Montana Elk Record

A Montana Elk could become the new world record for pope and young and the bow hunter remains anonymous. This bull's net green score was 429 and 6/8th. This could be the largest typical bull elk ever recorded in Montana, trumping the current 419 4/8 boon and crocket shot in 1958. This prompted us to take a look at some of Montana's neighboring states records.

In Oregon a 418" bull was taken from Crook County in 1942 and currently holds the record. In Washington a 423" bull out of Yakima County was harvested in 1990 and in Idaho a 412 5/8" bull was taken out of Adams County in 1954.

As for Colorado, the famous John Plute Bull still holds the state record with a net score of 442 3/8. Plute's bull is one of the most famous big game trophies ever taken, and commonly known in the Boone and Crocket industry still today.

In 1899, coal miner John Plute rode into the mountains surrounding Crested Butte, Colorado, and went hunting. In that era, there were still no game laws in effect in Colorado, and game herds were dwindling, as mining towns dotted the high country terrain and meat was needed. Plute helped pay his room & board by supplying the boarding house with meat. One autumn afternoon he returned with packhorses loaded with elk meat, and told the boys at the bar that he had shot a dandy. No one believed him, so he rode back into the high country and brought the antlers back to prove his story.

Matt, this story makes me wonder how many other boon and crocket trophies were left unrecorded over the ages. Still the greatest trophy that exists today is being able to continue the tradition of going into the mountains and harvesting your own game.