag & 180gr Accubond or 8mm Rem Mag & 200gr TSX and dropped in the tracks with 30-06 & 165gr Accubond and 300 Win Mag & 168gr TSX.

[Kody94]

If elk lived in the cliffs, everybody would think they were tougher than nails too.

I don't really think there is much difference. I think it ALL comes down to shot placement, and circumstance.

On that note, I've killed about 24 head of African game (including 5 cape buffalo), and despite all the stories of how tough they are, I don't really think they are any tougher than N.A. game when it comes right down to it.

[swampthing]

I would say that goats are harder to put down. I think the problem is that they dont take off running like an elk. This might make it take a little longer to loose blood pressure and pass out. Just a theory.

[killer_shot]

goats arnt tough they're just suicidal !

[MattW]

If elk lived in the cliffs, everybody would think they were tougher than nails too.

I don't really think there is much difference. I think it ALL comes down to shot placement, and circumstance.

On that note, I've killed about 24 head of African game (including 5 cape buffalo), and despite all the stories of how tough they are, I don't really think they are any tougher than N.A. game when it comes right down to it.
I agree on both the elk and the African game

[bearslayer01]

At Least An Elk Wont Jump Off A Cliff So I Cant Get Ity Goats Are Ass Holes

[porcupine]

Every pro guide that I've asked this question has said that goats are the hardest to drop with one shot. And every guide has told me they are tougher than grizzlies. I've only shot two elk and one goat so I will go with their opinion.

[sherpa-Al]

My friend and I went out this weekend to try and fill his goat tag. We spotted a nice billy and started climbing. We found him up on a slick rockface and my friend decided to take the shot with his 25-06. At 125 yards that Billy goat took the first shot through the lungs. He spun around and took another through the lungs, both times merely flinching at the impact. With the long hair he showed very little blood to indicate that he had been hit. We waited for what seemed like an eternity for him to tip, nothing. He decided to hit him again, this time in the neck and of course he went down. When the butchering started there were 3 pass through holes, two in the lungs and one in the neck. The neck shot had no signs of blood, the goat had bled out and was still standing. This has been quite common on the goat hunts that I've been on, goats can take a lot of heat through the boiler room and keep on going, possibly due to their great sense of balance? IME a heart/lung shot first and then a heavy bone shot for the follow-up works well on these tough guys. I have't killed an elk yet so I can't comment, but for me the goat gets top prize.

[.330 Dakota]

I broke a front shoulder on a goat, took out both lungs and blew an exit the size of a football out the offside ribs with a 225grn TTSX bullet at 286 yards with a 338.(1st shot)
Then I shot him 2 more times to keep him down, he just wouldnt die

[Jagernut]

Goat...definately goat x2. I don't think it boils down to the rifle calibre...maybe it's just that you're dealing with an animal that lives on lichens in a harsh environment and plows snow with his chest...just a tough SOB, that's all.

[koothunter]

Shot my first goat 2 weeks ago. 5 shots with 150gr before he fell. First one a double lunger at ~100yds, then 10 minutes later 4 more through the shoulders/vitals at 30yds. Very little blood in the snow after shot #1. So far goat gets my vote.

[BlacktailStalker]

I've killed both with one shot.

I like this topic.
I cant think of anything I havent killed with one shot in the last couple years.
Both an elk and goat fell to one 168gr tsx this year (as well as a mulie)

SHOT PLACEMENT! Stop over thinking this.

[guest]

Goat.

Ct