There has been a lot of talk about a bull that was caught on video by a couple of hunters in Utah. All the pictures and video’s are from before the archery opener.
There are some big outfitters that are going after this bull, well a friend of mine is able to go after this bull too. Kody is a 18 year old hunter that has had some good success hunting getting a limited entry youth tag a few years ago that got him a 6×7 bull. He’s been able to hunt in several states and is still just 18. Well he drew out this year for a very hard to get limited entry area in Utah, the one that just happens to be the area this spider bull elk is at. There is a lot of people after this bull, one of which is a guy that doesn’t have a good rep down in this southern Utah town. This fact is looking to play to his advantage, he now has several locals trying to help him get this bull and keep the guy with a reputation of shady hunting away from “Spidey”. His hunt opens this week, with permission to hunt some private land where the bull is known to hang out, locals helping keep track of the bull, and his past success I’d put my money on him. It sounds like as of last weekend the bull is alive and well,like the perfect storm things are falling in place for this to be the perfect hunt!
Enjoy this video of the infamous spider bull!
Team Mossback just broke the news that the spider bull has been taken by Denny Austad. Rumor is that it was on a governors tag two days ago.
Congrats to team Mossback, they were the ones to first spot this amazing bull elk and they were able to lead Denny in to take this monster of a bull!!
I want to hear everyone’s thoughts on the spider bull. I gotta be honest I was pulling for a hunter that was lucky enough to draw out and had the hunt of his life. Nothing against Mossback they did a fantastic job bringing this bull into the spot light and keeping tabs on it until they could get a shooter on it.
This bull was taken on a governor’s tag. Most states have these they are auctioned off and big outfits will pick them up for large amounts of cash. If you do your job right you then scout out a nice bull make a video and market the hell out of it. If you do your job you will get a nice client that has lots of money looking to purchase their next big hunt. This is what happened with the spider bull. I think it’s great that Denny took this bull, if you watch the Mossback site he takes a record size bull or buck with Mossback every year.
The money raised in the governor’s tag auction goes to wildlife resources. Here is my question. There are a lot of huge animals that are taken every year in states all over with a governor’s tag. But 90% of the hunters that are dedicated and addicted to hunting in that state will never afford that opportunity. Is the governor’s tag worth it? Are you addicted to hunting when you buy your animal? Are guides going to far to provide the next best animal? give us your comments.
It seems like that truck parking in front of the local Honda dealer got a lot of attention. Here are a few pictures sent to us by a reader, thanks for the pictures, this is one amazing bull that we all want to see more of!
I emailed Doyle Moss a little bit earlier today because of all of the controversy surrounding the Spider Bull. I have heard all of the comments about his guides blocking roads, herding the bull and slashing hunter’s tires. I had not heard Doyle’s side of the story, and so I began my search for the truth in the comment section on this post. Instead of looking at different opinions and articles, I went straight to the source. Within a couple of hours after receiving my email, Doyle Moss gave me a call.
I am very objective in everything I do. If I hear something, I am not one to believe it until I hear the whole story. I could not believe some of the stories surrounding this bull, they were so far fetched that I knew something was missing. I wanted to find the truth surrounding the Spider Bull!
My search for the truth began as I read more about what others were saying about Doyle, and his company Mossback Guides and Outfitters. As I read the comments about him I noticed a common theme. Everyone that has met Doyle Moss in person thinks he is a great guy. While I have not met him in person, after talking to him I would have to agree. He answered all of my questions, and I could sense the passion that he has for hunting. I could not believe that he would take the time out of his busy day to call me. That alone lets me know what kind of a guy he is. He is not afraid to stand up when the heat is on and face adversity. I respect men like that, and I applaud him for discussing what happened with me.
We are currently working on putting together a piece to share Doyle’s perspective, it should be ready sometime next week.
Thank you for the time Doyle, good luck on your next hunt!
I still have not heard anything from Doyle Moss, not that I blame him as I am sure this time of year is absolutely crazy for outfitters. A couple of days ago RealTree sent out a newsletter to all of their subscribers, and we were the featured blog for the article. We have been trying our hardest to provide updates on the Spider Bull, and hopefully Doyle Moss will be able to answer some of the questions we have presented to him. You can read the RealTree newsletter here.
Here are the questions we asked Doyle Moss to answer:
- The first point that has come up is that your guides trapped the bull and watched every movement it made. Many people are saying the Spider Bull was guided far away from other hunters and basically kept within 20 of your guides at all time. They have gone on to say that this bull was under your guides supervision for a month.
- The next point is that the roads were blocked off from other hunters, so they could not access the mountain where your guides were “keeping” the Spider Bull. Many of these hunters have said that they had to use winches to remove your guides trucks from the road. Then when they got back from hunting all of their tires were slashed. I always respond to this one “did you call the authorities?” and no one has said they did, which indicates to me that they are making up this story.
