If you are going to walk up and down any of those mountains in Idaho hunting elk, consider fashioning a walking stick- either on sight, or at home- to use for support, and then practice using that stick to support your gun in field shooting positions, too. I have found it very easy- with practice- to assume a supported position using my sticks, standing, kneeling, and sitting, even on steeply angled hillsides. The practice is to let you always be thinking ahead of where you need to place the base of the stick to give you the best support for your shot.
No, you won't be making shots at running Elk with a walking stick to brace, but I hope you would not consider such a shot on Elk, with a bow, or gun.
As for range the .54 is quite capable of killing elk well past 100 yds. using a RB. However, its your ability to shoot iron sights that is in question in determining the maximum range you will fire a shot at an Elk. That may differ depending on time of day, and light conditions, NO? Personally, I would want to keep my shots at Elk using iron sights and a .54 cal. rifle shooting RBs to 75 yards or less. That is twice the range most bow hunters will be comfortable shooging at live game, and if you are as experienced at taking Elk with a Bow, you should have an advantage over others in getting close enough for a clean kill shot.
:hatsoff: :hatsoff: