Friday, January 7, 2011
Sports World Record Bull Elk, Sort of ...
Posted by Randy King on Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 4:07 PM
Hunting often devolves into bragging rights: Who’s shot a bigger buck, elk, bear or … whatever? It’s all about size, sometimes.
Size matters to some, and Idaho has recently made the news for some big developments. But not in the best of ways. It seems that a new world record bull elk, with a massive rack measuring 526 inches, has been killed in the state. That would be an impressive record, if it hadn't been killed behind a high-fence elk ranch in Eastern Idaho.
The ranch is the Broadmouth Canyon Ranch located on 70,000 acres of non contiguous land—that’s about 110 square miles. The elk herds are self populating and the hunts run at a 100 percent success rate. The ranch offers elk, mule deer, buffalo, cougar and moose hunts. The price for a guided trophy bull elk hunt is $5,900.
What’s the rub? The issue among the hunting community is whether or not to count the bull because it was not a “fair chase” (wild, non-fenced) game animal. Most hunters make a distinction between “fair chase” and “free range." Free range animals are animals that have plenty of space but are still not able to escape the ranch.
It is kind of like the Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire of debauchery. Should they be the greatest homerun hitters of all time even though they are accused of cheating? They did hit all those homers after all. So should this bull go in the record books even though it had more advantages than fair chase game? That's for the record books to decide.
Comments (32)
Showing 1-32 of 32
This isn't hunting and this man is not a hunter. Hunters go out and scout for months on public land. Then the hunter locates an area where they plan to harvest the animal(s). A GOOD hunter will spend months, if not years preparing. All the while enjoying the great outdoors and the excitement of the hunt. And harvest or not, animal or no animal, a REAL hunter understands the meaning of FAIR GAME.
This story is about "killing" and not hunting. A man went out into a large cage and killed an animal, which could not retreat. This crap gives all the humane hunters a bad name. Shame on this ranch and this hunter.
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Sorry but your not a real hunter unless your chasing them in the wild.. What a shame that our world has come to trapping animals in fences so humans can feel superior to them and hunt them down when they can't escape.. That doesn't sound manly to me.. should be ashamed of themselves for killing such a beautiful creature.. Maybe next time the Elk should have the gun and let them hunt down the man in a fenced area.. see how fun that would be.
When is Idaho going to outlaw these dam game farms? These animals behind fences are feed all kinds of minerals and whatever else it takes to grow thes abnormal antlers. Yes the man that shot this fenced elk is not a hunter but a slob. That's what these type of people are called. This is not ethical hunting, all you have to do is have money. These type of people should bre ashamed at themselve's. When is the Idaho legislature going to shut these farms down? I have hunted my whole life and have harvested many great animals, all fair chase. That mean's "NO FENCES". The bum who owns this game farm is rulon jones. You should be ashamed to bring this type of crap to Idaho.
What this story dosn't tell you is that the enclosure that this bull was taken from was not 70,000 acres, but rather 2500 acres (2 miles by 2 miles approximately). Obviously there is no skill involved in this "hunt" when they put 500 elk in that small enclosure. You can "hunt" the elk all day because ultimately, they will hit a fence and have to turn around. Not a fair chace environment. The other thing is that these elk are bred like cattle where inferior bulls are culled from the herd to maximize genetic potential. It is not hunting. You are shooting someone's private property...much like going onto a ranch and shootin someone's cattle.
I have hunted since I was 13.Mainly whitetail deer,and squirrels.I have respect for the animals I hunted.The people who hunt on these ranches obviously have no respect for their quarry.for me,the hunt was the best part.The actual killing of the animal was bittersweet.Whenever I killed a nice buck,I felt I was forunate to get him.An animal in the wild has a good chance of surviving.People that hunt like this should be ashamed of themselves.They give real hunters a bad name.
