CO 6x6 deadhead - when/how do you think it died?

[quercusgambelii]

I found this nice 6x6 deadhead last week in southern CO around 8,100ft. The carcass was relatively intact (i.e., head still attached to spinal cord). How and when do you think it died? A few factors I've considered:

How:
- no arrow or noticeable trace of a gunshot wound
- if it were a lion, wouldn't part of the carcass be buried? (I found front leg bones and pelvic bone ~15yds away)
- no wolves in the area (per CPW tracking)
- bull seems young to be winterkill (especially for a very mild winter)
When:
- antlers have minimal bleaching & no chew marks from rodents, but carcass was located under a thick stand of ponderosa & spruce
- very low snowfall this winter in the area, so likely wouldn't have normal preservation effect
- the condition of the skeleton makes me skeptical of an early autumn death

My guess: wounded in November by hunter and died here; although I like to think it was a lion in the winter

Thanks for any input!

 

[cnelk]

Who cares how it died.

Did you take the head? It’s a dandy

 

[156821]

You will never know, that’s kind of the beauty in it. Nice bull.

 

[Stew]

going with the wounded and died scenario
Is picture with rib cage how you found it or
moved there for photo.

 

[Laramie]

Find them often. Likely gut shot by hunter but could be any number of things.

 

[Indian Summer]

8100 feet. Probably during hunting season. Not winter range. I’d say someone shot it. Shortly after that, it was covered with snow until this spring.

 

[justinspicher]

Nice find dude!

 

[Alpineelk]

Id pik it up and never look back

 

[quercusgambelii]

Who cares how it died.

Did you take the head? It’s a dandy

Oh yeah definitely took the head - just can't help my curiosity

 

[quercusgambelii]

going with the wounded and died scenario
Is picture with rib cage how you found it or
moved there for photo.

Yeah, exactly how I found it. Think you're right - I just like the idea of a lion kill better

 

[Dos Perros]

In my experience, lion kills eat the face.

 

[Laelkhunter]

If you really wanted to dig deeper, you could get a metal detector and run it over the site and maybe recover a bullet or broadhead. Finding an implement of death could help rule out natural causes.

 

[OKHunter84]

Better call the Hardy boys, looks like a mystery

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

Nice find!

 

[Texasbuckeye]

Better call the Hardy boys, looks like a mystery

NO way hardy boys solve this crime. Call in Longmire, he will get to the bottom of it and quick, after dodging death himself 5 times due to the number of poachers and bad hunters that don't want their name and picture in the local paper.


Anyway, something ate at it for the pelvis and below to be 15 yards away, probably a coyote or pack that either found it dying or chased it and killed it. Was most likely a gut shot or hind shot animal that was having a tough go of life and nature took its course.

In texas or ok, I would see those bones completely scattered as coyotes and buzzards would take to that thing and rip it apart and leave. For the the ribs and upper legs to be so together tells me there is not a huge coyote problem and little to no buzzard problem in your neck of the woods. Something cleaned that elk off in a slow methodical manner, with little to no competition.

 

[OKHunter84]

NO way hardy boys solve this crime. Call in Longmire, he will get to the bottom of it and quick, after dodging death himself 5 times due to the number of poachers and bad hunters that don't want their name and picture in the local paper.


Anyway, something ate at it for the pelvis and below to be 15 yards away, probably a coyote or pack that either found it dying or chased it and killed it. Was most likely a gut shot or hind shot animal that was having a tough go of life and nature took its course.

In texas or ok, I would see those bones completely scattered as coyotes and buzzards would take to that thing and rip it apart and leave. For the the ribs and upper legs to be so together tells me there is not a huge coyote problem and little to no buzzard problem in your neck of the woods. Something cleaned that elk off in a slow methodical manner, with little to no competition.

Yeah down here in OK, there would be a grease spot and some hair and that's it . If the coyotes and buzzards didn't get it, then pigs would if they're around the area.

 

[go_deep]

Yeah, exactly how I found it. Think you're right - I just like the idea of a lion kill better

For $99.95 I can send you a certified certificate that it was killed by a Lion....

Okay, done with being a smartazz. If it were a predator kill a lot of times the tips of the back ribs will have been chewed on some.

 

[bz_711]

It was wolves for sure...need to get rid of them.

Realistically I'm leaning about 98% hunter kill that was not found.

Still a cool find.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

What county did you find him in? I'm not wanting the exact spot, just the general area. I live and hunt in SW Colorado (Montezuma County). I know this part of the state pretty well and I might be able to shed some light on your question.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

CWD

Just kidding, what a cool find. Probably one of those guys shooting further than their skills allow because that rack was too tempting.