380 vs 400 what would yawl do

[FOGGER]

Depends totally on the unit....If its 22n shoot the first 380 bull you see...if it's 10/23/9 wait a day or so...what unit is it..

[AntlerObsession]

This debate has been raging for thousands of years... Does size matter?

 

As for me, a 380" bull would make me weep with gratitude to the hunting gods as I steadied my crosshairs on his sweet spot!

[THOR]

380???? No question about it pull the trigger, unless like what was said before, the 400 is standing behind. I dont think many people know how big a 400 inch bull is. All you have to do is add 3/4 of an inch to every measurment and a bull goes from 380 to 400. Look at the bull and if it is what she wants pull the trigger. The score is only a number, If its a nice bull and memorable hunt, thats all that matters! Good luck, cant wait to see what ever bull you pick to be on the ground.

[naturebob]

You shoot the 380 if you aint located no unbroken 400's. You wait and some one else will find your 380 and then you will be sick. if you aint ever shot a bull over 350 you better take the 380. sounds like her husband wants to make the decission, as if it was his tag. Is she a reel hunter or has he just put her in all these years knowing some day she will draw a early bull tag. Either way hope she wacks a big one. good luck...BOB!

 

[antlers]

I agree with Amanda, its her hunt. What does she want? As for me, if it were my hunt I would take the 380. Heck those who know me know I'll settle for a 300. I like to shoot. Bottom line is, it's her hunt but a 380 is hard to pass up. If its symmetrical all the better.

[Coues Sniper]

Best advice one horn hunter can give another - Shoot what you like.. It's her hunt, let her do what she wants. I've seen 380 bulls I liked better than some 400's.

[sjvcon]

Wow ... I guess I'd have to agree with the folks that say shoot what you like. That said, I don't think 400's drop off trees, and for that matter, 380's don't either. 380 is a heck of a bull. I'd be ecstatic with that ... but that's me.

[Coach]

My take is, a lot of people pick 400 as the magical number. Truth is, despite all the rumors, coffee-shop talk, blurry cell-phone pics...there just aren't that many 400 bulls walking around. Passing a solid 380+ bull that has been found and patterned in hopes of a 400 that might show up is, in my humble opinion, a little over-zealous.

 

Many people see a 330 bull and think it's 360 or better. I've slowly learned that first impressions of bull elk are usually skewed quite a bit to the high side. To break the 350 barrier, takes a lot!

 

I'll skip the math for now, but generally, a big 6x6 has to have EVERYTHING going on to break the 380 mark. It has to have huge (18+) fronts, deep thirds, very long royals (4ths, swords, whatever), long 5ths (10+), and good width (along with mass) on a 50+ inch main beam - okay I didn't totally skip the math. Point being, a legitimate 380 bull can't have ANY weaknesses.

 

Yes, every year elk are taken that break into the 400's, but they are rare. Not every unit has them, and even some that do produce them from year-to-year, don't always have them. In my neck of the woods, unit 3C usually has a couple - but despite being watched for weeks before the hunt, a day or two before the hunt, they seem to vanish. Units 1 and 27 usually have a couple, but somehow they manage to elude hunters year after year. I watched a bull last year in 3C that was beyond a doubt, the biggest I had ever seen. I watched him through my binocs for about 5-7 minutes, then he was gone. I described him to a buddy who guides in that area and he knew exactly what bull I was talking about. They called him the "Burton Bull". He was a few miles away from where he had last been seen. As far as I know, nobody found him again during the hunt. This was a bull that had such a huge frame, and such long tines, you knew immdediately, he was unusually large. Here one day, gone the next.

 

I've got a muzzle looader hunt in unit 1, 2B & 2C starting a week from today. I've been out glassing, scouting, watching bulls and cows for weeks every chance I get. In that time I've seen many really nice bulls, but few if any, that would legitmately break the 350 mark. If I had one bull located, that I knew was truly in the 380 class, that is the bull I would be focusing on.

[bobbyo]

Gee wiz Coach your math lesson was a real downer. Is this how you inspire your team at halftime? With all this 380 or 400 talk I was planning on holding out for a 420 bull on my late Unit 1 rifle hunt. Now I'm so depressed I am liable to shoot the first spike I see. Thanks for nothing.

Ex 420 inch Bull Hunter,

Bob

 

[mje1]

Throw the tape away, If it looks like a toad then its big enough, but of course the hunter has to be happy with it. If shes happy with it dont put a tape on it if it would make her unhappy with her trophy Ive seen #s ruin peoples trophies.

Have a Great Hunt

 

Mark

[The Coues]

I think the only way I could pass a 380 bull would be if the 400 bull was standing behind him.

 

You said that right on! +1

 

+1000

[Pine Donkey]

Just help her have a hunt to remember. If she likes it, it's a grat bull.

[leland]

unless you have a governors tag, you better be shooting if its that big. i know everyone wants to shoot a 400 bull, but they are not under every tree like people think. even 380 bulls are hard to come by in the best units. ive seen people pass on big bulls, they always end up with something small, or nothing at all. there is no better way to ruin a hunt by setting a high number for yourself. if she has killed bulls in the 360s and 370s, then i would say hold out, if not, dont be dissapointed if she dosent kill or winds up with a 300 bull. most of all, just have fun, and good luck!

[Coach]

Gee wiz Coach your math lesson was a real downer. Is this how you inspire your team at halftime? With all this 380 or 400 talk I was planning on holding out for a 420 bull on my late Unit 1 rifle hunt. Now I'm so depressed I am liable to shoot the first spike I see. Thanks for nothing.

Ex 420 inch Bull Hunter,

Bob

 

 

Hey bobbyo, just keeping it real! You don't want someone just blowing kisses up your skirt do ya?