Agreed that fair chase is the most ethical and most satisfying. But, we do live in the USA where freedeom of choice, whether wrong or right is still relevant. These pay to hunt operations are on private property and do provide "hunting" to folks who cant phyiscally get out into roadless or steep areas. Elderly people, maimed soldiers, kids with cancer, etc. have and still do frequent these operations.
To answer the question. No, this elk should not be in the record books.
To continue the debate about "game farms". We sometimes treat wild elk just like this also. On the Teton Elk Refuge in Wyoming the elk population is too large in the winter. (The elk congregate there because most of their traditional winter range has been millionaire ranched instead) So because Wyoming wolves are not taking care of the matter "hunters" were given an Elk Reduction Hunt this fall. Parts of the refuge are also fenced, some to keep them off of the highway and Elk in this hunt often got pinned against the fence while hunters advanced and shot them.
http://www.thewildphotographer.com/2010/11/dead-elk-running-grand-teton-national.html
If the folks that shoot and kill these animals are "slobs" and otherwise below contempt for harvesting a "caged" animal, then what do you call the rancher who rounds up the cattle he's been pasturing on public land and sends them to slaughter? Is he better or worse than the guy who buys a couple calves in the Spring, raises them on his 4 fenced acres in Wilder and has the man come out, kill them and haul them to be "processed"? Just sayin'.
@ Whatif
For the same reason cattle ranchers don't take photos with the cows they slaughter and score the moo-cow on it's antler measurements. It's not a matter of better or worse, hunter vs. rancher. You're off topic and way off base.
The article is about "canned hunting" which most Idaho hunters DO NOT agree with. It's a rich man's game, which goes against ALL the rules of "hunting." This man paid almost $6000 to kill a domesticated elk in a small area. I've read stories about these canned-hunts where the "hunter" had trouble finding the animal, so the ranch owner would tie it to a tree for an easy find. These canned-hunts are about making money, a lot of money.
Also, wounded vets and handicapped people might benefit from a hunt like this, but they too hunt on public lands and harvest animals just as much as anyone else. So that argument doesn't hold much weight.
Idaho doesn't need such rich man sports. Pay for kill canned-hunts are for people who don't want to put much effort into it. It's for out-of-State rich people who need a picture of themselve's with an animal. An odd looking elk at that... Did anyone else notice this Elk looks a little odd?
"and the hunts run at a 100 percent success rate."
Which begs the question; how can this be a canned-hunt? I believe what you are trying to say is canned-shoot. There is no hunting taking place here.
This pathetic and undignified conduct is half the equation that describes this new shooting industry. There is no hunt, !00% guaranteed "success" and money always changes hands...the end is never in doubt.
The perversion never ends, even in this article the words "new world record bull elk" is used. There is no record book that would accept this fake as a trophy animal.
As one shooting preserve website declared, "we provide the animal, you provide the lie" this has nothing to do with financial wealth, but everything to do with character. No sportsman/woman would be caught dead or alive on one of this shooting preserves.
This is the same Guy mr j that wonded a moose in utah and moved it to his land on JAMES mt people say this happend while hiking in the area eye witness/ and now this i pay taxs/pay for licences and all elk are owned by tax payers we pay for mr smokey were is my share of profit 5.000.00 for each elk well?then keep guys in the fild to keep track of elk moving to and move them back salt blocks back?
Can someone explain to me how a rack is measured? It says here that the rack is 526 inches...but that's something like 43 feet and there is no way that is correct. Unless I'm measuring wrong...thanks!
http://www.pursuetheoutdoors.com/hunting/t…
check this site out. it will show you how to get to 526.
This is no different than going to the butcher and buying 800 pounds of meat and telling him to "go ahead and throw the head in as well". Hunting? Not even close!
