Greatest elk myths

Z

Zigga

Long Time Member
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I'm just wondering if anyone else talks with other people that don't know squat about elk but think they do and continue to tell bs stories that they swear are true. My favorite one is of the bull that had antlers that went down the back of his arse. Or maybe the one where all 7 points are bigger than 6 points and all 6 points are bigger than 5 points and so on. I enjoy being schooled by these boneheads that aren't from the area but know all there is to know about elk and hunting. Maybe I am the only one.
 
Zigga,
Some of these so called myths your talking about are true. Depending on who is telling the story. Some people do exxagerate or do not know size of bucks or bulls.
I could tell you stories of bucks I have seen and I would guarntee you would think I was pulling your leg. But video tapes dont lie. Thats why I bought a camera and do get video. Now when I tell people stories people believe me. But now they are for personal viewing and I dont post them like I used to. Friends and family have seen them.
But I do not doubt all people. Just depends on what they have done or what knowledge they have. So do not doubt everyone.
Just my 2 cents.

fca2e9e9.jpg
 
I like the one where people will tell you that mule deer will have NOTHING to do with elk. "The elk run 'em off."
 
I took 2 new guys to so so muzzleloader elk hunt in NM, are not known for good bulls, I took a nice bull 290 or so - very big for the unit, even seeing one that big is extremely rare.

Both guys got a shot and swear the bulls they shot at were the size of the one I got. Possible but one guy never got over 200 yards from a road and both had never been elk hunting, I would bet seeing there first bull elk up close got them exagerating a little!

I am sure they saw decent bulls, but not 300.
 
1. Utah bulls are dying of old age.
2. You can shoot 380 bulls from the truck window if you draw in Utah.
3. 3-4 year old bulls will score 330.
 
You can tell the size of the bull by it's bugle.

If there are a lot of cows together during the rut, the bull with them is always huge.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
 
hey chef, them ain't myths, them's facts. unless you're huntin' on brokeback mountain. then the biggest bull has a buncha young bulls with him. i like the ones that say you can kill an elk with a 7mm/08 but a .270 is too small and that elk decoys are usefull. the one about the antlers being beyond the butt is good too.
 
One of the biggest bulls I've ever seen in person was killed by a kid in Wyoming with a 6mm.
Put it in the lungs it will die.
 
knock it off harry, i'm tryin' to start and arguement and you ain't helpin' any.
 
actually chef you're right, I've heard what people would say was a huge elk by the sound of its bugle, then when it came in it was a raghorn. I've also heard the most awful sounding bugle and it was one of the biggest elk I've ever seen. Bugle has nothing to do with size.
 
I have also been told by yahoos that cow elk don't have ivories. I like them people, and then I ask them where they dumped the carcass.





Nothing like guttin' a 6x6 elk at 7:30 in the morning.
 
The one I've heard a lot is that the reason elk can bugle is becaue of their ivories. I guess that means that them big old bulls with worn out ivories can't bugle any more ;-).
 
Sorry sage. Here are a few more to ruin your day.;-)

4. The late hunts are for pussies.
5. The late hunts have good draw odds.
6. The Pahvant has the best bulls.
 
Good thread,

Be quite, that snapped twig will scare off the Elk....
You hunt Elk like you hunt Deer.....
I always hunt Elk with my .243 and I haven't lost one yet.....


McKinney aka Hiker
Proverbs 3:5-6
 
Yea, I love the antlers to the arse!
This is more for the elk hunting situation. I love how so many hunters and outfitters are blaming the wolves for the disappearence of all the elk and thats why they can't kill one. Even though in the vast majority of these areas, the Fish and Game has actually increased the # of tags given each year and allowed antlerless elk to be harvested because they say there are TOO MANY elk. I hunt avidly in these areas and have come to the conclusion that these people are just looking for an excuse for their ineptitude! I kill my elk with no problem in these areas every year as do many guys I know. Just another "Myth" that. I can't imagine I won't get a response from one of these "the wolves ate all my elk" folks:)
 
I think the greatest elk myth lies within the heart of a Utah 14 year old who will finally be able to put in for a Limited Entry Elk Tag. "I will draw a Utah elk tag in my lifetime."

