Largest Elk in 48 years and largest ever taken with a bow in Montana

Steve Felix from Montana arrowed this potential B&C World's Club Record Book Montana elk that scored 430 inches. Photo courtesy Boone & Crockett Club

The Boone and Crocket Club (www.boone-crockett.org) has announced a potentially new World’s Record bow-shot elk. 

Taken during the 2016 Montana archery season, and on public land, the elk scored an astounding 430 inches after the 6-day drying period. 

The bull elk was taken on a solo hunt early in the Montana archery season by resident Steve Felix, who brought the bull to the attention of Boone & Crockett (B&C). 

“History was made right here in Montana,” said Justin Spring, B&C Club’s director of Big Game Records. He goes on to say, “This is the fourth largest bull in our records, which dates back to before 1900, and the largest since 1968 and the largest from the state of Montana.” 

According to B&C, the current B&C World’s Record taken with a rifle scored 442-5/8. The second and third largest typical elk were taken before 1900. 

The last step in the process, in order to obtain an official score for Pope and Young Club (P&Y- www.Pope-Young.org) World’s Record status, is to have the antlers panel scored by a group of highly qualified P&Y and B&C Measurers. This will take place just prior to P&C Club’s Biennial Convention and Big Game Awards Ceremony April 5-8, 2017 in St. Louis Missouri, where this exceptional animal will be displayed and honored, say the folks at B&C. 

Using the B&C scoring system for big game, the P&Y Club maintains records for archery taken trophies. B&C records animals taken by all legal hunting methods. 
The current archery World Record typical elk scored 412-1/8 says B&C. And it was taken in Arizona during the 2005 elk hunting season.  

Both organizations according to their press release on this elk, point to the fact that a free-ranging elk of this size, living a long life on good habitat, is just one more indicator that wildlife conservation and management is working well. 

“Elk of his size are a sign that we’re doing something right out there, said Spring. “And the end result couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. He’s been hunting a lot of years and really gets in the spirit of the chase, the importance of conservation, and what records keeping is all about-honoring the animal and what it took to make sure we still have elk with us, and the opportunity to see and hunt them.” 

Perhaps one day, with conservation and good management by the PGC (and no poaching), Pennsylvania’s elk herd will sport a record bull similar to this.
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