All around the world, men and women hunt in the United States and internationally. They have high hopes of finding the largest animal to hold a prestigious title. During elk season, there have been many great catches that have made world records. And each time, there is an even bigger one than the last.
Field & Stream is a famous magazine for hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors. They share the top 10 world-record highest-scoring elk and their scores.
Number (from least to greatest) | Name | Status\Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Spider Bull | Current B&C non-typical world record elk 478 ⅝ |
2 | Revelstoke Mystery Bull | Former B&C non-typical world record 465 2/8 |
3 | Alonzo Winters Bull | Current B&C typical world record 442 ⅝ |
4 | John Plute Bull | Former B&C typical world record 442 ⅜ |
5 | Grandpa Bull | Current P&Y non-typical world record 442 |
6 | Clay Heuett Bull | Almost, so-close P&Y non-typical world record 422 6/8 |
7 | Stephan Felix Bull | Current P&Y typical world record 430 |
8 | Chuck Adams Bull | Former P&Y typical world record 411 ⅜ |
9 | Lopeteguy Found Bull | Current B&C Tule elk world record 379 |
10 | Rick Bailey Bull | Current B&C Roosevelt’s elk world record 419 6/8 |
Let’s dive right into the current world record, Rick Bailey’s elk bull catch below.
The Largest Elk Ever Caught

Roosevelt elk can run up to 40 miles per hour.
©DanaForeman/Shutterstock.com
The Boone and Crockett Club® is a non-profit organization promoting safe hunting practices and supporting wildlife conservation status. And they have labeled a Roosevelt elk as being the largest elk that Rick Bailey has ever caught. And this bull currently holds the B&C world record.
Rick Bailey hunted near Pitt Lake in British Columbia, Canada, in 2015. He and his friends set up camp so they could hunt for elk. And, of course, they would be lucky to get their sights on a Roosevelt elk.
The California Fish and Wildlife states the following. “Despite their massive size and majestic appearance, Roosevelt elk have proved an elusive research subject because of the dense forests they inhabit.” British Columbia is two-thirds forests. So, it is no surprise what Bailey would find the next day.
On Bailey’s second day of hunting, he spotted a Roosevelt elk bull 200 yards away. He comments to B&C, “I took my shot, and he dropped. When we got up to where he lay, we spooked him, and he got up and took off. We decided to leave the area so we would not cause him to run any farther. We came back later and found the bull approximately 100 yards from where we last spotted him.”
Below are the trophy stats from Bailey’s world-record catch of the highest-scoring elk, according to Boone and Crocket Club®.
Score | 419 6/8 |
Location | Pitt Lake, British Columbia |
Hunter | Rick Bailey |
Owner | Rick Bailey |
Date | 2015 |
How Many Elk Live in Canada?

Elk are herbivore eaters that eat only plant matter.
©Jaroslav Sugarek/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Fourteen different elk species live throughout Asia, Eurasia, and North America. There is no shortage of elk throughout the world. There are estimates to be two million remaining in their population. The elk’s conservation status is “least concern”” according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature.)
Of these two million, approximately 72,000 elk reside in Canada. About half that number is in British Columbia, where Bailey tagged this bull. Roosevelt elk are known for their beauty but also for their massive size, hence the world-record title.Let’ss see just how big they are.
Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) Facts
Animals worldwide have names coinciding with where they live, a title, or being named after someone famous. For example, the North American black bear is named this because they inhabit North America. The lion is referenced as the king of the jungle because of their ability to dominate the wild. Lastly, the Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) is famously named after President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt elk are the largest variety of elk in North America. The Roosevelt elk solely lives in North America, unlike elk (Cervus canadensis).
How Big Are Roosevelt Elk?
Roosevelt elk is a large species of the deer family Cervidae. They can weigh anywhere from 600-1,200 pounds. And they stand at 5.6 feet at the withers. Withers is about the highest point of theelk’ss back. They can also reach an amazing 6.9-8.5 feet in length.
Their powerful size is met by their majestic appearance of brown and white fur. Standing on their heads are massive antlers that reach up to four feet in length. According to Oregon Wild, they have the largest antlers of the elk species. What helps these elk antlers stand out, in addition to their size, is that they have a three-point tip, otherwise known as a crown. This gives them their magisterial look.
No wonder the Roosevelt elk is the largest on record. This distinguished animal deserves the world record title it won and still holds.
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