I also smile when I hear the comment "His antlers went past his butt."
 
Great Thread!

One of my favorites is a bull elk is always a spike its first year...

The ass has to top the list though....

I also love it where I live the bulls max out at around 350 yet every year everyone sees 400 class bulls yet I've never seen one killed around where I live or even found a shed off one. I laugh at it everytime i hear it....

Great thread!
 
Your looking over a group of elk and the guy says ya that's a "dry cow". What the heck, you got hand under the teet checking it from 200 yards. You can't tell dry or not.

I had a friend in high school who always said he saw elk and deer with huge bases. I would ask how many points? He says I don't know but it's bases were huge. If you can see bases you sure as heck can see points buddy.

"Remeber Bulls don't chuckle until the second week." Ya right.

"You need to put scent free powder in your wind checker bottle." If the wind is bad the last thing the elk is analyzing is whether he smelt baby powder or not. He's outta there.
 
1. Big bull tears cure cancer. But big bulls are so badass, they never cry. Ever

2. Big bulls are ten feet tall, weigh two-tons, breath fire, and can eat hammers and take shotgun blasts standing.

3.Big bulls are the only creatures that can defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.

4. Big bulls must have lots of pine trees and aspens around in order to grow big.

Bret M.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-10-06 AT 07:49AM (MST)[p]Where I do most of my elk hunting the timber is pretty thick. More often than not you will only see glimpses of big bulls as they are escaping. But yet every year there are the guys who are able to count the points thru this thick cover. It was a 7x8, 6x6, or 8x8.....I say in that time if you truly did stop and count the points you should have been able to shoot one instead!?
 
The one that has got one guy on this site is put a Ben Franklin
in with your draw app. and you will pull the LE of your choice:RIMROCK
 
My favorite myth (pet-peave) with elk is the guy that says "I shot a 360 bull" or "I seen two 400 class bulls but couldn't get on 'em". And then I get all excited and when I see the pics from the guy's hunt and his bull looks like it might push 310-320. Makes you wonder how big his 400 bulls were. I never say anything to damage one's ego, but it is a little annoying people don't learn to score or measure before they proclaim the size of their trophy.
 
My favorite is when a guy kills a big buck or bull and is driving it around town showing it off. They always say, "Yeah this one is a nice one, but you should have seen the one with him that got away. It makes this one look small." I know you guys have heard that one.
 
Big Bulls can p*ss into gale force winds

Big Bulls don't sleep. They wait.

Big Bulls use a live squirrel as a loofah in the shower, brush their teeth with porcupines, and gargle with fire and loose gravel.

Big Bulls are the reason why Waldo is hiding.

Big Bulls are made of 94% perspiration, 4% electricity and 2% butterscotch ripple.
 
>Big Bulls can p*ss into gale
>force winds
>
>Big Bulls don't sleep. They wait.
>
>
>Big Bulls use a live squirrel
>as a loofah in the
>shower, brush their teeth with
>porcupines, and gargle with fire
>and loose gravel.
>
>Big Bulls are the reason why
>Waldo is hiding.
>
>Big Bulls are made of 94%
>perspiration, 4% electricity and 2%
>butterscotch ripple.


WHAT?????

Nothing like guttin' a 6x6 elk at 7:30 in the morning.
 
Yup, someone always killed a bigger one, or saw one bigger .

people always say, they saw a "huge" bull atleast that big standing by the highway.. .

we know all 6 points are not created equal however any six point is huge to some people


I also love the guys that say OH I saw a 389 but couldnt get a shot. amazing field judging .. or I walked about 10 miles .. ok I better shut up

one more "I killed a cow that was about 800 lbs"
 
7. If they give more tags I can draw 3 or 4 times in my lifetime.
8. My 12 year old will never shoot a bull in Utah on an LE.
9. The draw is not fair because some people have all of the "brownie points."
10. Utah has 380 bulls around every tree.
11. Utards would be happy with a 320 bull.
12. If you belong to SFW you will draw. It is a conspiracy.
 
I think we hunters are just misunderstood sometimes. When I told my wife look at the beautiful back end on that bull, she started to worry about me!

Dub
 
The greatest elk myth of all time though is those things we call "Ivories" are not ivory at all. Just another tooth made of the same stuff every other tooth in their head is made of.

