Comments on: World Record Elk from Texas? http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/ Behind the Scenes at King's Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:29:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: MIKE DAYTON http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-205178 Wed, 14 May 2008 21:14:27 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-205178 I WOULD SAY ONE ASPECT THAT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED WITH THIS GREAT BULL...CLIMATE.THE WEATHER IS SO MUCH MILDER IN TEXAS THAT THE BULL DID NOT SUFFER THE HARDSHIPS OF A WESTERN BULL ELK.I YHINK THAT IS A HUGE FACTOR IN HIS ABILITY TO GROW SUCH A GREAT RACK.THE TERRAIN IS PROBABLY GREAT HABITAT FOR ELK.WE ALL KNOW THAT ELK WERE ORIGINALLY PLAINS DWELLERS.IDREAM OF TAKING A 375 BULL ON PUBLIC LAND HERE IN IDAHO.IT DOES HAPPEN HOWEVER RARE.MY PERSONEL BEST IS 330.IM STILL SEARCHING FOR BIGGER! I WOULD SAY ONE ASPECT THAT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED WITH THIS GREAT BULL…CLIMATE.THE WEATHER IS SO MUCH MILDER IN TEXAS THAT THE BULL DID NOT SUFFER THE HARDSHIPS OF A WESTERN BULL ELK.I YHINK THAT IS A HUGE FACTOR IN HIS ABILITY TO GROW SUCH A GREAT RACK.THE TERRAIN IS PROBABLY GREAT HABITAT FOR ELK.WE ALL KNOW THAT ELK WERE ORIGINALLY PLAINS DWELLERS.IDREAM OF TAKING A 375 BULL ON PUBLIC LAND HERE IN IDAHO.IT DOES HAPPEN HOWEVER RARE.MY PERSONEL BEST IS 330.IM STILL SEARCHING FOR BIGGER!

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: Chris Meyers http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-194329 Fri, 02 May 2008 16:57:29 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-194329 This is a very nice bull in anyone's standards. I can tell you one thing. If I arrowed this bull I sure wouldn't care if it made the books or not. I'd love to have this one on MY wall. I have hunted and shot elk all my life and never even came close to seeing one this big. Very Very Nice. This is a very nice bull in anyone’s standards. I can tell you one thing. If I arrowed this bull I sure wouldn’t care if it made the books or not. I’d love to have this one on MY wall. I have hunted and shot elk all my life and never even came close to seeing one this big. Very Very Nice.

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: brad http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-179807 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:51:39 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-179807 Take a real hard look at why you hunt,think about it. If all bulls had 12 inch spikes and they never got any bigger,,,ever,,,regardless of where they lived or how old they were would you still hunt elk? Sure you would because elk are one of the most fabulous animals in the world to hunt,,,, so,,,, why are we so hung up on the size of their antlers??? We could have used body weight as the criteria for the best trophy or maybe the age of each animal,,, why do we use horn size? BECAUSE,,, horns are easy to see,,, they last forever on your wall or in your garage and there is a lot of variation depending on age,genetics,location etc. in other words horns are cool. Everytime I look at some of the horns from some of the bulls I've killed it takes me back to that time,that place on that mountain,,,maybe in the shivering cold,,, maybe day10 of a 12 day solo hunt, maybe within easy walk of my pickup,but always one of the most exciting times of my life and I really mean that! We as hunters are losing our way. This sport we do is NOT,NOT,NOT about who can kill some hifence,lowfence,penraised kind of nonethical but maybe legal elk with huge bone on his head,no man it's about the experience. We have become too hung up on score and are losing the experience. Don't get me wrong,I have dedicated a large part of my life to trying to kill the biggest bulls I can but there is a lot of unethical stuff going on out there. Elk are way to cool an animal to be treated as a commodity. I wouldn't trade one of the bulls in my life for that Texas monster. If you, I mean you would kill that bull just to get his 400+ inches, not for the experience,,,,,,,then you really have no business taking an elks life at all ! Take a real hard look at why you hunt,think about it. If all bulls had 12 inch spikes and they never got any bigger,,,ever,,,regardless of where they lived or how old they were would you still hunt elk? Sure you would because elk are one of the most fabulous animals in the world to hunt,,,, so,,,, why are we so hung up on the size of their antlers??? We could have used body weight as the criteria for the best trophy or maybe the age of each animal,,, why do we use horn size? BECAUSE,,, horns are easy to see,,, they last forever on your wall or in your garage and there is a lot of variation depending on age,genetics,location etc. in other words horns are cool. Everytime I look at some of the horns from some of the bulls I’ve killed it takes me back to that time,that place on that mountain,,,maybe in the shivering cold,,, maybe day10 of a 12 day solo hunt, maybe within easy walk of my pickup,but always one of the most exciting times of my life and I really mean that! We as hunters are losing our way. This sport we do is NOT,NOT,NOT about who can kill some hifence,lowfence,penraised kind of nonethical but maybe legal elk with huge bone on his head,no man it’s about the experience. We have become too hung up on score and are losing the experience.
Don’t get me wrong,I have dedicated a large part of my life to trying to kill the biggest bulls I can but there is a lot of unethical stuff going on out there. Elk are way to cool an animal to be treated as a commodity. I wouldn’t trade one of the bulls in my life for that Texas monster. If you, I mean you would kill that bull just to get his 400+ inches, not for the experience,,,,,,,then you really have no business taking an elks life at all !

