Mother nature is a bitch!

[Hilljackoutlaw]

I watched this bull from about 400 yards away today and take his last steps and die from winter kill. Sad to watch but mother nature takes her toll. I checked his teeth and they were pretty much not existant.

 

[teej89]

Wow man! That's something you'll never forget, I can't imagine many people get to witness that.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

I couldnt believe it. I sat there by myself and said "did he just frigging die" no way!

 

[huronmtns]

Very rare moment indeed! I have never heard of a person witnessing that natural passing of a wild animal before.

 

[Tradewind]

how old would you guess?

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

how old would you guess?

I would say definitely over 9 based on teeth.

 

[Southern Elk]

Did you saw his antlers off or were they about to shed?

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

One fell off and the other popped right off when I grabbed it.

Did you saw his antlers off or were they about to shed?

 

[WildWill]

Bitter sweet I'm sure but the scavengers and birds will eat well and life will continue. Pretty cool experience thanks for sharing.

 

[Tradewind]

I would say definitely over 9 based on teeth.

I would guess he beat the odds. Wonder what the odds are of a bull on public land
surviving past 9 yrs

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

I would guess he beat the odds. Wonder what the odds are of a bull on public land
surviving past 9 yrs

I am not 100% but I think we have him on trail camera in 2016 then again in 2019. If not it's a really similar bull. With that S curve towards his 5th and 6th points.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

He looks kinda fat, but his spine was very defined and his ribs were pretty defined also. It was one of the crappiest things I've watched in nature as he tried to get up but just couldnt.

 

[Dsnow9]

That is crazy!

 

[406LIFE]

Cool to see, even more that you got pics to share with us. Hunters get to experience far more than other, more casual observers in nature. A privilege.

 

[antlerradar]

That is not the way many winter kill. I wonder if he had a heart attack or an aneurysm. I remember the winter kill north of Gardiner in 91. There was dead elk everywhere and many of them took a long time to die judging by the piles poop behind them.

 

[zpooch]

Man that's rare and probably hard to watch at the same time

 

[jeremys4]

Blow and midget strippers will be our demise

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

That is not the way many winter kill. I wonder if he had a heart attack or an aneurysm. I remember the winter kill north of Gardiner in 91. There was dead elk everywhere and many of them took a long time to die judging by the piles poop behind them.

We had a very mild winter here in this part of the state and they seemed to start migrating a little early. So i think a combination of old age and lack of quality food right now once he got up higher was his demise. Plus I dont know how he ate anything with his nubs for teeth. There was 7 other bulls another hill over about 3/4s a mile from him. He probably tried to keep up with them and didnt have it in him.

Three of the other bulls. 2 of them shed obviously.

 

[JMG]

Wow … to actually witness the natural order. I find it interesting the depth of the snow that bull was traversing.

 

[SG25]

That's crazy! I see antlers, but were you able to take the meat as well?