"We MUST Hunt"
 
>The greatest elk myth of all
>time though is those things
>we call "Ivories" are not
>ivory at all. Just another
>tooth made of the same
>stuff every other tooth in
>their head is made of.
>
>
>"We MUST Hunt"

Hmmmm............In the latest issue of Bugle Magazine there is a article devoted to ivories. Ill quote a passage.
"When asked if elk ivories are real, Dr. Harold Picton says they are no different than tusks worn by walruses or elephants. They're made of the same material and have the same chemical composition and structure"
Interesting reading if you can pick up a copy.
Brian
 
Elk_Nuts,

You beat me to the punch. I just read that article yesterday and I was going to use the same quote.

I just love that everyone I talk to has seen a 400 bull. I know some of them have becuase they spend the time in the field and work their arse off to see 'em. Some of them I know don't ever leave the truck except to empty their bladder from the beer they just drank and threw the can out the window.
 
they've dug up prehistoric elk that have tusks. there are deer in south america and asia with tusks now. ever see an irish elk? they had tusks like a warthog. scary lookin'.
 
How about "The 270 is a great elk gun". Or better still, "The 270 with 130 grain bullets is the best elk gun".
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-12-06 AT 04:20PM (MST)[p]Hey now, dissin' a 270 can mean fightin' words in these parts! It might not be the best setup but I've successfully used my 270 on elk numerous times and not with the 130 grainers. Though I now much prefer my newer 7mm WSM shooting 160 grain Accubonds for elk......I used to love my 300 Wby with 180 grainers on elk but ammo is just too pricey (yep as much as I like hunting I'm not a reloader)!

Don't know if this is true or not but a good one I heard was that when you're tracking elk, only the bulls will crap while they are walking/running....the cows will stop and leave their crap in a pile!
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-12-06 AT 04:29PM (MST)[p]Another MYTH I just thought of that I hear a lot:

"All the larger bulls will shed their antlers early like in late January and in February"

Then the same few people saying this start crying about why/how many people are out there too early chasing the elk around when they're still packing!
 
you're sorta right about the .270 myth. it ain't a great elk gun. it is "THE GREATEST" elk gun. big bullets don't make up for crappy shooting. a gutshot is a gutshot. and it is a known fact that .270 shooters are the smartest of all hunters and are better shots and also better lookin' than those that shoot inferior cartridges, i.e. all other cartridges. there was also a survey done that showed that a majority of all good lookin' women wanted a man that shoots a .270.
 
I heard that most women want men that shoot bigger weapons. My wife says she likes my .243, but shes wishes I had a .300
 
who's from texas? and if you read the last part about the survey, it don't say all women.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-13-06 AT 06:21PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-13-06 AT 06:20?PM (MST)

My favorite elk myth.....A pack of wolves will be good for the elk!

I had a gunsmith stamp .300 H&H Magnum on my 6mm. My wife is happy and so am I.

Steve
 
I like the one I've heard here in Washington. "The herd of elk was pushing 100 head but the game department broke them up a couple of days before the opener!"

I have a buddy that swears if he sees crows flying around a patch of timber there's elk in their. We try to keep sharp objects away from him.

I really like the statement "wolves have eaten all the elk"
 
As soon as they hear rifle shots, the big bulls go into caves ....

Elk get stupid during the rut...any idiot can shoot one.

Hunting elk with an outfitter is easy.

Elk don't like cows (Bovine)
I love this one. A dairyman in Ferndale, CA had a bull elk that claimed his Jersey heifers, and ran the dairyman off when he went out to feed.
 
Outofstater.... I have actually seen the WDFW split up and chase a herd of elk several days prior to opening of rifle. It happened right in my own backyard. I also had a survey helicopter at St. Helens drive a herd of around 60 out from underneath us (we were early archery and closing within 70 yards of 2 nice bulls) and into the Loo-Witt.
nohat... There are plenty of 800 lbs Roosevelt cows. I havent seen many rockies that woul reach that.