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: Dave varley http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-173992 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:40:34 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-173992 I'm a 60 year old from the East and I've hunted free range whitetail every year with the exception of when I was stationed in SE Asia in 1968. However after wanting to go Elk hunting out West for all my life and saving up considerable money I went only to find the outfitter had over stated the availability of elk in his area and understated the physical requirements of the hunt. My guide and I saw several from a quarter mile or so away, but never closer. Yes I trained; was I in good shape?; reasonably so for a 60 year old with typical joint pain and a little extra around the middle. So who has the right to tell me that if I choose to spend my money hunting elk where I am assured of the opportunity to "hunt" and shoot a reasonable bull that I'm wrong! To heck with your ethics! If you're such a purest why not put your .300 mag down and start hunting with a spear? I don't care how much you scout or how far you walk or how great physical condition you think you're in you don't speak for me! I'll be happy to hear the elk bugle and walk over what I'll be sure is a adequate area of 2,000 acres or more ( yes, my standard ) to find that bull and have reasonable assurance that I'll bring him home. I can't afford to spend the kind of money it takes to go many times from the East coast only to see them from a mile away. Even getting close and not getting a shot would have been something to remember. I’m a 60 year old from the East and I’ve hunted free range whitetail every year with the exception of when I was stationed in SE Asia in 1968. However after wanting to go Elk hunting out West for all my life and saving up considerable money I went only to find the outfitter had over stated the availability of elk in his area and understated the physical requirements of the hunt. My guide and I saw several from a quarter mile or so away, but never closer. Yes I trained; was I in good shape?; reasonably so for a 60 year old with typical joint pain and a little extra around the middle. So who has the right to tell me that if I choose to spend my money hunting elk where I am assured of the opportunity to “hunt” and shoot a reasonable bull that I’m wrong! To heck with your ethics! If you’re such a purest why not put your .300 mag down and start hunting with a spear? I don’t care how much you scout or how far you walk or how great physical condition you think you’re in you don’t speak for me! I’ll be happy to hear the elk bugle and walk over what I’ll be sure is a adequate area of 2,000 acres or more ( yes, my standard ) to find that bull and have reasonable assurance that I’ll bring him home. I can’t afford to spend the kind of money it takes to go many times from the East coast only to see them from a mile away. Even getting close and not getting a shot would have been something to remember.

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: jessica http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-167212 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:38:43 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-167212 to #78: a moose would win in a fight, they are much larger... to #78: a moose would win in a fight, they are much larger…

