What is considered an average size Wyoming bull elk?

Airborne1

Airborne1

Member
Sep 20, 2011
88
0
Springfield, Illinois
Having never hunted elk before I'm curious what an average bull elk looks like from the state of Wyoming. Does anyone have pictures of a Wyoming bull elk that they have harvested that they wouldn't mind posting so I can get an idea of what I'll be hunting in 2015. I'll be hunting in Wyoming elk hunt area 40 or 41 during the rifle seaosn in 2015.

Thanks in advance:)
 
K

kiddwinner

Active Member
Jun 24, 2013
377
6
Cody, Wyoming
40 and 41 are two totally different units. I hunted 40 2 years ago and and 41 last year. I firmly believe 40 has much larger elk than 41, my friend hunts 40 archery only every year and has got some pigs outta there. this last year I bow hunted 41 and saw one nice bull, probably 330-340 and this rest were probably 300's. there is rumor around town that 2 400 bulls were taken in 41 last year, reliable source but I haven't seen any pics.... hope that helps alittle.
 
K

kiddwinner

Active Member
Jun 24, 2013
377
6
Cody, Wyoming
however on another note, in both areas when we were camping well off the beaten path, the bulls kept us up all night with there bugling. I swear some of them where within 100 yards of our camp. Nothing in the world compares to it.
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,839
2,225
Eastern Nebraska
Airborne1 said:
Having never hunted elk before I'm curious what an average bull elk looks like from the state of Wyoming. Does anyone have pictures of a Wyoming bull elk that they have harvested that they wouldn't mind posting so I can get an idea of what I'll be hunting in 2015. I'll be hunting in Wyoming elk hunt area 40 or 41 during the rifle seaosn in 2015.

Thanks in advance:)
Click to expand...
If you mean the average size harvested, that would be a 2-3 year old bull in most areas. Those bulls will generally be 4x4 or 5x5 with 200ish sets of antlers. In all areas of the state, people harvest mature big bulls but that isn't the norm. If Wyoming bull elk are allowed to reach maturity at 7 or 8 years old they are 330 to 400 inches. Very difficult to find these animals on most hunts. I'll post a couple photos that show an example of what I'm talking about.
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,839
2,225
Eastern Nebraska
Wyoming Bull Examples

3 year old bull.jpg

This is an example of a young bull. This is a typical bull that is harvested in the state. A bull of this size can be a herd bull in some general areas with decent hunting pressure. I'm no expert but I'm guessing his age at 3.

wyo elk 2.jpg

This is an example of a mature Wyoming bull. This bull was harvested last year in the area I will be hunting this fall. Very few elk of this caliber are harvested each year. I guess this bulls age to be 6-8 years old.

Hope this helps
 
S

shootbrownelk

Veteran member
Apr 11, 2011
1,535
196
Wyoming
Hilltop, you nailed it. That's just about right, and there aren't enough to go around. That's for sure. Years ago, I saw with my own eyes one fella letting 3 decent bulls walk. They were all within 100 yds of him. I was watching from a high vantage point. We were hunting area 79 in Grand Teton park. I saw him later in the day in a parking spot and asked why he didn't take one of those bulls. He said he was waiting for a 350"+ bull. Back then (before wolves) that was entirely possible....not anymore, Ahhhhh, the Good Old Days!
 
K

kiddwinner

Active Member
Jun 24, 2013
377
6
Cody, Wyoming
wow, I musta been in the hot spot... I do see some elk like hilltop's first pic but in general the elk ive seen in 40 and 41 are bigger than that. Maybe its just because im usually a good distance off the road or I am from this area and spend a lot more time there. but take what you will from it. I ment around 300" for shooter bulls but of course there are always satellites around too.
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,839
2,225
Eastern Nebraska
kiddwinner said:
wow, I musta been in the hot spot... I do see some elk like hilltop's first pic but in general the elk ive seen in 40 and 41 are bigger than that. Maybe its just because im usually a good distance off the road or I am from this area and spend a lot more time there. but take what you will from it. I ment around 300" for shooter bulls but of course there are always satellites around too.
Click to expand...
Like I said, there are big bulls in every areas of the state. If you spend years learning areas and elk habits, you can key in on them. That's not realistic for most out of state hunters coming on their first hunt. I'm not telling anyone what they can or can't harvest, just trying to give a realistic picture to someone coming on a hunt. If everyone could find your bulls, they wouldn't still be alive.
 
K

kiddwinner

Active Member
Jun 24, 2013
377
6
Cody, Wyoming
I think what you posted is very accurate then. the more you go the better elk you find. Also, just because I see these bulls doesn't mean you can get to them. I saw many bulls in these areas that there was no way to get too, wind, wide open country, no way to sneak up on them. Also, I should mention that a majority of these elk ive seen just before archery season or during archery season. the numbers and quality go way down once the snow comes and the guns start shooting. Musket Man, I ment wy elk areas 500 and 600 not 40 and 41
 
Hilltop

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,839
2,225
Eastern Nebraska
kiddwinner said:
I think what you posted is very accurate then. the more you go the better elk you find. Also, just because I see these bulls doesn't mean you can get to them. I saw many bulls in these areas that there was no way to get too, wind, wide open country, no way to sneak up on them. Also, I should mention that a majority of these elk ive seen just before archery season or during archery season. the numbers and quality go way down once the snow comes and the guns start shooting. Musket Man, I ment wy elk areas 500 and 600 not 40 and 41
Click to expand...
That area 500 in the Cybil canyon refuge? LOL...some big ones in there. And 600 is just down the road from Old Faithful...
 
MWScott72

MWScott72

Active Member
Jan 27, 2012
220
0
West Jordan, UT
Airborne1 said:
Having never hunted elk before I'm curious what an average bull elk looks like from the state of Wyoming. Does anyone have pictures of a Wyoming bull elk that they have harvested that they wouldn't mind posting so I can get an idea of what I'll be hunting in 2015. I'll be hunting in Wyoming elk hunt area 40 or 41 during the rifle seaosn in 2015.

Thanks in advance:)
Click to expand...
The answer to your question can be summed up in one word "BIG". If you haven't hunted elk, then you will be amazed at their size if you are lucky enough to get one down. Don't underestimate how hard it will be to get one out if you're off the beaten track. Depending how far you are in, it could take 2-3 days to get a bull out...especially if it's a BIG mature bull. Make sure you know how to at minimum quarter them...better yet de-bone them. Did I say that elk are BIG? Yes, I think I did. Good luck on your hunts!
 
kcaves

kcaves

Active Member
Jun 3, 2011
181
0
wyoming


This is another example of a Wyoming bull. I saw bigger during the archery season, but never got a shot. Still happy with this one, he's almost 340
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom