Bill Clark Bull Elk

Behind the Re-creations
Clark Bull

Sneaking in closer, Bill heard a noise behind him and turned just in time to see the monarch bull coming straight towards him at just 10 yards. Dropping to his knees, Bill pulled back on his recurve bow and let an arrow fly…

Earlier in 2006, Bill Clark received his letter from the New Mexico Fish & Game stating that he had not drawn his first choice for elk, or even his second choice. However, Bill had drawn his third choice for elk. It just so happened that this was in an area that wasn’t known lately for producing record book bulls. In fact, it was an arid region in the central part of the state that Bill had difficulty getting excited about. Bill is an accomplished bow hunter and has many trophies hanging on his wall from all over the world. Bill had taken six to seven bull elk in the past, and was apprehensive about what opportunities there would be in this unit for finding a trophy bull. However, he began to prepare for the hunt anyway knowing that it was better than not having any elk tag at all.

Heading into the field on September 10th, Bill decided to scout out an area he was familiar with first. Later in the season, he would focus his hunting in some of the prime spots when the rut was kicking in to full swing. Bill’s first area was a disappointment and Bill decided to try a different location the next morning. The following morning brought with it a thunderstorm that lasted for over two hours but, as the clouds finally broke and the sunshine appeared, Bill set out for a remote canyon to do some glassing and calling to see if he could get any response. There was no sign of elk and the lack of return bugles forced Bill to continue into yet another canyon. After about fifteen minutes of calling into this third canyon, Bill finally got a response. After another return call he figured the bull was about a mile deep in the canyon. The game began and Bill started to close the distance.

Bill caught his first glimpse of the bull when he was still 900 yards away. It didn’t take much, even at that distance, to know he was looking at a possible 400-class elk. The game was on! The bull disappeared, but Bill continued his pursuit by skillfully bugling, cow calling and raking branches to keep the big bull interested. Knowing he had finally moved into close range of the bull after a pursuit lasting over an hour, Bill was hoping for an ambush.

Bill was just ten yards away when the bull made his way through the trees. The encounter happened quickly and, before he knew it, Bill had put a well-placed arrow through the bull’s heart. Tracking was easy; just 100 yards away lay a magnificent bull from the Land of Enchantment. With main beams pushing 59-inches and front brow tines measuring over 24-inches long, this beautiful 6×6 point bull taken on public land scores 416 2/8 SCI. This bull is the largest typical elk taken with traditional archery equipment and is a pending #1 or #2 archery typical bull for the state of New Mexico.

BEHIND THE RE-CREATION
Hunter: Bill Clark
Date: September 11, 2006
Location: New Mexico
Points: 6×6 typical
Main Beams: 58 2/8, 58 7/8
SCI Score: 416 2/8
2008 King’s Bull Elk Calendar

Related articles

• Wyatt Bull (0)
• Wagoner Buck (0)
• Two for Two: 407 Bull Elk From the San Carlos (1)
• The Dueling Duo (0)
• Sound Off: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (0)