MT Bull of a lifetime (Update)
 

Well not sure way to even begin. All the stars aligned fri @ 1130 am. We had just gotten done eating lunch and decided to head up a saddle. We cut 3 fresh elk tracks. One set went to the left, two went to the right. I headed to the left up hill. One of my buddies headed to the right and one headed straight ahead. I followed the track up the hill about 300 yds and found really fresh droppings. Thats when I slowed way down knowing they could be close. I started through the timber and bam theres an elk 70 yds in front of me. I froze and realized he was feeding and had no clue I was there. I decided to try and sneak another 10 yds closer to find an opening through the branches. I leaned my rifle up against a tree and found his shoulder and squeezed. He lunged forward and twirled and headed right for me. He put on the breaks upon seeing me. Now he's facing me I decided I'm not taking a chance and put the crosshairs below his chin and squeezed another one. He dropped in his tracks. Still at this point I had no clue how big he was until I walked up to him. I started shaking and couldnt talk. I tried several times to call back to my buddies but couldn't get it out unitl about the 5th try.

There are no words to explain what happened up there. To shoot a bull of this caliber the last weekend of season on public land is well words can't explain. Not much into scoring so I don't really know. He has 11.5 inch bases and the 4ths are 22.5 inches. My buddy said he definately over 340 but I'm not sure.

I was the only one able to connect on an elk but they took some nice mulies and 1 nice whitetail doe. The sweetest part this was all public land.

Awesome bull and congrats man, great job!!

Excellent.

Wow, what a hunt! Congrats on your bull! Definitely a hunt to remember!

Congrats! Great bull.

Beautiful Bull. It doesn't look as though you were hunting South of Bozeman, but if you were, you also managed to avoid being eaten by a grizz.

That is a really, really good bull. Without having actual measurements of the length of the main beam it isn't possible to guess the actual score, but it will go at least 340. For an unguided public land bull, this one will be very hard to beat anywhere.

For what it is worth, I used to hang around a guy that was an official measurer for Boone and Crockett. He told me a couple quick ways to look at a 6x6 bull in the field to see if it would be close to making book. He said all the points should look about as big around at the base as the bull's eye is and that all the lower points need to be at least 18 inches long. It goes without saying that the points need to be symmetrical and can't be broken much, if it is missing the bull most likely won't make book due to deductions. The average big bull is about 14 inches from the eye to the tip of the nose so that makes an easy reference point to determine tine length. He said the major thing to look for is the "Y" formed by the 5th and 6th point. It that "Y" is as far between the points as the 4th point is long (it should be the longest point on the rack and is called the sword point) then the bull is either going to make the book or be really close as long as the main beams aren't too short. Main beams of 49-50 inches, which your bull looks to have, will do it.

Your bull is very, very good. If I was elk hunting and found that bull I'd be shooting as soon as I had a good shot. Well Done!

Well my friends insisted on putting the tape to him. I was curious too since they debated back and forth all night. So we said lets do it. By no means are we official measurers. So it could be less or more. He had matching 51 3/4 main beams, inside spread of 39, and the swords were 20 3/4. His measurements between the first and second points were 10 1/4. We grossed him at 358. Still hasn't sunk in yet. I went out and drank my cup of coffee this morn just looking at him thinking I wouldn't have ever imagined ever shooting a bull like this. Just shows in could happen to anyone.

Ron I was west of Judith Pass.

congrats on your great bull
RR

That right there is a GREAT bull elk! :jaw: You were blessed.

Beautiful public lands bull. That would be a trophy of a lifetime for me. Great story too. You should be very proud of your acomplishment. I hope he eats great.

How did you get him out in one piece?

I would be very proud of your bull and he'll look fantastic on your wall. Congrats

Most people don't have a wall that would fit a rack that large.

Amazing effort mate

Awesome....fantastic bull.

Thanks guys still can't believe it. I got him processed and caped. Muley we cut him in two and put both halves in a deep game sled. 3 guys pulled and two pushed. Only had to go 1 1/2 miles. Had a biologist agae him at 8-10 yrs old.

Great looking bull. Just started hunting last year and have taken white tails and hogs. Elk hunting is on soon to hunt list. Hopefully within the next couple of years. Still after that whitetail trophy. I hunt in New York and there are no elks where I hunt so I would have to travel to hunt one. Really looking forward to doing so.

Well done!

I need your guys opinion. I have the bull ready for a euro mount that I was gonna do this weekend. My buddies tell me I'm crazy for not getting him mounted. They said my chances of shooting an elk like this on public land are slim to none. So I caped him just in case I change my mind later on. What do you guys think?

Shoulder mount for sure !



+1 LOL !!!


Congrats on a great bull.

I would mount him. I got a great big old bull I decided to do europea mount. You know by looking at the rack he's big but he'd look a lot bigger on a mount.

Well done and thanks for sharing.

Pedastal mount!

Personally I hate European mounts.

Congrats on the bull.

Congrats. Very nice bull. HD.

Congrats on that magnificent bull. i agree don't go Euro with him. He will be a rare occurrence at least for yourself and ask yourself this question. Would you rather look back on this accomplishment and see a skull and rack or would you rather see the elk, the color of his cape and all.

Congratulations on a great bull. It gets harder every year to find a bull of that quality, especially on public land. On a bull of that caliber, I would recommend a shoulder mount over a European mount any day.

That is a beautiful elk. He deserves a shoulder mount. Euro wouldn't do him justice.

I don't know how I missed this thread until now, but as soon as I saw that picture my immediate thought was it's as big as my buddie's 357 3/8" 2010 Wyoming bull and might even break 360". I'm glad you measured him, as I was real close. In no way would I even think about a Euro Mount on that big rascal. It would either be a wall shoulder mount or a pedestal mount, which is how my buddy had his done and it turned out awesome. His taxi also drilled out the rack and put rods in the head so that both sides can be taken off if you want to move it since it's so big it won't go through most doors with them on. Your bull is one in many thousands taken on a public land hunt---Congratulations!!!

What a beast! Congrats to you on this memorable hunt! I agree that a euromount would not give it much justice...

Well guys I did both. I finished the euro last night and put it on a pedestal. I did however cape him out and it's gonna be tanned for future mounting. I just don't have the money right now to have a shoulder mount done, plus I might be moving to anohter state. I think it turned out well though.

You need a bigger room. :)

***Maybe that"s why he may be moving, but from all the good things I've heard about Bozeman I think moving would be hard to take.

I have to agree it looks good I am just the type of guy that would preffer the shoulder mount better that is all. Who knows sense you saved the cape you may end up there with him once a little better cash flow comes around.. None the less Congrats again..

Yeah it's gonna be tough to leave if I do. Hunting around he is good, but for the town itself. I mine as well live in CA.

I'm going to guess you haven't lived in Calif?

I know what you mean.
I have always enjoyed visiting Bozeman but don't think I'd care to live there.

i've never been there, but it can't be as bad as Calif? It's still Montana.

I've visited family enough in CA to know I never want to live there, well maybe northern CA. But thats a stretch.