Skoronski Bull

Skoronski Bull

The archery, muzzleloader and early rifle seasons had passed and Ron Skoronski was starting to worry. Utah’s elk season was coming to a close and he still had not heard from his guide, Doyle Moss of Mossback Guides and Outfitters, if he had found a monster bull. While scouting earlier in the year, a seven-point, monster, single elk shed was found by Caleb Taylor. Doyle had informed Ron of the elk shed and he was excited for the opportunity to hunt this potential record bull.

The MossBack crew and Ron were both puzzled by the date that the bull had shed the antler and when he entered the wintering grounds because of the rough terrain. With his past experience guiding for trophy elk, Doyle decided it would be best to wait and hold out until the late rifle season in hopes that the bull would make it through the earlier hunts. Ron was anxious to get out and hunt the big bull and had been practicing with his .308 Lazzeroni Patriot rifle. To potentially have a chance at a bull of this caliber was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Ron wanted to be ready. The decision was made to hunt the last rifle season and Ron was confident in that decision based on the fact that Doyle had guided him on three 400-class bulls over the past four years.

Finally, after a month of scouting, MossBack spotter Jace Farnsworth called with the great news that he had videoed a giant 6×6. It was four days before the late hunt started. After reviewing the footage, Doyle confirmed that it was the same bull that had left the monster shed.

Opening day finally arrived and the waiting was over. Guides Doyle Moss and Tory Brock picked up Ron and gave him the good news that the bull had been spotted. With spotters Jace, Caleb, Wayne and Mike on point, the stalk was on with Ron. When they stopped to rest, Doyle began to glass to make sure that they wouldn’t spook the elk out of the basin. Shortly after they all settled in, Doyle spotted the bull. Ron and Tory immediately got set up for the shot. Doyle indicated the range at 375 yards. The bull stepped behind some brush with only his huge antlers showing. An instant later, as the bull cleared the brush, the familiar thump of a .30-caliber bullet dropped the elk. Fighting to choke back the surge of adrenaline, Ron stayed focused on the bull just in case he took off. The Lazzeroni proved its worth as the bull lay where he was hit.

Incredibly, the bull had dropped just 200 yards from where Caleb had found the shed. A seven-point single shed had now lead to the taking of the greatest 6×6-point elk ever! With the opportunity that not many hunters receive, Ron’s 6×6 bull officially scored 434 7/8 gross and 428 6/8 net B&C making it the new Utah state record, the largest six-point elk ever known and the #4 typical elk in the world.