- Last, but not least I would love to hear from your guy’s what sort of testing took place to see if this was a farm bull. You mentioned in our call that DWR was up there when you took the bull off the mountain. The biggest question is how did this bull go from a 350 bull to a 500 bull? A lot of people have speculated that steroids were used to obtain that much growth.
I do understand that Doyle is busy right now, and I don’t want to take time away from the business he is trying to run. While we are awaiting his response I would love to hear from our readers what their response would be to these questions. This bull has sparked all sorts of controversy, and we would like to know why you feel as though Doyle cheated other hunter’s out of this bull. Doyle has found a way to make money doing something that all of us love, and I believe this has caused a little jealousy among hunters and that is why these rumors are being circulated. Let me know if I am way off on this assumption. We would love to hear all of your comments concerning the Spider Bull.
Click here to view possible early pictures of the Spider Bull!
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September 10th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I’m pulling for the “little guy”. I’ve been in his shoes before. Four seasons ago, I found a huge bull and had the same situation. As it turned out, neither I nor the local outfitter killed him… it’s a long story that I should blog about.
I’m not against outfitters at all… in fact I’m a hunt broker, but I like to see the DIY guys get ‘er done, ’cause I’m one myself (most of the time). Go Kody!
Keep us posted.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Apparently I’m not the only one that thinks Kody is set up for the perfect hunt, one of the outfitters offered him a significant amount of cash, more than I make in a year, for the head mount if he should take him. With elk and the hunt you never know, however there’s a lot of thing playing in his favor right now. Due to the fact it’s a limited entry hunt he’s able to use any weapon during the heart of the rut when normally it’s just muzzle loader, a handful of people that know the area and this elk well to help guide him, private property access, every advantage is his but we all know the big ones get there by being careful so it’s still going to be a challenge. Good luck Kody, we’d love to see such a great young man that loves to hunt for the right reasons take a bull that by all estimates will not only break Utah’s record but be world class.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
so has he got it yet or has anyone seen it? i live in utah and i have heard that since the opener no one has even seen this bull….? what is the word?
September 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Hate to tell everyone but this elk was shot today September 30th around 10:45 from what I have been told he is going to gross 508 and net 488. To bad your friend was not able to get the bull. He was taken by mossback guides with the hunter who purchased the governor tag
October 4th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
To bad big money won out. Wouldn’t it be nice to exchange hundreds of thousands of dollars to kill a big bull. How can you call that fair chase. Its all about the camera time with Moosenut Outfitters. Its really nice how they have taken something as basic and primitive as hunting and turned it in to a game of millions. Hope they can sleep at night knowing how many hunters hunts they screwed up just trying to find the bull. I would like to see what happened if those clowns came to WY and tried the same “fair chase” bs here. I would have loved to see Cody pull it off, but I’m sure you have learned more about elk hunting than this hot shot flatlander with some money will ever know.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:55 am
hey sorry to tell ya spider bull was taken the other day
October 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
although i could have shot this bull w/ my bow(martin)! It is still an honor to know the name of the gentleman that took this magnifecent creature. GOOD JOB DENNY
October 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I really suspect that is bull was home grown and given steroides to enhance his growth this much.
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:18 am
I love hunting as much as anyone and I work all year just in anticipation of archery season. It does get old watching these guys who have lots of money buy their hunts such as the spider bull. That’s great that someone has the resources to hunt like like that, but most of us guys will never be able to buy a govenors tag, or be able to afford an outfitter. Then to make videos from it, and guess who buys the majority of these videos? YEP… regular guys like you and me. Hunting has become too commercialized in recent years! I think I’ll stop buying videos from now on.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Just the fact that there are seven guys around this bull where it was dropped and the hide is still on it shows you something is fishy. Well of course they could have just shot it for horns and let the meat sour I guess.