310 vs. 340...

[Lowedog]

Thanks bud!    
Ya'll know how it is to have a very coveted tag and you want to make the most of it?  You want that feeling that when you drive out of the unit for the last time that season with a tag notched or just driving out on the last day that you gave it your all and you had an awesome hunt?  That's the feeling I'm looking for...

I really don't want to come out of there with a bull in the back of the pickup thinking to myself "man that's a good bull, but I know I could've done better...."

Guess I'm looking for more of a support group than anything hahaha

Michael

Michael, took me 10 years to draw the late buck tag that I drew last year.  I went into that hunt with a thought that if I see a buck I like I would go after him.  I tried not to think of a score.  I had 18 days to get it done and I hit it hard.  Never had a doubt in my mind I would find what I was after.  I never saw that buck I liked.  Passed on a few that most wouldn't and ended up taking about a 23" wide, tall 3 point on my last day.  I watched that buck for about 6 hours before deciding to shoot.  I had lots of time to reflect on my hunt while watching him and decided that I had had a hunt of a lifetime and he was meat in the freezer and a nice rack to look at once in awhile and remember that I had waited 10 years to kill that buck.

My advice, enjoy the hunt!

-Mark

[270Shooter]

Would you kill this one?

[bucklucky]

Thats fine MichaelJ! That would be a nice bull to kill!

[270Shooter]

I was thinking that was about a 320'' bull

[bucklucky]

Id say closer to 305??

[270Shooter]

Yea I guess, he has pretty short mains, and all of his tines are fairly short. compared to his body size.

[Crowns]

300 even.  Quickest way to compare the two are the thirds imo.  Yeah I know there are exceptions but thirds are hard to score high on, if hes a decent 6 (make sure his fifths are at least seven inches or so and not just little whale tails) and has decent thirds then hes 320.

[270Shooter]

Then whats this one??

[270Shooter]

Ooops don't know why there are 2 of them

[MichaelJ]

270Shooter,
Not on the first day.  I'd look at that bull and say "Man he's a nice bull, but I'd put him around 310 at BEST and I won't be happy with that bull the first weekend.  Entirely too many 300" bulls in the unit to shoot one opening weekend..."  (hopefully lol)

That second bull you posted I'd guess around 350" and he'd be a first light first day shooter EASY!

Now on the 2nd to last or last weekend I'd be looking REAL hard at that first bull...

And no, like I said in my original post, I've NEVER killed a bull elk, never had a branched tag  before.  Also, I'd rather take a 320 heavy 6" than a spindly 320 7 point.  If I see a bull like that one I posted on the first page that only grosses 320, he's a gonner for sure.  Thats like what Lowedog is talking about, if I see the bull that I like, score won't matter he'll have a 165 grn sierra gameking headed his way!  

Moss no worries, if I get that 400" bull down you'll be the first to hear! haha

Michael

[DOUBLELUNG]

Bucklucky will come pack it up out of Snake River canyon, right?

[elkoholic1]

idk  that bull looks deciveing, not real heavy but real good tine length i put him over 300 id guess 310-315

[coachcw]

wheres that second bull from , his genetics look famillar?

[bucklucky]

Oak creek I believe. I think he died but I could be wrong.

[jagermiester]

If I were you I would go out hunting and take the best situation who cares about the inches.  You have your whole life to kill a monster bull.  Some situations are better than others and if you find a bull you like make a stalk and do everything right for a clean kill why would you pass that up. I hope you have some good friends to share this experience with.  I would rather kill a cow elk with my dad or brother than a 340 bull by myself