Story By: Taylor Raats
I have always dreamed of hunting a Roosevelt elk someday. Finally, in February of 2025, I was able to locate a tag in California for a Roosevelt elk. I have been in the pursuit of chasing the Super Slam 29 of North American animals, and a Roosevelt elk is on the list. I quickly made some phone calls to some friends, and they put me in touch with Dylan from Diamond C Outfitters. I arrived in California towards the later part of September to start chasing rutting elk. Dylan and Juancho picked me up from the airport, and we got right after it. We chased a ghost for about a week straight that was nocturnal and never gave us an opportunity. We came up with another plan and relocated areas. The next day, we got into position and quickly found a bull pushing his cows around. Within seconds I knew he was the one. He was a giant, non-typical bull. I got behind the gun, and—bam! He went down. As we walked up to him, it was a special moment that I will never forget. He was a complete monarch, a giant Roosevelt elk. He absolutely shattered the Boone and Crocket record book by eighty or more inches. If you ever get the chance to hunt Roosevelt elk, I strongly suggest you do; you’ll never regret it! Thank you, Dylan and Juancho, for making this dream come true.