Washington state bull could set new Boone and Crocket and Pope & Young high-water marks
BY MIKE STEVENS
A well-known bowhunter closed out 2024 in hunt-of-a-lifetime fashion when he arrowed what may stand as the largest non-typical elk ever harvested. Casey Brooks was hunting on New Year’s Eve in Washington state when he brought down the incredible bull that, according to early indicators, could beat both the Pope and Young and Boone and Crockett records for Rocky Mountain elk.
According to an Instagram post made by the hunter’s son, Beau, a Boone and Crockett representative said the bull grossed 490 4/8 and netted 480 4/8. The post continued, “For as long as I can remember, my dad has been chasing giant bulls, coming incredibly close to this moment multiple times. He currently holds the number 3 (436-inch) and #4 (430-inch) Pope and Young non-typical records, and has taken an astounding 12 bulls over 400 inches and 86 bull elk in total with a bow. But this bull—this absolute monarch—stands above them all.”
According to the post, his father and his buddies have been tracking the bull for years which included finding its sheds. Then in 2024, he scored the raffle tag and committed to the hunting the elk he’d become so familiar with.
“The season allowed him to pursue the bull from September 1 through December 31, and he hunted relentlessly. Finally, in December, the bull reappeared, and Dad began his final push. He underestimated just how massive the bull was, thinking its sheer body size made the antlers appear smaller than they actually were. But when the moment of truth came, on the very last day of the hunt, Dad’s instincts and perseverance paid off.
The current Pope and Young record for non-typical American elk is the Shean O’Shea bull which was netted 449 4/8. The current Boone and Crockett Club record for non-typical American elk is Denny Austad’s 478-5/8-inch Spider Bull.
