I'm curious why you would consider this bull dying of old age a huge waste? In my opinion, today's world of technology in hunting, I think its pretty rare for a bull like that to make it to old age and die naturally.
I really feel that if thats what happened, it's a wonderful thing that the bull lived a full life avoiding predators and spread his genes just like he's supposed to. 
You must have never eaten antler stew, its delicious. The bigger the better, heck some guys only eat the horns and give the rest of the elk away.