The myth that I hear from Western WA hunters is that if there is a lot of re-prod or thick brush, that the bulls will only grow a small "brush rack". Another is that to call in a big bull, you have to have a deep, gravelly bugle and blow it alot.
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Eric
 
First post here. Here is my pet peeve/myth:

Elk aren't scared of a fourwheeler. You can ride right up on em.
 
Outofstater- That crow thing is about 70% accurate believe it or not.
The funny thing is many people are going hey "I say that" about many of these myths.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-06 AT 08:33PM (MST)[p]
>nohat... There are plenty of
>800 lbs Roosevelt cows.

Well,, I beg to differ my friend..

and I aint no flatlander =)

an 800 lb cow is probably about as numerous as a 400 point bull


http://www.pnptc.org/elk_&_deer.htm
 
Polarbear, I stand corrected. I have heard that for years figuring it was just belly aching by hunters that couldn't find elk.

Bozeman, I'm sure because my buddy beleives the crow thing it makes him hunt that patch of timber harder and with a more postive attitude. I've even caught myself watching a flight of crows and wondering but then they flew across the canyon and lit a 1/2 mile away, I thought if those elk moved as fast as those crows I don't have a chance of catching them. Maybe there were elk in that patch too. I'll just keep on keepin' on.

I know you can't tell a bull by a normal bugle, but if I hear a bull that only growls and gurgles you can darn near bet he's a good 'un.

I'll admit I'm confused about the elk ivories. I've always been told they were ivory and my family has always kept them as a reminder of the hunt. I like a good set of teeth almost as much as the meat and the antlers. A few years ago I read in a book All About Elk put out by NAHC that they weren't actual ivory. I don't have that book anymore if anyone does could you check. I don't really care if they are or not because I'm still going to dig them out and polish them up. But after hearing about the quote in "Bugle" about the ivories I'm curious which writer is right.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-06 AT 11:57PM (MST)[p]nohat.... Maybe in your neck of the woods, but around here, there are plenty. If you are getting your info from the Point-No Point Treaty site, you are looking in the wrong place. Of course there are no 800 lb cows on tribal hunting land, they dont get the chance to get thet big and are poached before they reach maturity. I can show you 10 cows (elk) within walking distance of my house that are 800 lbs or better. I raise beef and have a pretty damn good track record of judging liveweight on critters, be it livestock or game.
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Eric
 
>LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-06
>AT 11:57?PM (MST)
>
>nohat.... Maybe in your neck
>of the woods,.
>I can show you 10
>cows (elk) within walking distance
>of my house that are
>800 lbs or better.
>I raise beef and have
>a pretty damn good track
>record of judging liveweight on
>critters, be it livestock or
>game.
>
watermark.php

>
yotewalk.gif

>
>Eric

OK Eric

I believe you, I live in Ariz and havent ever seen an 800lb cow
elk, dressed weight ..probably never a 700 lb Cow

I see lots of elk.. lots..right out my back door as well but the Cow Elk are just smaller here in Az i guess
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-06 AT 00:41AM (MST)[p]Here is a great thing to talk about!

Has anyone ever seen an 800lb cow elk ??

verified by a scale..

if so was this dressed ?

Live? estimated?

thanks

maybe these huge cow elk that I see and think are maybe 600 are much bigger..

any biologist website that says Cow Elk get 800 lbs or over would be greatly appreciated..



NH
 
nohat, aparently you just cant understand that Roosevelt elk, on average, have a much larger carcass than do Rock Mt. Elk. They have smaller antlers but bigger bodies. Your argument is like comparing a coues to a northern whitetail. If you see coues every day, it might be hard to believe that there are whitetails that weigh over 110 lbs. Get over it man, just because you have dink elk where you live dosent mean that is the norm for the rest of the country or all elk species.
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Eric
 
first time ever heard guys argue about who got the biggest cow. who cares? they're cows! i can't add to the arguement cuz i refuse to hunt em.
 
Did you guys hear about the new world record cow elk taken in Texas? It was supposed to be free ranging. And get the picture, the guy was behind the cow by a few feet so it made the cow appear larger than she actually was. Everything is bigger in Texas ya know.

Beanman
 
>nohat, aparently you just cant understand
>that Roosevelt elk, on average,
>have a much larger carcass
>than do Rock Mt. Elk.
> They have smaller antlers
>but bigger bodies. Your
>argument is like comparing a
>coues to a northern whitetail.