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: Jack Kilpatric http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-150915 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:47:45 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-150915 I just happened on this blog and would like to offer a few facts. I enjoyed a 28 year career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a Wildlife Biologist in the Tran-Pecos area of Texas. I began my career in 1967 and retired in 1995. When I first went to the area, there was an established herd of free ranging elk in the Glass Mountains originating from a stocking by Ira "Cap" Yates on the Iron Mountain Ranch in the 1940s. There was also another herd of free ranging elk in the Guadelupe Mountains stocked by J. C. Hunter in McKittrick Canyon, also in the '40s. In the late 1980s, wild trapped elk from Idaho were stocked in the Fox Canyon area of the Davis Mountains, and on the Bill Carter Ranch in the Wylie Mountains Southeast of Van Horn. By the time I retired., the Glass Mountain Herd had dispersed into the Del Norte Mountains southeast of Alpine, and were being seen ranging as far south as Elephant Mountain. Let me say here that just because I mention the word "ranch" , I am talking about cattle ranches, not game ranches. These elk were not confined and were free to go where ever they desired. This area of Texas, with its rugged mountains, should not be confused with the Hill Country of Texas 350 miles east where high fenced exotic ranches abound. During this period in time, the free ranging elk west of the Pecos River were considered game animals, and a permit was needed to legally harvest one. It is possible that at least some of the elk in the area of the CF Ranch moved in from the above listed successful stockings. I would congratulate the young man on collecting a fine trophy. If an animal taken fairly in this wild rugged area of Texas does not qualify for record book consideration, then no animal does. Also, I might mention that the chief predator of elk and mule deer in the Trans-Pecos is mountain lions, not coyotes. I just happened on this blog and would like to offer a few facts. I enjoyed a 28 year career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a Wildlife Biologist in the Tran-Pecos area of Texas.
I began my career in 1967 and retired in 1995. When I first went to the area, there was an established herd of free ranging elk in the Glass Mountains originating from a stocking by Ira “Cap” Yates on the Iron Mountain Ranch in the 1940s. There was also another herd of free ranging elk in the Guadelupe Mountains stocked by J. C. Hunter in McKittrick Canyon, also in the ’40s. In the late 1980s, wild trapped elk from Idaho were stocked in the Fox Canyon area of the Davis Mountains, and on the Bill Carter Ranch in the Wylie Mountains Southeast of Van Horn. By the time I retired., the Glass Mountain Herd had dispersed into the Del Norte Mountains southeast of Alpine, and were being seen ranging as far south as Elephant Mountain. Let me say here that just because I mention the word “ranch” , I am talking about cattle ranches, not game ranches. These elk were not confined and were free to go where ever they desired. This area of Texas, with its rugged mountains, should not be confused with the Hill Country of Texas 350 miles east where high fenced exotic ranches abound. During this period in time, the free ranging elk west of the Pecos River were considered game animals, and a permit was needed to legally harvest one. It is possible that at least some of the elk in the area of the CF Ranch moved in from the above listed successful stockings.

I would congratulate the young man on collecting a fine trophy. If an animal taken fairly in this wild rugged area of Texas does not qualify for record book consideration, then no animal does.

Also, I might mention that the chief predator of elk and mule deer in the Trans-Pecos is mountain lions, not coyotes.

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: texas owner http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-128747 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:24:19 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-128747 my family have been land owners 20 milles south of alpine tx for many generations.we have known of large elk herds not more than a few miles away for sometime now and we can't wait until they migrate to our land.the high fence comments are ridiculous because there are none. the land is vast,open, rugged and fertille. it is expensive to hunt these high quality animals but alot of different types of hunts are.but you better be ready to work hard for a trophy because that is the way it is for mule deer on our place. what a great bull and it should be considered for some sort of texas record. my family have been land owners 20 milles south of alpine tx for many generations.we have known of large elk herds not more than a few miles away for sometime now and we can’t wait until they migrate to our land.the high fence comments are ridiculous because there are none. the land is vast,open, rugged and fertille. it is expensive to hunt these high quality animals but alot of different types of hunts are.but you better be ready to work hard for a trophy because that is the way it is for mule deer on our place. what a great bull and it should be considered for some sort of texas record.

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: Chance http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-124232 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:44:07 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-124232 Very nice article and good investigation into this bull; however, I think that some facts should have been added by the writer, or maybe they were unknown. I am a federal law enforcement agent who lives in Alpine. Not only are there free ranging elk in the Guadalupe Mountains to the North of Alpine, but there are free ranging elk herds to the East in the Glass Mountains, and to the south near Terlingua around the Nine point Mesa Ranch (this ranch by the way is roughly 126,000 acres). The Cf ranch where this bull was killed is not high fenced, and I was told by a local guide (to remain anonymous) that he was actually taken near the entrance to the CF on top of the mountain on the O6 Ranch. These two ranches border each other and have a good working relationship. From what I've been told by locals, these elk heards were established in the 50's. How can you even think that they aren't free ranging? There are documented cases of motorists hitting them on the highways every year. If they aren't free roaming, how are they getting on the highways? I drive this part of the country often and have seen herds of these elk. Two weeks ago I saw 6 huge bulls near the roadside park between Alpine and Ft. Davis on the Calamity Creek Ranch. These same bulls roam bewteen the CF and O6 ranch. I saw a nice 6x6 last year about four miles from the junction of interstate 10 and Hwy 67 (Ft Stockton). That's about 60 miles from the CF Ranch! Hunting in this part of the country is extremely difficult and anyone who can shoot an animal like this, especially with a bow, should be commended. Several people have mentioned coyotes in their blogs. Look up how many cougars have been killed on the O6 Ranch and the CF alone. One of the Guides said that they have spotted this bull off and on for 6 years! He was definately not pen raised or high fenced. I guided hunters in CO. one year and see no difference in spotting a nice elk in a herd and taking a hunter to hunt it a few weeks later, than the way this animal was taken. Very nice article and good investigation into this bull; however, I think that some facts should have been added by the writer, or maybe they were unknown. I am a federal law enforcement agent who lives in Alpine. Not only are there free ranging elk in the Guadalupe Mountains to the North of Alpine, but there are free ranging elk herds to the East in the Glass Mountains, and to the south near Terlingua around the Nine point Mesa Ranch (this ranch by the way is roughly 126,000 acres). The Cf ranch where this bull was killed is not high fenced, and I was told by a local guide (to remain anonymous) that he was actually taken near the entrance to the CF on top of the mountain on the O6 Ranch. These two ranches border each other and have a good working relationship. From what I’ve been told by locals, these elk heards were established in the 50’s. How can you even think that they aren’t free ranging? There are documented cases of motorists hitting them on the highways every year. If they aren’t free roaming, how are they getting on the highways?
I drive this part of the country often and have seen herds of these elk. Two weeks ago I saw 6 huge bulls near the roadside park between Alpine and Ft. Davis on the Calamity Creek Ranch. These same bulls roam bewteen the CF and O6 ranch. I saw a nice 6×6 last year about four miles from the junction of interstate 10 and Hwy 67 (Ft Stockton). That’s about 60 miles from the CF Ranch!
Hunting in this part of the country is extremely difficult and anyone who can shoot an animal like this, especially with a bow, should be commended. Several people have mentioned coyotes in their blogs. Look up how many cougars have been killed on the O6 Ranch and the CF alone. One of the Guides said that they have spotted this bull off and on for 6 years! He was definately not pen raised or high fenced.
I guided hunters in CO. one year and see no difference in spotting a nice elk in a herd and taking a hunter to hunt it a few weeks later, than the way this animal was taken.

