For this feature, we used the sharp eyes of Steve Chappell, who owns Chappell Guide Service and is one of the best field judges in the elk hunting world. He also makes the Extreme Bulls video series.
For avid hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, the term “250 inch elk” represents the pinnacle of these majestic animals. But what exactly makes a 250 inch elk so special? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what a 250 inch elk is, how their antlers are measured, and why these elk are so highly coveted.
Understanding Antler Measurements
When referring to a 250 inch elk, we’re talking about the measurement of the elk’s antlers from tip to tip. Specifically, this number represents the combined length of both antler beams measured from the base.
Elk antlers are measured according to standards set by organizations like the Boone and Crockett Club and Pope and Young Club. To qualify for archery records, a typical elk must have a minimum score of 260 inches, while non-typical elk must hit 300 inches.
The score is calculated by adding up the total inches of the antler points, beams, spread, and circumference. For official scores, antlers are measured after a 60 day drying period when shrinkage has stabilized.
Identifying a Trophy Bull Elk
So how do you know if an elk you see is a potential 250 class bull? Look for
- Long main beams over 50 inches each
- Multiple points branching off the main beams
- Impressive mass and thickness of the antlers
- A wide spread between beam tips, often over 6 feet
- Long “sword” points and a prominent “whale tail”
A 250 inch elk will also have an intimidating body size, often weighing 800-900 lbs. However, antler and body size don’t always correlate. Some bulls may have smaller bodies but massive antlers.
The Rare Beauty of a 250 Inch Elk
Your average mature bull elk will have antlers in the 300-400 inch range. Anything over 400 inches is considered a true trophy. So a 250 inch elk is in rare company!
These elk stand out for their sheer majestic beauty. With a massive rack of antlers that can weigh 40 pounds and span six feet or more, a 250 inch elk is an incredible sight.
Beyond aesthetics, these older and wiser bulls represent a pinnacle achievement for hunters. Their ability to survive season after season makes them challenging to pursue. Bagging a 250 inch elk is a feat most can only dream of.
Physical Traits of Mature Elk
Aside from huge antlers, elk have other traits that make them remarkable animals:
- Height at shoulder over 5 feet
- Weight up to 1100 lbs
- Thick reddish-brown fur
- Dark fur “mane” around neck
- Wedge-shaped head with large eyes and ears
- Agile and fast, capable of 45 mph
- Able to jump over 8 feet high
Clearly the combination of giant antlers and imposing physical size makes a 250 inch elk stand out as one of the most prized big game animals.
Tips for Hunting a 250 Inch Elk
Since 250 inch elk are rare and challenging to hunt specialized equipment and techniques are recommended
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Use a high caliber rifle with excellent range and stopping power. A minimum of .30 caliber.
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Invest in high quality optics like binoculars and spotting scopes. You’ll need to spot the elk from afar.
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Scout the hunting area thoroughly for signs of elk activity. Look for rubs, tracks, wallows.
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Time the hunt during peak rut in September/October when bulls are most active.
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Be extremely patient. You may need to spend several days searching for a bull this size.
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Practice shooting at long range. You’ll need to make accurate shots at a distance.
Supporting Elk Conservation
Responsible conservation practices help ensure stable elk populations:
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Reintroduction programs have successfully reestablished elk herds in regions where they were previously extinct.
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Protecting and restoring habitat provides elk with food sources and reduces fragmentation.
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Regulated hunting quotas allow for sustainable harvest while maintaining healthy herds.
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Public education promotes respect for elk and their habitat during breeding season.
Thanks to efforts like these, elk can continue to thrive for future generations to enjoy. For hunters pursuing a 250 inch elk, conservation ensures these iconic animals will continue to roam the lands.
The rare beauty and majesty of a 250 inch elk is undeniable. For those dedicated hunters fortunate enough to encounter one, it’s an experience that will create memories to last a lifetime. While not all will have the skills to successfully harvest a bull of this size, the pursuit itself allows one to connect with nature and marvel at these icons of the wild.
How to Accurately Score a Bull on the Hoof
by Steve Chappell
Many hunters in the western states are happy about their good luck in the draw now that the results are out. If you’re lucky enough to get one of those limited-entry tags, the first thing I would tell you is to enjoy your hunt and the whole experience. Many times we hunters get overly caught up with “trophy hunting”. As a result, we put too much pressure on ourselves to kill a bull that scores “X” amount. Most of the time, the hunter is let down because the bull they catch doesn’t stretch the tape to a certain number.
Now of course to be real here, I know that when we do draw a premium elk tag that we want to make the most of the tag. Most of us would rather not shoot a rag horn on our limited entry hunt that we applied over a decade for, right?! So, with the proper balance in mind let’s look at a great method for scoring mature bulls on the hoof. Other than big fish stories, I don’t know of anything that gets stretched more than the size of a bull elk’s rack. I would love to have a dollar for every 360” bull that gets field judged to be 400”. I’d be hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year!
The Base 200” Scoring System:
Having a solid, accurate base to build from is likely the most important thing about field judging bulls. Here is how the Base 200 system works.
Most big mature bulls will have main beams close to 50 inches long. Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from.
