5guyshunting Report post Posted May 19, 2015 The tapes were not calibrated by "The Arizona Department of Weights and Measures", its all hooey!!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost85 Report post Posted May 19, 2015 #2 is biggest. For sure WRONG..#2 is the smallest.... I stand corrected! I was semi right, however. I figured them all 320-330ish bulls 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murfys69law Report post Posted May 19, 2015 #2 is biggest. For sureWRONG..#2 is the smallest.... I stand corrected! I was semi right, however. I figured them all 320-330ish bulls Just messing with ya brother. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost85 Report post Posted May 19, 2015 Yeah, yeah, yeah.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyle762 Report post Posted May 19, 2015 Hope to be average this fall.....but mostly hope to get to do some great hunting.........nothing like being in the middle of screaming bulls. I'll admit if I see antler....it is always big...... If I could come across anything like what has been posted on this thread I will not be disappointed...... On a side note, as we have measured sheds through the years dreaming about the bulls that packed them......it seems that mass falls short where length consistently from tine to tine is where you really gain big numbers? Yes? No? Here is my take on it. Mass is extremely deceiving. Tine length you can guess on pretty close while judging a bull. But when you start pulling a tape an a bull has 70+ inches of mass it adds up quick. A big bull will usually have around 60" of mass. It's always a pleasant surprise. So Ya tine length adds up no doubt. But a heavy bull is where you get the unexpected inches In the photo that I posted of my bull earlier in the thread, that is definately what pushed him over the 350 mark. He had average tine length but lots of mass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted May 19, 2015 AZ elk hunters are reall spoiled. I hunted Montana and Colorado for 12 years before I moved to AZ and honestly never saw a bull over 275" in all those years. I killed 6-7 bulls and never killed a 6pt. I read someone on here saying the average bull killed in the US is 300". I would say its probably 190-200". There are 50 times the elk killed in CO and MT then AZ and I would bet that 90% of them are 4 and 5 pt raghorns that don't go over 200". I know cuz I've killed a pile of them in those states. I scored one once for the fun of it. 186" was my first bull, a normal 4x5 raghorns. That is what almost all the bulls killed in the US are. I would bet that there aren't over 100 bulls killed in CO every year that go over 350. I think a mature bull is a heck of a bull no matter if e has 5 pts or short points or broke points or whatever. They are bada$$ animals and anytime you can get in on one and kill him its an accomplishment in my book!! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
osu92 Report post Posted May 21, 2015 As I sit here in my office and look at pictures of bulls or watch videos at home on the couch, it's easy to say that with a Unit 27 bow tag in hand this fall I'll be holding out for a '350' bull. But in reality, at bow range, any +/-325 type bull is going to look big and I'll be at full draw looking for a shot. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Sparky Report post Posted May 21, 2015 I only have three classes of bulls I shoot. 1) Legal bull 2) Big bull 3) OMG HUGE 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest akaspecials Report post Posted May 22, 2015 I agree with everyone saying we are spoiled in AZ. My guess is nationwide most bulls are close to 200 (especially considering that most other states don't manage for trophys like AZ). In my book, with a bow in AZ 250-300 is a respectable bull. 300-350 is a dang nice bull. 350-400 is a monster. And 400+, I don't even want to hear your story cause I'm jealous. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DNS Report post Posted May 22, 2015 Too many hunters see pics of these monster bulls that are the top 1% of the top 1% and think that 350's are behind every tree in AZ and anything less is a waste of a tag. I hunted with a guy a few years ago that said he wanted 375+ and I told him if had the opportunity on anything bigger than 340 he better take it because he wouldn't get many chances on bulls of that caliber even in one of the best units in the state. Sure enough we had a bull come in opening day and he was all fired up and said that bull was at least 380. The bull might have gone 320, maybe. I don't think many hunters are good at field judging in the heat of the moment. A 320-340 bull at 15 yards looks big. What made it worse is I don't think this guy was having fun. He was too worried about having a quality tag and what his bull might score and not about the fact that he was in the woods with rutting bulls screaming in his face day in and day out. It doesn't get much better than that. I have a unit 1 bull tag this year and I would kill a legit 350 bull on opening morning without hesitation. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted May 22, 2015 My 12 year old daughter has another bull tag this year, and our goal is a mature animal again. I don't care if it is a decent 5x5 like last year, or a 400" bull. The enjoyment of the hunt, and sticking to taking mature animals is our goal. Filling the freezer is a priority, but not at the expense of fun. A 350" bull, or even a 300" bull would be a fantastic accomplishment for her. And from what I have seen in my own experience in the elk woods, I would think 200" is the average. It takes a 440" bull to make up for each spike that is taken. And most raghorns can't gross too much more than 200". I see a lot more spikes and raghorn shot than 300+" bulls every year. Just the 300"+ bulls get a lot more interweb time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed67 Report post Posted May 22, 2015 Here is a pic of a smaller bull for reference. My wife shot it many years ago on a 22n late hunt. 5-5 frame but had 7 on one side. I think I scored it around 240. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted May 22, 2015 I just got a flyer from a guide service "The areas we hunt in AZ are an absolute Mecca for 320 plus Bull Elk with plenty of 380-400 inch bulls killed locally every year." Hope to find myself somewhere in the middle of that spread come September but if not it won't have been for lack of trying!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swivelhead Report post Posted May 23, 2015 Set yourself up to hunt as hard as you can for as long as you can. Hopefully most of you can be there the whole season. When it's over, win or lose, you gave all. That's what really matters. Hard work is usually rewarded. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted May 24, 2015 I got 4-5 fliers from outfitters also. I got the 10 early rifle tag. We shall see what is up there quality wise. IV'e never stepped foot in the unit. Counting on others that know it . Should be fun..........BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