All sports hunters are psychotics don't matter whether it's canned or not. You all sit in your tree stand with all your fancy accessories you can buy now to lure the animal to you then you kill the worst is the bowhunters who wait the recommended time of 30-45 minutes for the animal to die. Sports hunting today whether it's canned or not is legalized animal cruelty, and 90% of hunting done in America is by a tree stand with a bait though some places banned baiting because of CWD that hunters helped spread the diseases. Many deer are left wounded and crippled and with elk they die a suffering slow death by an arrow, even shotgun is a horrible death but the worst is the arrow. Lastly when you kill a living sentient being you KILLED him/her not "harvested" they are not veggies you simply plucked from the ground. They run because they do not want to feel pain or die!!
Hunting with bows and arrows are getting so popular today that many shotgun hunters are also becoming bowhunters. Imagine how many animal dies an excruciating horrible suffering death because some soulless humans just have the need to destroy life. Today's recreational hunting is NOT about "food" it's about the thrill of the kill , some may eat the "back ribs" (how laughable) but the rest are dumped to the forest ground or they "give" the unsavory part to the pantries further spreading more diseases to the innocent. You know their fridge is stocked with market food too!
There is a special place in the afterlife for those who feign strength by destroying life and it ain't no pearly gates!
You know how many hunting areas there are especially in California where 1,000 acres are fenced in for deer hunting. TONS! All you sports hunters there is something missing in the brain to be able to enjoy killing whether from tree stand, ground blind or fenced in.
@Bigboy, you keep saying the "excitement of the hunt", I love to shed hunt, I love the outdooors but I hate killing so yours is the "excitement of the kill" just admit it and stop using the word 'harvest" unless you are harvesting crops such as wheat or potatoes.
Sam would you like someone to chop you head off because of the size of your nose? Pathetic!
Only Soulless humans can kill with a bow and arrow Part 3 Compilation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx_NiYyxmPE
"Sports" For Psychopaths - Hunting Cruelty Compilation Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVSruqFgktY
ABOLISH ALL SPORTS HUNTING !! ANIMAL CRUELTY IS NOT A SPORT!
@ SamathaJones
Wow. Really?.... I'll bet you've reformed hundreds of murdering hunters with your poetic writings and articulate mannerisms. You go girl!
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
@"big"boy
This is not about "reforming" sadist killers it's about educating the non killing public.
As a hunter and a fisherman I agree that this being considered as a "record breaking trophy" is wrong ! It would be no different than breaking the current world record 37 pound rainbow trout out of Lake Pend O'reille in Northern Idaho with 40 pound farm raised trout out of a pellet fed stock pond . This would be true EVEN IF that pond fed trout were released into open lake waters for a while.
As far as referencing any hunter as "psychotic" then many famous people including Ernest Hemingway, Daniel Boone and Theodore Roosevelt met that description. True "psychotics" would be hunting people.
It is a FACT that since regulated and managed State supervised hunting was instituted in the early 1900s that most game animals have prospered to the point of record numbers - even in some cases "overpopulation" - compared to the unregulated years of the 1800s when many species including buffalo were hunted to the verge of extinction.
Many good points are made by the many viewpoints on this blog and most have valid reasoning behind them.
In the good ol' days the Boise Weekly would have written a scathing article about the stupidity of these people and how it wasn't right. But, the BW went from a "Rag" to a "main stream" publication that doesn't rock the boat in fear of losing readership/advertisers and it gave into the right leaning citizens of Boise.
Get back to your roots BW and be the "Rag" you were intended to be.
