THANK YOU for posting this, best thread I've seen on MM. I haven't known any of my neighbors for 12 years, and none of them are half as interesting as this grand old patriarch.
Consider his breeding life: If he started breeding cows @ age 4, bred 20 cows a year, that's about 10 bull calves/year. If half of those survived to breeding age, his genetics were passed to 80 bulls in his neighborhood. Imagine what he has seen, elk he has known, rutting battles, wolf encounters, road encounters, winters as pictured thawing to spring... Your photos are the closest we will get to hearing his elk biography.
You should pass this along to RMEF, member like me will be fascinated to learn what can happen on lands preserved through Foundation efforts. Thanks again for sharing this. Just incredible.