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I was hunting with Doyle on a black powder hunt in So Utah last week and he’s now back on an elk hunt in mid-state.I’m sure he’ll contact when he’s done next week. First let me tell you some stories on Govenor’s tags. I purchased my first Governor’s tag in Utah in 1996 for $5000 and hunted hard and killed a bull on Monroe that went around 370 B&C. I hunted for no particular bull but worked hard and had a great time. There were many other hunters in the same area and it was every man for himself. Two year’s later I hunted with Doyle who wanted to film my hunt. I found him to be not only a great guy but one of the best guides I’ve every met. Again we didn’t hunt any particlur bull but hunted an area know for big animals. On the 13th day of our hunt we found a bull that had never been seen before and was lucky to get to him and harvest it. It was ear tagged and the Utah Fish and Wildlife had a hard time determining where the bull was tagged. It in fact had traveled over 200 miles and survived all the local hunter in numerous counties for over 8 years. A couple of year’s later I had another Governor’s tag and hunted for over thirty days without taking an animal. Doyle had told me about a bull that showed up every December 24th at the same place the same time. It turned out I took a respectable bull in late October foregoing the big bull. In fact Doyle took out the lucky Utah Governor’s tag reciepient, who paid $5.00 for the tag, and found the bull on the 24th of December. It is the current State record. I guess my point is that this isn’t just locating a bull and driving up to it a harvest it just because you paid a ple of $$. All the pre-scouting one does in the summer goes by the wayside September first. The bulls dissapear heading to their rutting country. I don’t every recall taking a bull in Utah that was located and filmed earlier in the fall. It just isn’t that easy. Now the Spider Bull. Doyle had sent me a picture of the bull from mid-summer. He didn’t think that it was as big as it turned out. The public also knew about the coming and goings of the bull-very highly publicized. When Doyle’s hunter arrived for the hunt that commenced on the first of September they had lost track of the bull and were scouting the area. They located it on the 12th day and the hunter missed. He then left the state and all the other resident hunters and outfitters continued to hunt for the Spider. Any one of them could have located and harvested the animal. Do you think there would be such a hue and cry that we’re hearing now if that occured? As it turned out Doyle’s hunter returned two weeks later and they relocted the bull some 20 miles off the mountain and was able to harvest it. They were very lucky it was still alive and now everyone’s a bit put off that they couldn’t find it. Yes Doyle hires a bunch of local guides but he also has many hunters to who he provides his services and who respect him and his work ethics. I guess I could have been critized for buying a Govenor’s tag for $5000 and in killing a 370 bull. The fact that it now cost so much more to get a tag in Utah shouldn’t make any difference. The public archers, muzzle loaders, and rifles hunters had the same opportunity to take the Spider bull. It just didn’t happen.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Pat, thanks for the story. I stick by what I said a long time ago, everyone that actually knows or spent a few minutes with Doyle has had good things to say about him, it’s the hear say people that tell rumors they heard that seem to have a chip. None of that should effect the fact that Denny put himself in a situation where he had the opportunity to take this amazing bull, congrats to him!! If I had the cash I’d consider spending it on a hunt of a lifetime like he did, that’s just one of the thrills in life for me. I hope Doyle is able to continue to make a living off hunting, many of us would love to be able to do that and he’s able to live it!! I look forward to pictures and stories about this elk. For all the frustrated guys out there that feel like money got the animal (money allowed him to spend a lot more time on the mountain than most of us are able to) this is America, land of opportunity. If you want to experience hunts like that make it happen!! There is nothing holding us back. I’m just glad Utah is a state where I can still get a tag every year and we aren’t on a draw system. There’s a lot of good public land out there we can hunt on, maybe I’ll be able to spend more and more time on the mountain in years to come. I grew up in Arizona, I wasn’t a hunter back then but now when I talk to buddies they are lucky to have one person in their group draw out, they can’t get tags each year and have to put in hoping to eventually draw out.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Sounds like another Kirt Darner story to me.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Hey nice job buying your animal.. I am pretty sure that letting the meat rot is against the law in utah…. Trophy hunters are pathetic. Get a real hobbie! If you have enough money to buy the governers tag take some time off work and do some real hunting. Oh and it is good to see you can’t be alone in the woods from that pic. If you come by my hunting ground I might show you a few things about being a “real hunter”. You give this sport a bad name and you are only admired by your yuppy friends smokin cigars at the country club. Hey Denny, how long did it take them to point it out before you shot. Go back to your white collar job and stay out of the woods.. You might be the next big trophy!!!!!!!!
December 11th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Who would want that “next big trophy”? That’s just weird and crossing the line, you can’t fault Denny for choosing to spend his money on a hunt. If I was wealthy I’d love to spend my time and money hunting. True I may not go about it like he did but I love to spend all year in different states chasing different types of animals. I’m a archery addict so I doubt I’d ever do much rifle hunting but still I wouldn’t pass up a chance to be out hunting no matter what the weapon or situation. Hey Denny you need a hunting buddy? I’d be glad to tag along on any of these high dollar guided hunts!! Heck I’ll be the guy with the camera just to get out and track game. Now I’d need you to cover my salary for the time I’m off work and pay for travel and food but hey I’m there if you need me!!
December 15th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Personally, I would prefer to let an elk like that live and procreate; he has earned the right to pass on his genes. I have hunted with gun and bow, however, I still feel the best of the best should be left to make more “best of breed”. There may never be another like that and that is a shame. There is no pride or joy in taking a prize like that. Sorry, I just couldn’t and wouldn’t. Guys want the biggest rack, kind of like penis envy.