Link with picture: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/news-1002465.aspx

GREYBULL - When Burlington hunter Albert Henderson went hunting near Dubois this past fall he had no idea that his annual hunt during the archery season would be one for the record book. By the end of the hunt, Henderson’s efforts were rewarded with what would later be verified as the largest elk ever taken with a crossbow. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department congratulates Mr. Henderson.

Henderson’s elk was scored at 426 1/8 points on the Safari Club International (SCI) scoring system.SCI maintains records for trophies taken with various weapons including rifle, handgun, muzzleloader, bow and crossbow. Under the more familiar Boone and Crockett scoring system, Henderson’s elk measured 408 points easily placing it in the top five percent of elk ever entered in the record books. The minimum score to qualify for the Boone and Crockett record book is 375 points – very few elk are taken each year that make the 375 minimum. Annually, only a handful of elk are taken in all elk states that exceed 400 points.

“This is an incredible hunting story and we tip our hats to Mr. Henderson. Wyoming is home to some of the most impressive wildlife in the world, but not everyone gets to see these animals, let alone hunt them,” said Game and Fish Director Scott Talbott. “Now is a great time to start planning to make your own memories in 2015.”

What makes Henderson’s trophy especially noteworthy is that it was taken on public land on a General License in the Shoshone National Forest. Henderson was into the fifth day of his hunt and was working to get closer to another good bull when he saw his record book animal that was with a cow. Unable to get the elk to come closer he stalked to close the distance to 53 yards when the elk presented a perfect broadside shot. The elk only traveled a little over 100 yards where he found it dead.

Henderson said he has hunted in the area a number of times and had seen bulls in the 350 class, but nothing that approached the size of his record animal. He had bagged his only other crossbow elk in 2013 after more than 10 years of hunting. Over the years, several of his family members have also bagged elk with a crossbow.

Another article with additional picture: http://trib.com/lifestyles/rec...35-1d32e92024e6.html

February 03, 2015 5:30 am • By CHRISTINE PETERSON Star-Tribune staff writer(5) Comments
Albert Henderson’s rural Burlington house may be too small to showcase his new and only elk mount.

The animal's head and shoulders stand about 6.5 feet from its chest to the tip of its antlers. Its rack is more than 4 feet wide.

But he may not need to find room anytime soon. The mount has spent the past several months shuttled between sportsmen’s stores and banquets, and it may soon find a spot on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 2016 tour.

Why all the fame? Henderson’s elk, shot Sept. 17 near Dubois, made the record books as the largest one killed with a crossbow. Ever.

The recording is through Safari Club International, a major scoring organization that includes a crossbow category.

A crossbow can shoot farther than a typical compound bow, but not nearly as far as a rifle.

Under Boone and Crockett, another scoring system, which ranks all animals killed by rifle, bow and other methods, the elk places in the top 5 percent, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

It was Henderson’s second elk with a crossbow that he borrowed from a friend. He also shot it on public land at a time when some people believe record-setting bulls are a thing of the past.

Henderson, 49, hadn’t even planned on hunting in a general tag area near Dubois when he applied for licenses last year. He usually tries for a limited quota area outside Meeteetse, but he didn’t draw a tag.

“It’s pretty rare to see elk like that anywhere in the state, and probably more rare in general areas. Usually in general areas, you have a few less elk and a few more people,” Henderson said. “That’s why you go out and work so hard for that chance.”

He didn’t register the bull’s sheer size when he shot, as he was too busy crawling through pine needles and grass on his hands and knees.

His hunting party had already spent five days wandering through the Shoshone National Forest. One hunter, Henderson’s high school best friend’s nephew, had shot an elk that afternoon.

The friends left the younger hunter to clean his bull and went after others bugling in the distance.

They found one standing in trees surrounded by cow elk. Then off to their right they spotted another one, rubbing his massive antlers on a tree.

“We forgot the 350 bull and went straight after this one,” Henderson said, referring to a score of the smaller bull. “We didn’t get a really good look at him but knew he was big. We knew he was bigger by quite a bit.”

Henderson stalked, and the bull meandered in a backcountry game of cat-and-mouse. At 61 yards, Henderson used his cow call, and the bull stopped moving. He shot. The bull ran for 120 yards and toppled over.

When he took it home and tried measuring it, he realized it could be a record. A taxidermist confirmed his theory, and a master measurer -- the only one who can officially declare a world record -- tallied his final score of 426 1/8 inches.

Henderson’s story gives people hope for trophy elk of their own, said Gray Thornton, president and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation, who measured Henderson’s elk.

“Just to know there are those types of elk roaming around on public land is really heartening,” Thornton said. “And anyone can do it.”

Record-setting elk on public land are a testament to Wyoming wildlife management, Thornton said.

Henderson ultimately decided to pay for a full shoulder mount. He’s hunted his whole life, leaving school for a week each fall with his parents even as a kindergartener.

Big bulls are a fun and challenging hunt, but mounts tend to be expensive.

This one was different, he said.

Now if he can find a place big enough for a display.

that is one hellova elk

That looks just like the guy who apparently shot the WW whitetail 20 years back and then dropped off the face of the earth.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
That looks just like the guy who apparently shot the WW whitetail 20 years back and then dropped off the face of the earth.

I didn't notice it until you mentioned it, but he does bear a resemblance to Mitch Rompolla.

Big, REALLY big!
Congratulations to the hunter and his family.
Zeke

Holy WOW!

Wow, what a great bull, looks pretty old as well. Congrats to the Hunter on a outstanding trophy.

Oh my!!!