The Utah elk posts will continue to come as huge bulls continue to get knocked down in 2007. Big rumors are flying around about a possible 443 bull elk taken recently in Utah. Was it with a rifle? Muzzleloader? Bow? Is this a New World Record?
This bull is legit and has been green scored at 443 gross and 427 net non-typical P&Y. It was taken with a bow by Jimmy Ryan. This will shatter the record non-typical archery state record (currently at 401 1/8 P&Y). In addition it will also take over as the overall non-typical state record overtaking the 2002 bull taken by Jeff Didericksen scoring 412 0/8 B&C.
…That is until possibly something bigger gets killed. We are just getting going with the season!
So of course you have to ask the question – if the score holds where would this rank in the world? We will have to wait the 60-day drying period before an official score can come in to know for sure, but here is the “what if” factor:
Right now it would fall into the #2 spot in the world behind the world record Nick Franklin bull (442 0/8 P&Y). Currently the #2 bull is the Clay Heuett bull (422 6/8 P&Y). Both of these Arizona bulls were taken in 2003. Crazy thing is, both of these scores are for Pope & Young. However, both the Franklin bull and the Heuett bull score higher, or listed with a higher score, in the Boone & Crockett record books (444 0/8 and 429 6/8 B&C respectively). Both of these bulls were so big that B&C invited them to their panel as well and they are listed in both the P&Y and B&C record books but have different scores.
Here is my list that I think is still correct for the top five non-typical archery bulls listed in Pope & Young:
Non-typical American Elk through 2006 season
1. 442 0/8, Coconino County, AZ, 2003, Nick Franklin
2. 422 6/8, Navajo County, AZ, 2003, Clay R. Heuett
3. 420 5/8, Shoshone County, ID, 1981, Steven W. Mullin
4. 419 5/8, Coconino County, AZ, 1985, James L. Ludvigson
5. 417 0/8, Coconino County, AZ, 1993, Brady J. Dupke
UPDATE (11-19-07) – The official score is in on the Mossback guided Jimmy Ryan archery non-typical Utah elk. The score is 443 2/8 gross and 428 3/8 net non-typical P&Y.
That is big. This will shatter the state record archery bull, become the new overall state non-typical record for any weapon and is a pending #2 in the world non-typical archery bull for Pope & Young.