First off, I would like to congratulate this hunter on his beautiful trophy. Because I run a ranch like this, I (unlike all these uneducated bloggers that just through mindless words around) understand just how challenging this actually was. You people who are knocking ranch hunting haven't done your homework. Not everybody is fortunate enough to have the time or the health to scout land that they are completely unfamiliar with. Then, Spend even more time trying to hunt for this animal on limited vacation time. Big Boy... If someone in your family had a terminal illness and could not hunt the rigourous terrain and mountains, but yet wanted that trophy, and hunt, of a lifetime would you condemn them and belittle them for hunting at a place where a guide would constantly be able to monitor and asure their safety. How about doctors lawers and other working folks who just plain can't take 2 weeks off to trek through the mountains and public land trying to get an animal that has been chased by dirt bikes, other outfitters, and whoever else is spending there summer vacations on that same public land. Bottom line... Hunters are hunters and we all need to stick together. There are a lot of contraversial methods of hunting. Hunting over bait, with dogs, ranch hunting, crossbow hunting, the list goes on my friends. In the end, this man IS a hunter and should be praised and credited as one. If you don't like ranch hunting, or dog hunting, whatever it may be, then don't do it. But don't gang up on a particular group of hunters as this will only help for our rights to be taken as gun owners and hunters. Strength in numbers! You don't have to like it. You don't have to do it. But at least support it as a fellow hunter who wants to keep their rights and freedoms for generations to come.
I will say, however, this bull should never have been entered for the record books. It should not have been kept a secret and it may not have been such a big deal. Believe me, That is NOT the biggest elk to have been taken if ranch hunting is to be included. Should there be a separate record book for ranches for people to still compete for the biggest trophy? Absolutely! Just not the same book as we try to enter an animal from our back forty. This way it will be a level playing field for all the ranch hunters as well as hunters who chose not to hunt on ranches. Please, fellow hunters, think before you tear each other apart on the internet. We as hunters in one way or another are all like brothers and sisters and NEED to back each other in these trying times and attacks on our rights!
This guys wife packed is shells in his socks,he payed someone to shoot this poor animal while he drank beer in the bar and bragged to his buddies about what a great white hunter he is.
I believe the term " New World Record " is gettin everyone bet out of shape. Any current Record Book Organzation would never allow this animal to be listed due to the fact that rules are in place that would disqualify said Elk.
As far as Huntin Ranches goes....I guess there's a place for them. But please don't call your havested animals " World Records "
Wow people !!!!!!!!!!! Especialy @ Samantha you are uneducated and need to zip your trash talking mouth...for ONE we dont hunt deer OR elk with SHOTGUNS lol maybe a rifle and we dont hunt just for the "backribs" I have been hunting for 30 years and I have and always will eat the entire animal it is very good and healthy, I take it you are vegetarian because you would not eat beef,pork,chicken,turkey etc. as they are animals that are raised and butchered to sell at the markets same situation. How did your ancestors survive or feed their familys without hunting???????? AND for your information not everyone sits in a treestand and hunts (nothing against that if thats your thing) but I am currently hunting and have been hiking straight up mountains out here in Idaho 10-15 hours a day, I challenge you to throw 40 plus lbs. on your back and hike straight up and down all day long day after day.... your welcome to join in if you have the stamina..... now for the record issue I don not feel ranch hunted game should be in the same record books as the wild but I do not feel these ranches should be trash talked either, I feel if you are physically capable you should hunt in the wild but I feel that folks that are ill or handicapped should have the same privileges as the rest of us, I had my knee fully replaced and also foot surgery recently and am having a hard enough time doing my hunts I may some day need to hunt a ranch lol.....but lets keep it seperate and fair game for us working our bodies to the bone.
I believe hunting, like other sports, has a HUGE array of ethics. I am not a ranch hunter- but I don't believe it is unethical or cruel. I think the type of person who does it has his own issues which I don't need to guess about. Meat from ranches is what we all eat everyday (OK, almost all of us)... This elk is no different... in fact I'm sure it had a better life and died more humanely than the beef/chicken/pork in that burger you ate today.
Should it be in a record book?? HELL NO, its a different game all together and not even in the same category. I do not agree with the ranch owner (Brandon1988) saying how all hunters need to stick together, regardless, or somebody will take all our guns away. First, this conspiracy theory paranoia- our guns are here to stay. Second, I think its important for hunters to make this distinction between the canned and wild... because it is HUGE. The two sports (I have trouble really calling ranch hunting a sport) are very, very different and need to be treated so.
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