Last April a Montana mushroom hunter found the carcass of a 439 inch bull Elk on public land in the area of a former Forest Service controlled burn. It is unclear or unknown if the fire got him or if he was already on the ground. He is a brute.
That's huge! I'll also have to say that the guy holding the antlers has to be tiny. Add in the "big fish" photo effect and that does even more.
This shot has been on my computer for years. It was taken by a BLM employee in the Bitteroot Mountains of Montana in August 2000. I think it’s a great shot ‘‘twas why I saved the image.
This is my late cousin. He harvested this 300+ inch (can’t remember the exact score) in The Bob Marshall Wilderness just south of Montana’s Glacier National Park. My cuz had forgotten his lunch and was walking back to camp noonish when this guy stepped into a clearing at 150 yards as he was nearing camp. He called it the “camp bull”.
That pic with your cousin is awesome. One of these years I'll start putting in for elk tags. Definitely on my list of things to do. Some of these western hunts are not doable when you get too old.
I have been in many Cabela’s stores and spent hours gazing at the mounts on the walls. Some 400+ elk. I don’t remember seeing one 439,,
That all depends on how much you are willing to spend on an outfitter. Far as points go, you'll probably be underground before you accrue enough for a public land hunt anyway and I'd never hunt on public land alone or with friends. I always do outfitted hunts which usually requires a minimum of draw points, but for a quality outfitter who has scouted ahead of time and knows where the animals are, expect to pay around 10 grand, maybe more depending on the outfitter and the species you want to hunt. I prefer lodge hunts but I can do heated wall tents with a cook for meals if necessary. I've done some dandy hunts in New Mexico, Montana and Nebraska. It's not a poor man's hobby. Guy across the road hunted public land in Montana, same time we did an outfitted lodge hunt. I came back with a 10 point Mulie and he came back with a chest cold from sleeping in a tent on the ground. I slept in a real bed with clean linens and a hot shower every night plus a fantastic cook. It all depends on your wallet and what you want convenience wise. For me, it's not the hunt itself but 'being there', especially with my hunting buds as well all hunt together all the time. I can come back with no animal (and have) and been just as happy either way. Like I tell people, after the harvest, the work and expense begins. Most times the outfitter will process the game but the mount and cost are yours plus you have to pay to have the carcass butchered and frozen for the trip home. I have no issue helping out and getting my hands bloody, pert of the experience at least for me and I always do cape mounts, never European so a cape mount always cost more and usually I have a reputable taxidermist the outfitter recommends locally, do the mount and ship it to me. I average between 1000 and 1500 for a mount, shipping not included and when I hunt in Montana, I have Powder River Taxidermists do my mounts. Top shelf outfit and the mount exactly the way I want them too. Usually takes an average of a year to get a mount finished and shipped to me.
I say F the points system states. Reading about that system tells me it's a BS system. I'm fine with other western game too. I hear it's pretty easy to get tags to hunt antelope on some states.
Ever eat any????? I pass on them constantly. Easy to get tags because most hunters aren't interested, me included.
Actually yes, I've had it. Those were the best hot dogs I've ever had. Also, recently, I watched a meat eater episode filmed in Wyoming, near Casper and Steve Rinella had some great ideas on how to cook antelope. He even mentioned the misconception that many mention about antelope meat. On my September cross country road trip out to California and back, I saw a ton of antelope. they are amazing creatures. We started overnight in Casper, and the antelope would just hang out on the outskirts of the city. Some right across the street from the hotel even. Yeah, to an extent. You don't need to play by the states rules that pull that crap, and simply go elsewhere.
I’d much rather eat antelope than deer, especially doe antelope. A group of friends and myself used to go on an annual antelope doe hunt in Wyoming, haven’t been able to draw the last 3 years. Last year there was 9000 more nonresident antelope applications than the previous year… somebody besides our group wants to hunt and eat em!
I bet I could cook you up a mess of antelope and you’d be asking for seconds. I’ve seen it several times with my buddies. Us: you want to try a little bit of this? New acquaintance: no thanks, I don’t really care for antelope. Us: you sure you don’t want a piece? New acquaintance: oh ok I’ll try a small piece. New acquaintance 10 minutes later : hey! Is there any of that antelope left? That chit is pretty good! seen it many times.
I'm a fan of it, and not one that believes the folk lore that it isn't good. Those seriously were the best hot dogs I've ever had. I'd probably have most of my first antelope made into hot dogs. I'd leave just enough not made into hot dogs to try some other recipes. That would probably have me back out to get another 'lope in the near future. I was just saying that I haven't yet been an out of stater that gobbled up the antelope tags in Wyoming. Also, in the last few days, I looked at a few guided hunts for muley's elk or antelope. The prices I was seeing were really not that bad. All things considered.