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: Texas_Jeff http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-123616 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:24:27 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-123616 Obviously the previous poster didn't read the entire article. There ARE wild elk in Texas. Just because you saw one elk behind one fence in Texas doesn't mean there aren't any free ranging elk here. In fact, there are free ranging elk here, and have been for MANY years. There are 254 counties in Texas, some of which are nearly as big as some small states. NOBODY can possibly be an expert on what wildlife exists in every part of every county. As for myself, I'm just waiting for Sasquatch season to open. Please don't bash others and say "im not sorry. you’re wrong", when it is a documented fact that elk live here in the wild. Obviously the previous poster didn’t read the entire article. There ARE wild elk in Texas.

Just because you saw one elk behind one fence in Texas doesn’t mean there aren’t any free ranging elk here. In fact, there are free ranging elk here, and have been for MANY years.

There are 254 counties in Texas, some of which are nearly as big as some small states. NOBODY can possibly be an expert on what wildlife exists in every part of every county. As for myself, I’m just waiting for Sasquatch season to open.

Please don’t bash others and say “im not sorry. you’re wrong”, when it is a documented fact that elk live here in the wild.

]]> Comment on World Record Elk from Texas? by: baby jesus http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-118865 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:34:50 +0000 http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/2006/01/23/world-record-elk-from-texas/#comment-118865 nothin killed on a high fence ranch should be considered a trophy. thats like a 'who can grow the biggest deer' contest. it's not huntin no matter what anyone says and it's not fair to the real hunters that don't pay $10,000 for every animal they harvest. look at the guy in the picture. he's not a real hunter. he's just some rich dude that wanted to kill an elk. so he went to the closest place, paid a few grand, and killed an elk. there's no such thing as elk hunting in texas because there is no free ranging elk in texas. as a matter of fact, just today on my way home from my deer lease in west texas, me and my dad saw a giant bull elk on the other side of a high fence. absolutely beautiful. it made me want to go elk hunting...but not in texas. in the mountains where it's hard to kill a record bull elk. i feel the same way about any high fence game. its like huntin dairy cows. and if i offend anyone...im not sorry. you're wrong. nothin killed on a high fence ranch should be considered a trophy. thats like a ‘who can grow the biggest deer’ contest. it’s not huntin no matter what anyone says and it’s not fair to the real hunters that don’t pay $10,000 for every animal they harvest. look at the guy in the picture. he’s not a real hunter. he’s just some rich dude that wanted to kill an elk. so he went to the closest place, paid a few grand, and killed an elk. there’s no such thing as elk hunting in texas because there is no free ranging elk in texas. as a matter of fact, just today on my way home from my deer lease in west texas, me and my dad saw a giant bull elk on the other side of a high fence. absolutely beautiful. it made me want to go elk hunting…but not in texas. in the mountains where it’s hard to kill a record bull elk. i feel the same way about any high fence game. its like huntin dairy cows. and if i offend anyone…im not sorry. you’re wrong.

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