What's your minimum--

[csutton7]

Bull that is---when out hunting do you have a standard you try to adhere to when it comes to horn size??

like mr spike is going down when I see him

or

mr raghorn is toast

or

got to be a 5x5

or

6x6 or nothing

or

big 5x5 or or big 6x6 or I'm eating grass----


these days I'm a big 5x5 or 6x6, but that could change in a heartbeat also--but I do try to keep to my standards when hunting--chris

 

[OSOK]

The typical places I hunt, you're looking at a 3 mile minimum pack out on your back. Not worth the effort IMO, unless it's a 300 or better bull. Then again, I'm talking Colorado elk here. Maybe that's the reason I havn't shot one for a few years!

 

[elkfarmer]

for me, i would say it is everything involed in the hunt. i mean, i drive out to Co. 1800 miles, to a place where i have seen 1 6x6 shot. I am shooting the first leagal bull i see. But if i go to a spot that 300 inches are are more common i plan to hold out.

 

[sneakem]

Colorado---They get bigger the closer they are to the roads...LOL At least to me... nice raghorn 1/2 mile from a road looks like a 400 bull
I think that 270+ for me(archery) Other states I would raise or lower my standards accordingly. Hard to kill nice bulls in CO other than the quality units...

 

[noharleyyet]

If I'm drawn this year it will be an either sex tag for 1st rifle in Colorado...I agree with Elkfarmer on the long drive and limited time being a factor in a bull quality decision. Would probably take an obvious legal bull since it would be my first. I'm just not sure whether or not to take a cow or when to take one. Would a cow be like a last day situation for any of you guys?

 

[KC]

5x5 or better

I've killed nine Colorado bull elk. The first was a spike, in 1990. Since then all have been 5x5 or small 6x6. I've let a lot of small bulls walk. Still hoping for a big 6x6 or bigger.

But I've killed twice as many cows as bulls. Nothing tastes better to me than a thick, juicy elk steak.

KC

 

[The Hedgehog]

They have to be "big enough" for me and that's all that matters. Would depend on where I was hunting. Since 94, I've taken 11 elk, average 325, last 5 years average 340. Would like to think I'm getting pickier, but probably just luckier. Do know that if I was hunting certain places, my standards would probably be a whole lot higher starting out, but that might change during the course of the hunt.

 

[Ironhead]

I will chase the big boys the first week and the last 3 days are any thing goes, I can't live on tuna fish!

 

[tufferthandug]

90% of the time the regulations in British Columbia, says that it has to be 6 points on one side or greater. So its not like I have a choice. I'd rather eat moose meat anyways so I would prefer something over 300 (with 6 or more on 1 side)

 

[schmalts]

it depend on where i am hunting. If i drew a tag in UT i would hold out for a 360 for the first half of the hunt. Same with AZ i guess. I havent shot much out west so i am at least trying to out-do myself every year.

 

[AZ402]

In my experience numbers have ruined more hunts than just about anything else. A lot of guys come out with expectations of monster bulls. They want 350+ or nothing. Most have never seen a 300 let alone a 350. If you told them a 300 was a 350 they'd shoot it. If they never had it scored they'd be happy as can be.

I've seen guys very dissapointed over just a few inches.

 

[JoseCuervo]

It is all variable depending on where you are. Year before last, Moosie and I were 4 hours from a road with a couple of big hills to climb on the way out. We saw a spike and a raghorn 4x4. I told him if he was going to shoot, he better shoot the one with the SMALL body....

 

[Larry Landgren]

Heres the kinda bulls we hold out for.

grossed 435 with a 5' inside spread taken off the hualapai res a few years back.

 

[DeerKing]

300 minimum

 

[Bambistew]

4" browtine in bow season... and 4.5" in rifle season...

Anymore I'd rather shoot a cow than a dink raghorn/spike though, same goes with deer... it takes just as much work to get one out, and the rack isn't really a braggn piece... I can't say that I've gotten to the point that elk hunting has gotten too easy for me yet and I need to try to go for a bigger bull or nothing. I enjoy the hunt no matter what I kill and no mater what the size. I guess I take each hunting day as they come...

I suppose if I still lived in MT, I'd have a little higher standard... but with limited time to even hunt back home anymore, I'll take what I can get...

 

[wapiti2]

horns are nice to show off and brag about, but for me its all about the meat

 

[Boman]

well for me it depends on where I'm hunting and how many tags I have. Most places just a somehwhat mature bull 5x5 or better. But if I don't have an extra cow tag that year then I'll have a legal raghorn. Last year I passed on pretty decent 5x6 on a backpack hunt and so did my hunting buddy. We were pretty far back in there and we decided we wanting something bigger than what we've taken. So I guess it all depends.

 

[cmiddleton]

depends on if i get drawn where i'd like to hunt its big but if i have to go general tag its the first leagal elk. the area i wont needs to be scouted this year the one i wonted got shot last year maybe i'll find his kids

 

[1_pointer]

For me any legal bull is big enough as I've not shot one yet. With my draw luck this year, looks like I might be trying ID for a bull this year. Just have to decide where...

 

[Ithaca 37]

After about 50 of them my minimum requirement is a B&C Record Book bull standing in the road I'm driving my pickup on. He has to be within 20 feet of a tree that will be suitable for hanging him in while I skin him.