A Very Dear Old Friend

[BCBOY]

I figure some of you might enjoy seeing these pics. In July, I was fortunate enough to get to visit once again with a very dear old friend of mine, a bull I call 'The Big 7'. It has now been 9 years that I have been able to watch and photograph this old warrior. He has to over 13 years old now. One would think that he would be showing signs of regress, but this year he has some tremendous antler growth.

 

[canyoncrosser]

Is that the same bull you would see on your way home from work? Post old pics too please.

 

[chewyman55]

Gorgeous bull. What a dandy.

 

[Gator]

Regal looking rack on him.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

 

[heartshot]

I can't believe he is still kicking out that much bone. Thanks for sharing BCBOY!

 

[FrontRange]

Still looks very healty, impressive animal for sure. His teeth have to be getting pretty worn down if he is about 13 years old.

 

[BCBOY]

Yes this is the same bull that I see while doing forestry work. Here are some previous years pics.
2014

2013

2012

2010

2009

2007

 

[tailchasers]

That's pretty cool!! Fantastic animal to say the very least.

"Courage is being scared to death but
saddling up anyway."

 

[cmbbulldog]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-15 AT 05:58PM (MST)[p]Lots of great pics, thanks for sharing.

Have you got to hunt him at all?

 

[FrontRange]

Epic set of photos. Just really awesome.

Thanks for sharing

 

[BOHNTR]

Awesome photos, Steve! Heck of a nice old bull.

BOHNTR )))---------->

 

[huntinfanatic]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-15 AT 08:10PM (MST)[p]Great pics! Cool to see you found him again. I'm also surprised to see his rack not regress yet. Out of curiosity, about how far is it between where he summers and winters?

 

[elkassassin]

Hey BCBOY?

How bout some Recent/Hard Horned Pics?




Go Ahead!

Make Me take it down!

 

[BCBOY]

About 40 Kms from winter range to summer range.

 

[BCBOY]

Bobcat,
I've only seen him once this year. Most years I don't get to see him until late Oct or Nov. I will be working in the area this month, so I might get lucky and find him hard horned.

 

[elkassassin]

I see BCBOY!

You & your Kids been Huntin?


Go Ahead!

Make Me take it down!

 

[BCBOY]

Been a busy fall thus far and we really haven't had a lot of time to hunt. Spent almost 3 weeks in the Yukon and NWT which ate up all my holiday time. My daughter has a Nov Bull Moose Draw so we will be busy in the late season trying to get her on her first moose.

 

[completesportsman]

Thanks for sharing the pics, I always enjoy seeing him, you ever see him with a herd of cows?

 

[foghorn]

Thanks! BCBOY.
Love this Bull!

 

[sticksender]

Very nice. He grows that up-turned beam tip on the left side every year.

 

[DW]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-14-15 AT 09:04AM (MST)[p]Thanx bcboy! Was startin to wonder about you as well as that old bull, glad your both well!

 

[Longun]

So... Why haven't you Whacked him yet??? Can't get a tag?? Private Ground?? what is the story???

 

[desperatehills]

The latest pictures look like his mane has been shaved. Is that look from age or is that a normal summer look. I don't get to see many velvet bulls. He has quite a gut on him to, he certainly isn't missing any meals.

 

[BCBOY]

Longun,
While I can hunt muleys, white tails, moose and black bears in this unit every year with general open seasons, there hasn't been an elk season in this unit for over 20 years now. It is a very small struggling herd. Back in the 90's the local chapter of the RMEF tried to get a transplant in the area. They got so far as capturing and penning elk in Jasper and then the Gov't stepped in and quashed it. The penned elk were sent somewhere else. The unofficial reason was the gov't thought the transplant in this area would just be a feeding program for the wolves. The fact this old bull makes it thru year after year in the midst of high predator numbers simply amazes me. This is very thick country though and the elk don't come out of the thick stuff very often.

 

[osu92]

Super cool post!!!! Thanks for sharing. Great to see a big old bull like that live out a complete life.

Ever looked for his sheds?

 

[BCBOY]

My son was able to pick up a single shed off him in 2010 from his 2009/2010 year, and just this August, my brother found a heavily chewed set from the 2010/2011 year.

 

[BCBOY]

Here are some pics for Bessy. Finally saw my old friend again this morning. I've been working in the area for most of the summer and over the last 4 weeks this fall and finally ran into him over 40 kms from where I last saw him in July. Was nice to get to see him hard horned this year. He had a significant limp this morning as he pushed some cows. Not sure if the frosty morning just had him feeling his old joints or if he hurt himself during the rut. Hope it doesn't slow down his survival skills this winter.

 

[jls456]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BigSimps]

WOW! What a great bull. Thx for sharing.

 

[NMPaul]

Magazine quality pics. No.. Better than most magazines.