I'm going with the 'go big or go home' theory, especially with the broken ribs. And I'm going to say you got close, but never got a shot off on the big guy.
That is my final answer, but based on your last update, I question whether you were able to catch up to the herd after they moved off, esp. with the cracked ribs.
I'm going to say yes, and you cracked the ribs WHILE packing out. Added weight is what slammed you into the downfall enough to crack 4 ribs? But being a badass you went back to finish the job!
If you carried out an elk with cracked ribs im seriously impressed! Not sure I could handle that pain. Ill say no Elk just because of that but hope Im wrong. Cant wait to hear the rest. Good luck with the whitetails.
So some of you guys know Mike, and if you follow my thread to here you've heard me talk about Mike. He's my elk hunting buddy. Also spend some time dear hunting together. Well his mom passed away and the funeral just got over. So he's headed to a tree tonight and I'm headed down and going to film my brother Hunt tonight. So hopefully we'll have a little update later of some sort or another. This will be my first sit in a tree in Wisconsin this year.
My brother hunts a mixture of public and private in an area of high deer concentration . Amongst the family there will be a lot of does taken just to try to maintain the buck to doe ratio much less improve it. We hung another stand in a pinch point between a creek bottom that they travel headed out to a beanfield.
For those who guessed yes. You are correct. I shot a bull out of his bed at 32 yards. Very cool hunt. Last part of the contest will determine the winner. Yes I know it will be purely random, because you haven't seen any pictures yet and you won't until final guesses are in Monday night at 7 PM. Just guess the score you think the bull is. If you guessed yes, throw your score in by 7 CST Monday night.