>Eric

I know we have dink Elk, so no need to rub that in my face.

My original post was the Elk myth, 800 lb cow, I could have said 1500 lb bull Its just the size myth and I was speaking about Rocky Mtn. I wasnt talking about Roosevelt. I missed your point about Roosevelt, reading fast typing you get the point. If you say that 800 lb Rossevelt are common , you must be right the only Roosevelt I have ever seen I flew over.

The myth of 8OO lb Elk Cow "Rocky Mtn" still stands as does the huge bull weight.

ps I dont believe there ever has been ANY kind of Deer that weighed more than 110 lbs. Why would anyone want to kill a bigger deer anyway if you cant put the whole deer on your shoulders and walk out with it its to big a target and not sporting.
 
Polarbear is probably right about the 800 pound Roosevelt cow. The elk I hunt are both a Roosevelt/Rocky Mt. cross and also Rocky Mt. variety. In the western part of the area you will find the cross variety of elk the eastern portion has mostly Rocky Mt. elk. I have shot and seen spike & raghorn bulls that are the Roosevelt/Rocky Mt. cross that are just as large or are even larger bodied than a mature Rocky Mt. bull elk. The area is the eastern slope of the cascades and extending out to the central part of the state (Oregon).
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-17-06 AT 08:24AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-17-06 AT 08:21?AM (MST)

The crow myth is partially correct....in my mind! In a heavily hunted season the crows will in fact follow elk. I have tracked elk many a time and thought about heading in the direction the crows were making noise. Didn't follow my gut feeling and kept on tracking....low and behold I bust the elk out of the same exact area the crows were makin' noise!!! I think them birds have gotten so smart over time. I also find they will come right on in after they hear gun shots. They know there is an easy meal if they follow the elk and it's even better if they hear gunshots!

However I don't think they will always guide you to the elk. You may just end up sneaking up on a gut pile! I'd say, if you are tracking elk in the thick stuff during a hard hunted elk season (and are so blessed to have a set of tracks to yourself), and find that there are crows that seem to be following you or are just ahead of you.....they just may be a give away to where the elk are.
 
>Polarbear is probably right about the
>800 pound Roosevelt cow. The
>elk I hunt are both
>a Roosevelt/Rocky Mt. cross and
>also Rocky Mt. variety. In
>the western part of the
>area you will find the
>cross variety of elk the
>eastern portion has mostly Rocky
>Mt. elk. I have shot
>and seen spike & raghorn
>bulls that are the Roosevelt/Rocky
>Mt. cross that are just
>as large or are even
>larger bodied than a mature
>Rocky Mt. bull elk.

Thats honestly pretty interesting, I had never thought of places where the RKY MTN and RSVLT meet and they actually breed together. are the antlers kinda small for the bodies?

Is it pretty difficult to get a tag in this area?

Thanks NH
 
you can tell the crossbred elk real easy. they look a lot like the yellerstone variety, but they usually hang around coffee shops playin' bongos.
 
Nohat, on the bigger cross-elk i've seen the antlers seem to crown on the tops just like they would on a big Roosevelt. First 3 points seem to get pretty long and then from the sword on back they tend to get shorter and be more heavy or palmated. My brothers first elk was a nice 4 point not the largest antlers but it filled up the bed on my F-150, we didn't weigh it but I estimate it went roughly 800 pounds, give or take 50!
 
Thanks Need2

sounds like a great animal, love to see a pict..


palmated elk.. now thats something to look for,, now I have to do research and find out if I can get drawn for this part of the world. So, do you guide for Rib Eye steaks and beer?

thanks for responding Need2hunt
 
Nohat, sorry I can't be a guide for ya. I don't think i'd be able to get you OK'd to hunt on the reservation i'm from. However, I like to help a fellow hunter out if I can even if it's just answering questions. Perhaps another elk myth is that indian reservations have excellent elk hunting. We have lots of elk but the hunting is here is extremely tough as there are so many hunters trying to get their elk within such a limited area. Then, usually the places where the elk are found it's thick with timber and brush. I have been lucky enough to get my bull every year and some years are much harder than others.
 

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