Big bulls will have an inside spread of almost 40 inches and about 30 inches of mass on each side. Remember that when the Pope You do not measure the bases as the first measurement which I have seen some hunters mistakenly do. First, you take the first measurement at the narrowest point between the first and second points. Then, you keep going until you have 4 measurements on each side, no matter how many points (tines) the bull has (See Corey’s section on Scoring Elk).
Together, the main beams, spread, and mass from both sides add up to 200 inches. This is a good place to start because it gives us a good idea of how big most bulls are.
Once you have this base to start from you simply start adding a bull’s tine lengths to 200”. For instance, if a bull is a pretty even 6×6, all you have to do is add up one side of his points (G1, G2, G3, G4,
Using our system, let’s see what it would take to make a 350” bull. Start with 16” G1’s and G2’s, 12” G3’s, 20” G4’s, and 12” G5’s. Add these up and you get 76 inches. Multiply by 2 and you have 152”. Now add 152” to our base of 200” and you have a 352” bull.
A 350-inch bull needs at least 16-inch G1 through G4 points and 10-inch G5 points to be about 350-inch. That’s a lot of antler!.
Remember that on 6x6s, you don’t count the main beam’s extension past the bull’s G5 as a “sixth point.” This measurement has already been accounted for in the main beam measurement.
So, now that we have a good starting point score of 200, let’s look at how most bulls break down between 300″ and 400″. These are very much what you will see on mature 6×6 bulls, though some bulls may be different. If you use this Base 200 system, keep in mind that your base 200 numbers will need to be slightly changed when you go below 340 size bulls.
300” Bull: G1= 14”, G2= 14”, G3=10”, G4= 16”, G5= 8. Keep in mind that a 300-inch bull will probably have 45-inch main beams, which add up to 54 inches of total weight and a 35-inch spread. These totals amount to 303”.
320” Bull: G1=15”, G2= 15”, G3= 12”, G4= 16”, G5= 8”. Keep in mind that a 320-inch bull will probably have beams that are 46 to 48 inches wide, a total mass of 56 inches, and a 38-inch spread. These totals amount to right at 320”.
340” Bull: G1= 16”, G2= 16”, G3= 12”, G4= 18”, G5= 10”. Add these to the base of 200” for your total of 344”.
360” Bull: G1= 16”, G2= 16”, G3= 16”, G4= 20”, G5= 12”. Add these to the base of 200” for a total of 360”.
380” Bull: G1= 18”, G2= 18”, G3= 16”, G4= 20”, G5= 15”. Remember that most 380″ bulls will have beams that are 52 to 56 inches wide and a spread that could be more than 40 inches wide. Taking this into account gives us 378” to around 385”.
400” Bull: G1= 20”, G2= 20”, G3= 20”, G4= 20, G5= 16”. Again, most 400-inch bulls will have beams that are 54 to 56 inches wide and a spread that could be more than 40 inches. This results in these point lengths totaling 397” to 400” plus!.
By comparing these “classes” of bulls, you can see how a few points off by a few inches will change the accuracy of your score. If you can guess a bull’s height on the spot within 10 inches, I think you’re a good field judge. People always think that a big bull is taller when he is bugling and rutting because of “elk fever.”
It’s very important to remember that any weaknesses a bull has will help you make better decisions when you judge it. Most bulls that I see either have weak 3rds or weak 5ths. Using this method, a bull with a solid “200-inch base” and no obvious flaws is likely to be 340″ or bigger. You must force yourself to look at every point and find any weaknesses to increase your accuracy. It’s easy to miss those 6″ third points when looking at big whale tails or great fronts. Keep in mind that 6″ thirds would make a 350″ type bull that should have 12″ or better thirds, a 338″ bull. Still not a bad bull, but not 350”!.
What 6’2 looks like in basketball
FAQ
Is a 300 inch elk big?
What size elk is considered a trophy?
What is a 260 score elk?
How big is a 350 elk?
How do you measure Elk?
Count the number of points on each side because if something looks odd, it usually is. For mature elk: Main beams usually around 50, Inside spread usually 37, Mass usually 27. For mature elk: Main beams are rarely 60 inches or more, inside spread measurements are rarely over 45 inches, and mass is rarely over 32 inches per side.
What do elk breeders look like?
In most elk populations, these will be dominant breeders. Main beams will appear much different than the previous two classes, with more mass and length, and often a much bigger box shape. Brow tines will be relatively massive and as long as the nose when the curve is stretched out of them. Thirds will be stout, however long they are.
Do elk have long beams?
Most great elk have long main beams. In the all-time records book, the average beam length of the top 10 typical bulls is over 58 inches. However, the average beam length of the bottom 10 is 55-4/8 inches – not much difference. If a bull appears able to “scratch his rear-end with his antlers,” it likely has the frame to be a trophy.
How big should a Elk beam be?
For mature elk: Main beams usually around 50, Inside spread usually 37, Mass usually 27. For mature elk: Main beams are rarely 60 inches or more, inside spread measurements are rarely over 45 inches, and mass is rarely over 32 inches per side. Look for good spacing between the points.