Buddies First Elk (pics inside)

sewing 10/1/10 10:08am

My buddy Craig asked me to go hunting with him last week on his draw. First time he put in, first tag, first hunt, first day. We did hunt hard, but he's still such a lucky punk!

We called this guy into 20 yards and put him down with his rifle.

What do you think it would score?

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Another angle of the antlers and me after a LONG day hauling him out.

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8,350

NotEnufTags

10/1/10 12:16pm

Your buddy is lucky. Awesome pictures and I'm sure it was an awesome experience. I love how polished his tips are. No broken tines. Looks like an awesome first bull. As far as score goes I don't think it really matters. The bull has a really good bottom end. Nice 2nd and 3rds. I can't really tell the length of the the royals My initial guess is around 330. I'm no expert as iv'e never even scored a set of elk antlers so take that for what it's worth.

DR_DEATH

10/1/10 1:03pm

I give him a 10 for the bullet proof vest he is wearing!!!

The Elk is going to be in the 320 range. Nice bull congrats.

9er

10/1/10 1:38pm

nice bull and thanks for sharing

do those bulls shoot back??? just wondering :thumb

southwind

10/1/10 2:25pm

Nice bull! 10sign:

kchesley

10/1/10 3:42pm

I am going out to try to get my first elk next weekend. I hope I can be as lucky as your buddy. Excellent bull. Nice touch with the bulletproof vest also.

Bowtech43

10/1/10 4:01pm

The smile on your friend says it all! First day... Man that would be a change. That's a great bull. I'd shoot him for sure. Great fronts, weak backs. I'd say he scores around 315. Good character!

BIG R

10/1/10 8:10pm

First off congrats nice bull.I'd put him at about 305 to 310 :thumb

sewing

10/5/10 8:42am

Thanks guys! We called him in probably a half a mile, maybe a little less. He came within 70 yards it sounded like and then he started moving back out. I think we should have just cow called at that point and stopped the bugling. One he started moving away we went after him. I figured we would try to get in his space and see what happened. We are both Elk rookies so I didn't know if this was a bad idea of not. We kept the wind in our face, we had no camo and no scent cover or blocker. I was behind him 30 yards with a cow call and we would call and the. Walk, after making sure he could not see us. We were not quiet, it was too thick. We didn't talk but we walked and crashed through the forest. I thought this would end it but it turned out to be the best thing we did. When we walked and crashed he would get pissed and bugle. We just kept up a series of bugles, cow calls, and walking until he had enough and came trotting up the hill to my buddies rifle.

Anyfeedback on all this for a rookie? I would love to hear your theories was he defending ground? Did we just get lucky? Was going in after him a good idea or does it usually fail?

sewing

10/5/10 8:45am

Above post was made on a cellphone. Please forgive the errors. My PC is fragged right now.

MuleyMadness

10/5/10 8:54am

Nice bull, congrats to your friend. :thumb

ARCHER11

10/5/10 10:07am

Lucky punk indeed! Tell him congrats on a great bull! He looks to be pretty stoked about it, and congrats to you for helpin out a friend! Thats what huntings about! :thumb Elk are noisy animals they dont tip toe through the forest. Im guessing that crashing through the woods just made your calling that much more realistc! Im no pro though just a guess!