Waited 25 years for the Perfect Elk
By Jim Beyer

Brian Englert and his father Larry have been hunting partners since Brian was a small lad. Brian took hunter safety at age 11 and started hunting deer with Dad at 14. The rest, they say is history.

What a long history it has been. The life-long Lander resident hunted for 25 years and 20 days for a beautiful 6x6 bull elk, Brian said. He enjoyed every minute.

Brian and Larry hunt every autumn in a secret location up in the mountains near Lander. It is only 30 minutes from Brian’s house, but it is light-years away from the daily grind of earning a living.
Brian and Larry set up camp in late September. The scouted for seven straight days and had a great time. Brian saw some elk, but nothing special he said.

They returned to hunting camp twice in the next two weeks but were skunked. On October 20th, the pair rose early and scouted the area. Larry climbed the mountain like a billie goat, Brian said and acted as lookout. At dawn, Larry saw 13 shadows enter a clearing. Brian hunkered down in the brush and waited. Two elk cows broke out of the trees and sniffed for trouble. They were followed by 10 cows and calves.

Brian glassed them from his shelter and bided his time. Finally, the 6x6 antlered bull slipped out of the timber into the pasture. Rarely have I seen a herd come out like that, he said. Brian set up his tripod and put his Leopold scope on the bull’s flanks. He said his 30.06 Remington is a one shot rifle and he proved it again, at 400 yards. Brian hit the bull cleanly in the lungs, but he fired again to put it down.

Larry praised his son in a way only an old hunter would. He told Brian, that he saw 13 elk go in the meadow, heard two shots and saw 12 elk run out, so he came down the mountain, figuring that we were done.

The two seasoned hunters spent all morning field dressing the big bull. They could have called Brian’s brother Dave for help, but Larry said “Aw hell now, we can figure this out.” They carried the meat, head and hide 500 to 600 yards back to the trail. Brian said Larry is in pretty good shape for a 70-year-old man.

The big bull scored 297 6/8 and has a spread of 45 2/8. The mount is proudly displayed on Brian’s wall. Ancient Ways Taxidermy in Ft. Washakie did the mount and had it back to Brian in June. “I would recommend Ancient Ways to anyone,” Brian said.

Brian though maybe he should quit hunting after taking this trophy because he doubted that he could find a better one—but then he came to his senses.

Larry, Dave and Brian spent this September making plans, packing and setting up camp for this season’s hunt. By the time you read this, they should be sitting by the fire toasting another fine day on the mountain. Brian said, “every year is a new experience. I love looking at the mountains and I love hunting with my father and brother.”

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