World Records: World's Largest Bull Elk

World's Largest Bull Elk
There is definitely a buzz going around about two monster World's Largest Bull Elk. Some rumors say there is a legit world record bull scoring over 500 inches taken with a bow. Some saying it is from idaho, others saying possibly from Arizona. Then there are photos of another huge bull, likely taken the same year…by the same guy? A lot of questions, but what are some of the correct answers?
The message boards and emails are going crazy with this topic and the photos that continue to circulate about these big bulls. Some are posted with truths, some totally made up falsehoods, and others with a little bit of both.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to talk with the hunter of both of these bulls. Kevin Reid was the lucky hunter to take down not one of these huge bulls, but both of them. Contrary to what many may think, these two bulls were not taken the same year. One was taken last year during the 2004 season and the other this year. Now the big question…Are these fair chase bulls?
Kevin Reid was hunting a private high fenced ranch in Idaho in 2004 and came across two monster bulls running together. Kevin ended up taken one of the bulls with his bow at just over 30 yards. The bull is an incredible bull scoring 447 SCI. After the season, the ranch owner called Kevin and told him he thought the other bull that was running with the bull Kevin shot was even bigger. Sure enough, Kevin went back for the 2005 season. After three weeks of hunting, he finally got within bow range of this bull. This bull has been scored by SCI (Safari Club International) scorers at an incredible 502 2/8 SCI. This bull will become the new SCI world record bull (taken with any weapon).World's Largest Bull Elk.
So will these bulls be eligable for Pope & Young or Boone & Crockett? No, they will not. They were taken in a high fence arrangement, and therefore will not be eligable. They will be entered in SCI and be not only one of, but two of the biggest bulls recorded. Even in high fence, there has never been a 500 inch bull taken before. The only bull ever taken by a hunter that scored over 500 inches (gross score) is the Mike Shipsey shot this bull in 1997 on the San Carlos Reservation. This 11×10 point bull scores 502 6/8 gross, 487 net non-typical B&C. However, the Shipsey bull has not been entered (or accepted) into the B&C Club. The San Carlos Fish and Game in Arizona has a replica of this elk in their office – so if you are down that way you can check it out.
Kevin was nice enough to give me permission to post these photos of his World's Largest Bull Elk. Kevin is an accomplished hunter and has hunted all over the world, which includes entries in Pope & Young. However, one thing he is a little frustrated with is the rumors about these bulls going around on the Internet. He has never tried to pass these bulls off as fair chase bulls, and has been up front about them from the start. Unfortunately, people have been passing these photos around and included their own information which has been incorrect. Kevin knows what they are, but is not trying to trick anyone, and has been getting emails daily about his bulls himself. Hopefully this will help clear up some of the confusion.
Below are some photos of Kevin’s two Idaho archery bulls: