How big, how old?

[TravisIN]

This is a bull I had an encounter with and was just curious on what you guys thought his age and score were? Strictly for knowledge purposes. Haha the bull I shot was with a bigger one at the time so I’m not asking from a trophy hunt standpoint. Just curious as to what everyone thought.

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[Ross]

Decent length all the way around in the 320-330 range. No blocky body and face looks on the younger side 6-7 yrs old.

 

[TaperPin]

Pretty young whipper snapper - that is probably his first 6x6 rack. Anywhere you look at him he’s just starting out - short/thin 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 4th. Not real wide, or tall. Looks like one of those high school baseball pretty boys.

His legs look long, skinny shoulders, skinny nose, straight back, not much of a belly.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Decent length all the way around in the 320-330 range. No blocky body and face looks on the younger side 6-7 yrs old.

I'm with Ross on score. Nice bull. I have no clue on actual age, but he's around 34 in elk years.

 

[Ross]

A couple of examples of what I would call “Hoss” bulls. You can see the square Block body and Block looking faces on these two old timers. Pic 2 is not mine but I watched this bull in the spring and have his sheds on 2 yrs. The way he sauntered around the mountain was a sight both were otc bulls in the jungles and I would put in the 10 plus age range.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

All I know is I would not hesitate to shoot him. he does not have any sway to his back, but his neck is pretty long, no sagging belly. My best guess is 5-6 years.

 

[Ucsdryder]

320 was my first thought.

 

[roosiebull]

A couple of examples of what I would call “Hoss” bulls. You can see the square Block body and Block looking faces on these two old timers. Pic 2 is not mine but I watched this bull in the spring and have his sheds on 2 yrs. The way he sauntered around the mountain was a sight both were otc bulls in the jungles and I would put in the 10 plus age range.

That short neck and small ass are also good age indicators. Older bulls get bigger in the front, bigger neck makes the neck look shorter and the big front shoulders makes the back end look smaller, even though it’s not

I have killed a couple bulls over 8yrs old, and what stood out most to me was how heavy the front shoulders get… they are heavier than a 3.5yr olds hinds

The neck too, old bulls look like a buck in early November. The first pic you posted of the whole bull is a really good example, it shows the age indicators well

 

[Darryl Dunsloppy]

310ish

 

[huntnful]

This bull was 326" and lab aged at 8 years old. That bull has very similar frame, with maybe slightly less mass, but bigger fronts it looks like. So somewhere around there also. Maybe a little smaller? I'm no elk expert, just sharing this super similar bull for comparison. But this bull was built like a freaking horse it felt like.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

This bull was 326" and lab aged at 8 years old. That bull has very similar frame, with maybe slightly less mass, but bigger fronts it looks like. So somewhere around there also. Maybe a little smaller? I'm no elk expert, just sharing this super similar bull for comparison. But this bull was built like a freaking horse it felt like.

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Impressive. From the video it's hard to judge mass, but I would say it's not the same as yours.

 

[huntnful]

Impressive. From the video it's hard to judge mass, but I would say it's not the same as yours.

I agree. It is tough to tell, but the bull in the video looks a little thinner horned.

 

[Jake Larsen]

310-315. Not old. I’d guess 4 maybe 5


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[TravisIN]

Thanks for all the feedback. Enjoying learning and gettin perspective


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[roosiebull]

This is a bull I had an encounter with and was just curious on what you guys thought his age and score were? Strictly for knowledge purposes. Haha the bull I shot was with a bigger one at the time so I’m not asking from a trophy hunt standpoint. Just curious as to what everyone thought.

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My guess would be 310-315” 5-6yr old

If he was in front of me, age and score would not enter my mind if you find him next year, I assume he will look similar with more mass. I don’t think I would be able to let him walk by with any tag in this state, but I’m not a very good trophy hunter

My internal justification would be easy, he has an impressive set of antlers and he wouldn’t be very tough… what more can ya ask for?

He’s awesome right now, but he’s going to get more awesome if he makes it

 

[TravisIN]

Haha for the record I did NOT pass him. I packed in two days before season and this was Friday evening before the season started. I turned up him, a much smaller 5 point and 9 cows. I thought I was set for opening day! Haha 4 days later and I hadn’t seen another elk. No humans either, not sure where they went. Anyways after four days of nothing I relocated and 2 days later turned up another herd that had a a decent 6, a 5x4, a spike and 5 cows. The next day I found them again and was able to take the rag. Haha the 6pt was about 60 yards away but staying on the backside of the hill and only showing his rack and head when he lifted it. Obviously I didn’t wait and not good at passing opportunities.

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[GSPHUNTER]

Haha for the record I did NOT pass him. I packed in two days before season and this was Friday evening before the season started. I turned up him, a much smaller 5 point and 9 cows. I thought I was set for opening day! Haha 4 days later and I hadn’t seen another elk. No humans either, not sure where they went. Anyways after four days of nothing I relocated and 2 days later turned up another herd that had a a decent 6, a 5x4, a spike and 5 cows. The next day I found them again and was able to take the rag. Haha the 6pt was about 60 yards away but staying on the backside of the hill and only showing his rack and head when he lifted it. Obviously I didn’t wait and not good at passing opportunities.

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Works for me. Congratulations

 

[Indian Summer]

320

 

[RyeWhiskey]

I’d put him in the mid 320s.