looks like a bull past his prime

[JimKirk]

looking thru some trail cam pictures I got yesterday, this particular bull looks skinny. must be a monarch past his prime. all other bulls I have gotten pictures of are pretty fat.

[JimKirk]

one more of him

[JimKirk]

same camera different bull. looks alot healthier.

[Swede]

I have looked a couple elk over that looked similar to this one, and decided to wait for a better one. I do not know if it was the last hour of the last day if I would take him. Passing over a bull like that may be why I have never had a bad eating elk.

[dapper]

Hey, I'm backpacking in. That's the type of bull I want, Big horns and anorexic!

[RockChucker30]

I like the old ones. It's an honor to go against something that wise.

[Swede]

You treasure hunters need to think these things through better. It is a lot of work to pack a bull for miles on your back. When you bring some bull home, that resembled a bicycle with a hide stretched over it, and your wife starts to cook it, she will smell something is wrong. What do you think she will say when she breaks off a tooth in a steak, or bends the tines of her favorite fork, just trying to stab into the gravy. To say the least, she will not be happy. Certainly she will almost immediately recall all of the bad things she has heard about wild game, and hate it. When your kids slip their steaks into the dog's dish, the pooch will believe it was total malice. The wife and kids will refuse to eat elk again and your dog will hang out over at the neighbor's house.
It would be a total disaster to bring something home like that scrawny bull. There is no telling what he will look like by the peak of the rut when you plan your hunt, if he makes it that far. Probably by that time, the wolves will even give him a pass. Do yourselves a favor and pass on a bad specimen. Otherwise you will end up spending your spare time on some fishing forum.

[RockChucker30]

Swede, you've got to acclimate your wife to old, tough, musky male ungulates slowly, and consistently over time. That way she thinks it's normal.

The bull I got last year ate very well. I got a 3 year old whitetail during the peak of the rut that is definitely a bit musky, but with some fat trimming and a good marinade you can't tell it.

[twinkieman]

While really looking at these photos I believe you have 2 different bulls on camera. In the first two shots, the bull's right side fourth point has a web, or a split. The bull in the last two shots does not. The bull in the first two shots is clearly a 7X6, and the bull in the last two is a 6X6. I may be wrong, but I think they are different.

[>>>---WW---->]

I think the bull may just have health issues instead of being past his prime. Notice the growth on his stomach area. Could possibly have parasite problems as well or even CWD. He is not healthy for sure!

Anyhow, you would be wise to pass on him and look for something better.

[JimKirk]

twinkieman, you are correct. as i stated in the 2nd set of black and white pictures, that is a different healthier looking bull. you may be right about him being sick.

[Bowhunter]

I would pass on that first bull. He is definately thin or possibly sick. Now the second one looks fat a healthy.

[RockChucker30]

You know, he could just be old and taking a while to recover from the winter. Male and female deer and elk both get stressed physically during the year, but at different times. The cows get skinny while they're milking, but the males get worn down by the rut. The difference is that the cows have some time before winter to fatten back up and the bulls don't really have that luxury.