Behind the Re-creations: Greg Holman Bull Elk

Greg Holman Bull Elk

After twelve years of trying for a limited-entry rifle elk tag in his home state of Utah, Greg Holman decided to change to a muzzleloader tag. His patience was running out and he felt that he would have a better chance. Early in the year, Greg and his wife Karen started scouting, confident that the tag would come. During the summer they were able to find some great bulls. Fortunately, the tag came and Greg just hoped that these bulls would make it through the rifle hunts. He had his eye on three bulls he considered definite shooter bulls.
Finally, when the hunt was about a week away, dreaded news came. The one bull that Greg had hoped to find was taken during the rifle hunt. A couple of days later, more bad news came as another one of the scouted bulls was taken. Greg hoped that he would be able to find the third bull when the muzzleloader season finally began. Greg arrived in camp a few days before the opener with his friends Dare, Trop and Rick Roberts to try and find some new prospects. The day before the hunt, the group found the third bull and watched him run into a draw. Unbelievably, they heard a shot and realized that the third bull was now down as well – and his season hadn’t even started! On Tuesday afternoon another good friend, John Caruso, pulled into camp to join forces.

Opening morning found Greg and the group calling and getting into some bulls. After moving to a different area to get a better look at some bulls, they ran into Kyle Nowers. They decided to walk out together off the mountain. Greg found out that Kyle was a local guide and knew the area well. It wasn’t until they all got back to the trucks that Greg finally decided to ask Kyle to keep his eyes open and that if he found a good bull to let him know.

Greg’s time from Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning was filled with fun chases and a missed shot at a 350-class bull. Late Friday morning, as they were returning to camp, they ran into Kyle again. Kyle asked if Greg would be interested in a 380-class bull (even though he knew the bull was bigger). “Absolutely,” Greg responded. Kyle had some video footage of an elk that he showed to Greg. One look at the video was all he needed and they were off, hoping to find the bull. A one and a half mile hike took them to where the bull had last been seen. It was still early afternoon on an absolutely gorgeous, sunny, September day.

Evening was approaching when Kyle blew a bugle that was immediately answered by a bull just above them in the quakies. After twenty minutes of bugling, the bull wouldn’t budge. Greg and Kyle were just about to call it a night when, to their surprise, a bugle came from their immediate left. John leaned to his left and glanced around a pine. He turned back to Kyle and Greg and whispered, “Big bull.” Greg quickly and quietly grabbed his gun. It was amazing to have a bull of this caliber in his crosshairs after so many years of general open bull seasons. The bull came in, bugled at the bull above them, and then proceeded to close the distance. He stopped on cue, looking for his cows, and Greg was ready. One shot from his smokepole was all it took to bring the big monarch bull down. Congratulations all around, especially to Kyle and his generous offer to get Greg on this elk.

Greg’s 2006 non-typical elk officially scored 422 4/8 gross and 403 2/8 net B&C and is the state record muzzleloader bull. If the third point on the left side had not been broken, Greg’s bull would have been pushing the 420 net mark!

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