Welcome to the site Mavsled, nice story and pics. Having never hunted for spike elk before, only branched antler, maybe you and the others can explain what constitutes a "spike" like your bull, I have seen several other bull pics that the antlers are branched a little. Why isn't this considered a 2 point? I'm not suggesting anything either, I seriously have no idea 
My bull, taken Opening Saturday of general season after 4 days hunting during my special tag early season, was a 3x3, not 2pt or spike on one side, doesn't come close to being a spike. Look at my partner's bull, that is your typical spike elk antler configuration.
As mentioned, if there had been snow forecast for early mid-week of the general season, I would probably have passed and held out for a big migrating mature bull from the William O Douglas wilderness (Mt Aix, Bismarck Peak herds).
After the one shot, perfect heart-lung area placement; 2 of the points broke off as my bull slid-tumbled 40 yards down thru the trees-brush and onto a darn near vertical rock slide for another 55 yards. I'm sure the heads over heels tumble down the rock slide broke off the points on the elk's left antler. Strange, all 3 points were up on both upper beams, no eye guards. I've taken two 3 point EA WA bulls before but they both had eye guards, mid points and then the tips polished white.
Anyways, after drawing an any bull Bethel tag, I was happy to tag one in this season's bluebird weather; sunny day temps in the 60's, over night temps in the low 30's (the only blessing, low overnight temps).
