Quality Elk Expectations

[NWWA Hunter]

To me a trophy is in the eyes of the beholder.  I have yet to get a huge elk.  I am a meat/ trophy hunter.  I hunt out of state and meat hunt my lessor draws and general tags and trophy hunt my special draws. My best elk is a 300" bull from Colorado that I worked my but off for.  That and my 4 point Roosevelt in Alaska I killed myself for to me are very special.  But you cant kill a monster by killing the smaller ones the first day.  For me it depends on the area. Last year my dad had a rut hunt in one of the top units in Utah.  He was holding out for that monster and had I had that tag I would have too. But if the unit produces only as good as a 320" bull then I would be looking in that 280-320 range. I used to think that guys who killed smaller animals than the unit could produce wasted it.  But now ive changed as if they are happy its their tag to do as they wish(although I have seen guys travel across state lines to very good units to kill 2pts).

[Elkgetr2]

For me it would be any mature bull that came within archery range as I have only gotten a cow with my bow thus far. Depending on what region you are hunting the mature bulls will cover a very big point range..

[jess]

well i think that depends on what part of the state the quality tag was for.. Yakima herd 300-330 bull, clockum herd 330-340 bull, blue moutains 350+, west side of cascades 300, rosevelt west of I-5 250-300 bull but any nice 5 point hits the dirt.. But those are just what i would go after.. A trophy is different for everyone!!!!!

[huntnnw]

It totally matters what GMU you have a tag for..I put in for blues tags and I would NEVER shoot the first legal elk(unless 350"  )..why put in all those years for a bull tag? obvious its not about antlers for you...u could just put in for high % cow tags

[Button Nubbs]

General tag I'm shootin the first 3 I see.

Permit tag really depends on the unit, but I'm waiting for a 320 bull to shoulder mount. But I guess that's the beauty of hunting the wetside, it could happen permit or not.

[norsepeak]

what would you guys score this guy at?  And would he make you happy?  Took the client 14 points to draw this tag, and he wanted a "nice" bull.  He was very happy on the second day of his hunt.

[Button Nubbs]

No idea what it would score but it is a sweet bull, I'd like a nice symmeterical 6x6 and that missing g1 might make me pass on day two of basically an oil hunt. But I do like elk steak so who knows.

[pendoreilleadventures]

Looks between 320-330

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[carpsniperg2]

With him missing that front tine I would guess him 320. I would for sure let the air out of him. Then again you know me and I will let the air out of any legal elk

[Tbar]

what would you guys score this guy at?  And would he make you happy?  Took the client 14 points to draw this tag, and he wanted a "nice" bull.  He was very happy on the second day of his hunt.

I have a tough time with camera angles. I can't get 300 with the missing tine. I'm going to say 285. I might be way off and congrats to the hunter, regardless of score it's a great bull. If he  was happy expectations met. To answer the second half of your question (would it make me happy?) Yes, I'm happy with any bull.

[NWWA Hunter]

I'm thinking the same as t bar or a few inches higher

[NWWA Hunter]

And I would be happy depending on the hunt. But that's just me and I get more opportunity so I have made a choice to be picky. I also can only go through so much meat a year so I don't need to load my freezer too much as I never want to waste.

[JPhelps]

285ish with the missing point,  300 with it. 

[grundy53]

General tag I'm shootin the first 3 I see.

Permit tag really depends on the unit, but I'm waiting for a 320 bull to shoulder mount. But I guess that's the beauty of hunting the wetside, it could happen permit or not.

 

[coachcw]

290 a fine representation of your standard eastside bull