by Bugle Staff
A massive Rocky Mountain bull killed in Washington state on New Year’s Eve 2024 has been officially declared the non-typical archery world record American elk by the Pope & Young Club.
Casey Brooks’ record-breaking 9×8 bull from Kittitas County was officially measured at 478 2/8 inches by a joint special panel of both the Pope & Young and the Boone & Crockett clubs. It surpasses the previous 449 4/8-inch archery record bull arrowed by Alberta archer Shawn O’Shea in 2020 by an impressive 28 6/8 inches, and measured only 3/8 inches below the Boone & Crockett all-time record “Spider Bull” killed in Utah in 2008 by Denny Austad.
“This elk represents the heart, dedication, persistence and respect for the hunt,” says Tim Rozewski, Pope and Young director of records. “It’s an incredible achievement, not only for Casey, but for the entire bowhunting community.”
Brooks, an RMEF Life Member, hunted the bull for two years before arrowing it on the final day he could hunt with a permit won through a raffle.
“It is beautiful and I was extremely fortunate to have the chance to hunt the bull and to be successful,” he tells the Typical Sportsman Podcast after the record bull was officially certified. “Just to see something like that in your lifetime is unbelievable, but to be lucky enough to harvest it is beyond anything I could dream of.”
Brooks is no stranger to the Pope & Young record books, also having killed the No. 4 and No. 5 bulls scoring 436 inches and 430 inches respectively.
In addition to the Brooks’ bull, Pope & Young recently announced three other elk world records (see photos below). The new tule record bull, killed by Scott Homich in 2024 in Mendocino County, California, scored an impressive 355 inches. Chris Krampe killed the new record velvet Roosevelt’s bull in Humboldt County, California, in 2023, scoring 324 2/8 inches. And the 348 4/8-inch world record velvet American elk was killed by Jon Argyle in Bingham County, Idaho, in 2023.
“I applaud the ongoing efforts of outdoorsmen, along with organizations dedicated to proper conservation practices and the intelligent game management strategies employed by state and provincial game and fish departments across North America,” says Roy Grace, Pope and Young records chairman. “This is a true success story that reflects their continued achievements.”
