Utah’s world record moose

Well, it became official in 2009. A Utah moose now holds the title of world record moose, outlier, for carrying the largest antlered moose ever recorded.

The Boone and Crockett (B&C) Club officially recognizes the “Spider Bull”…taken on Monroe Mountain in central Utah in September 2008…as the new world record for an atypical bull moose.

The previous world record of 465 2/8 points was held by a bull found frozen in a lake in British Columbia, Canada, in 1994. But this Utah bull beat that record with 478 5/8 points.

An Idaho hunter, Denny Austad, took the bull on a guided hunt after two weeks of chasing. But this album was not without controversy. Internet rumors, as is often the case, claimed alternative scenarios.

Claims that the bull had strayed away from a moose ranch or game preserve. But the biggest buzz…as reported by Brett Prettyman of the Salt Lake Tribune…came as a result of a state program that allowed this hunter to obtain a $150,000 moose conservation permit to hunt anywhere in the state.

But what is the problem with this program? It has raised more than $17 million in the last 12 years. $2.9 million in 2008 alone. Funds a variety of Utah conservation projects. And this money is not available anywhere else.

State authorities and B&C investigated this hunt. They verified that the bull was taken out on public land. And he was legally killed. In fact, the animal industry division of the Utah Department of Agriculture stated that it was confident that it was not a farmed moose. Therefore, it qualifies as the world record elk.

Given that no bull had ever been seen…let alone caught…on this mountain that even approached a 400″ score, the healthy skepticism was understandable. But those involved in the hunt that took this elk They quickly discovered why it had survived so long. The only time they could catch a glimpse of this bull was in the few minutes before dusk and just after first light, and then it was gone.

There was a huge uproar after the details of this hunt became known. Although they now grudgingly admit that this bull was a legally free range bull, many of the “skeptics” downplay this achievement because of the money and professional guides involved.

Austad hired MossBack Guides, with the team of outfitter Doyle Moss, to find, track and track the bull. Jealousy? Probably. Sour grapes? your bet

If a hunter without the means to pay for a hunt like this gets lucky and lands a tag in a limited-entry trophy area, what usually happens? Friends, relatives, and wannabes get together and do these same kinds of things, don’t they? And offer the same kind of help. What is the difference?

What about the other hunters who had seen this bull and had the same opportunity? Now, does a professional guide and equipment service give a hunter an advantage? Surely yes. But I agree that equipment in the West has a long and honorable tradition. And most hunters voicing this criticism would not hesitate to hire such a provider if they could afford it.

The fact that Moss and his guides were paid for their services may have given Austad an advantage. But there is a long and healthy tradition of equipment in the West. And Austad obviously didn’t want to waste his money. would you do it?

What does this all mean? Pretty simple really. When it comes to finding, hunting, photographing, or seeing monstrous bull moose sporting huge racks, Utah is the place.