| Any discussion regarding the biggest elk can take on | | | | record-sized elk harvested, the largest scoring 429 1 |
| several meanings. One could be talking about animal | | | | 8. New Mexico and Arizona are the states regarded |
| body size. In the wild, it could be difficult to find and | | | | as the best choices for hunting trophy elk. |
| measure the biggest elk out there. Very often, for | | | | Still, when we're talking about pounds of meat, the |
| trophy elk especially, it's the size and spread of the | | | | Roosevelt is indeed the biggest elk. The species was |
| antlers that finds its way into the record books. | | | | hunted nearly to extinction by the beginning of the |
| Species is therefore a factor. If we're talking about | | | | 20th century, with only a handful of the animals still in |
| body size, the Roosevelt elk (also called the Olympic | | | | existence at that time. President Theodore Roosevelt |
| elk) takes the prize, while the Rocky Mountain elk will | | | | played a leading role in first saving, and then |
| lay claim to the largest antler or rack size. The official | | | | reinstating, the species, which numbers over 100,000 |
| recorder of record sizes for big game is the Boone | | | | animals today. Oregon has biggest elk population as |
| and Crockett Club. The BCC has specific rules for | | | | far as Roosevelt elk are concerned, with Washington |
| taking measurements to apply for a record. They | | | | second. A bull Roosevelt elk will normally tip the |
| also have what is called a "fair-chase hunting" clause. | | | | scales at around 700 pounds, but males weighing in at |
| You don't just shoot a trophy-sized bull elk that has | | | | 1,300 pounds are not that uncommon. |
| been grown on an elk ranch, and kept in a pasture, | | | | If you want to go after the world's biggest elk, you |
| and expect to claim a record. The fair-chase hunting | | | | have some choices. If it's rack size you're after, you'll |
| clause means that you actually killed the animal in the | | | | want to hunt the Rocky Mountain Species. As we've |
| wild, after a fair and legal hunt. | | | | noted, Arizona and New Mexico are supposedly the |
| What is now considered to be the world's record for | | | | places to go for trophy animals, yet the |
| the biggest elk ever taken in the wild, is for a bull elk | | | | record-setting animals have been taken in states |
| killed in a Utah hunt in January, 2009. The elk was | | | | north of there. If it's body weight that's important, |
| taken on public land and was credited with a score, | | | | Washington or Oregon might be your destination, as |
| which rewards antler size, of 478-5/8 inches. There | | | | it will be Roosevelt elk you'll be hunting. The |
| was an elk killed in Idaho that supposedly scored 502 | | | | Roosevelt elk has also been introduced in Alaska, and |
| 2/8 but for whatever reason, the Boone and | | | | supposedly some of the larger Roosevelt elk are to |
| Crockett Club did not recognize this. Up until 2009, | | | | be found in our 49th state. So, it's not really all that |
| the BCC record was 465 2/8, for a bull elk shot in | | | | simple. To get the biggest elk, you might just have |
| British Columbia in 1994. Montana has had several | | | | to find someone who thinks they may have seen it. |