Alpinebullwinkle

Agree with the ghost but looks like he could have a narrow spread

Never knew trimming a tree or placing small screws or nails in trees killed them. Did have an alpine forest ranger specialist once tell me we needed to significantly reduce the elk since they ate all the aspen and ruined all the new pine growth! Her USFS policies cured that issue though by burning down 50 percent of the forest in 2011. They still support more wolves to reduce the elk herd further.You don't happen to be that same forest specialist talking are you Str8shot?

Probably an ASU student or fan!

Unit 27 because sometimes but not always I can find my way back to the cabin!!

I lost my first trail camera this year also. Also lost a data card to a local guide that was "upgrade hunting" a few years back but I couldn't prove it for sure, even though they basically admitted their guilt when confronted. My cameras are always in remote areas but never on a pond. Hunter ethics has really gone south the last 10 years.......but you've heard my rant before! Sorry for your loss. Unfortunately I know from experience how frustrating it is.

Beautiful bull and congratulations to the hunter and all the resources involved. Having shared that.... I see the bull making 400" possibly but find it hard for this 6x6 to score 436" based on the pictures I've seen. Wonder what the main beam length is? Maybe longer than it appears due to the great mass.

I also had my first camera stolen earlier this year. Very sad to say but hunter ethics seems to be declining from what we experienced +20 years ago. As stated earlier, tree huggers,and USFS resources may also be guilty of these thefts. Additionally though, our forests are being trashed up with beer bottles, pop cans, baby diapers, etc. This points back to the hunting community. We need to step up our educational efforts in the grade schools and other high exposure areas that will make a positive impact on adults as well. I clean up a two mile section of roadway outside of Alpine and it is really disgusting to find all the litter that seems acceptable to some to just discard into our valued forests.

A few years back in early June I was able to call in a mountain lion with my diaphragm elk call by making it sound like a momma elk having birthing problems. Shot the lion dead with my 44 mag pistol at 30 yards. Aimed for mid-section and shot in the neck. Figure I only pulled the shot no more than 24". Ha. At least the lion is now on my wall and not still killing other deer and elk.

Cows talk a lot (and bugle) in the summer, particularly after their calves are born. I'm just guessing but the full cow bugles might be for relocating their calves or telling the rest of the herd that a predator is in the area. I've also learned that the bulls like to have a "pre-function function" about August 15-16 after their horns are rubbed with about a "two-day sound off" to warm up their vocal cords for the upcoming rut season.

What elevation did you say Core?

If the moon has hemorrhoids it is likely my brother! He has a very photogenic moon.

Yup I have seen them in 27 at +8,000 foot elevation many times recently but never that high 10 or more years ago.

For some reason I am seeing javelina about 1000' in elevation from where I used to see them 10 years or so ago as far as highest elevation. Maybe they have bought into all the "global warming" propaganda that is now in the media every day!

You shouldn't sweat the small stuff. That bull will be two to twenty miles from where you took the picture come late August. Few years back I got a picture of a nice 8 pointer in early August and two weeks later got a picture of him on another camera at least two miles away. When it comes time to rub their horns they are heading for where the ladies are and not where they have chosen to spend the summer!

He should have one month of growth remaining......until August 1 is my thoughts

Historically August 9 is when I usually find the first rub of the year. Earliest ever was August 4. I've had pals tell me they have viewed rubbed Bulls by mid-July but I still have to see it to believe it. I suspect what they have viewed is the start of hardening. My experience suggests the big Bulls fill out their tips by the 3rd or 4th week of July and only add mass the last week or so prior to rubbing. Smaller Bulls horn growth time line is slightly delayed as they also shed later than the bigger Bulls.

Did you get a 27 tag this year Jeff?

Unfortunately now that I am a geezer 20 yards is my maximum distance. My arm just isn't what it used to be so my hand grenades only reach out to 20 yards!

Interesting debate. One which I am not sure which side to take even though I apply for both archery/gun September hunts only now for trophy hunting considerations (and other reasons as well). I recognize some advantages for both gun and archery hunters with this possible change. A couple of facts I have learned in +40 years of hunting Unit #27 are the crazy (rut) season always kicks in between September 22-24 and "officially" ends about October 5. There is a second more brief rut mid October for un-bred cows. By November 1st most of the bugling ceases. If we pick the right spot to archery hunt the first day (September 10-15), and get lucky locating a herd with a cow in heat, we can enjoy a very exciting first day or so of the hunt. Shortly after the first day the hunting pressure causes about five days of silence with the only bugling being nocturnal or close to sunup/sundown. Generally speaking the 400 class bulls show up to the dance late in the hunt. They remain in remote locations allowing the smaller bulls to round up the herd and then come in to kick their butt and take over the show. That is how they get to be bigger bulls......by missing most of the hunting pressure. Once they gain control of the herd or the cows they desire they will move them back into the remote locations for more privacy and protection. The Wallow Fire has changed many of the elk's normal behaviors and this is one of them. I believe that is why we had a couple of years with a greater percentage of 400 class archery bulls taken compared to the norm. Having said that, the last two years seem to be reverting back to the norm. The September gun and muzzleloader hunts have been disappointing in Unit #27 with very few bulls over 320 being taken by gun while there were some monster archery bulls harvested earlier. This is one reason I can understand September gun hunters complaining after waiting 10+ years for their opportunity and then only viewing "smaller sized" bulls. I'm taking a wait and see approach to how this all unfolds but there definitely will be some strategy considerations how I apply going forward if Unit #27 sees some of the same changes as this year Unit #9.

Greenest I have ever seen things at this time of year in the last 40 years. Sure will be interesting to view the outcome of horn quality from this as last year was the worst I had seen in 40 years!

Better patent that one......immediately if not sooner!

All 3 bulls look around the 340 class to me. .........but 350 really isn't that big of a challenge ........that is......... if you are throwing hand grenades! As stated before, last year was the worst year for horn quality in unit #27 that I had observed in over 40 years. A 340 bull last year was definitely one not to pass up. Looks like this year should be back to normal or above average hopefully

There is obviously more impact from "luck" in the system rather than impact from bonus points. I have suggested ways to invert that issue but it seems most hunters prefer the current status of luck over bonus points....... which has always mystified me!

I'm out of luck with the beard tactic. Haven't reached puberty yet.......even though now in my 60's! The tight head net helps me when they come in close to a call ......and I can smell their bad breath!

How did you take the same photo as I did Photofool? Haaaaa! poor boy is history. I miss viewing him.