Elk Story

The Former World Record Elk was killed here in 1899 by John Plute of Crested Butte

John Plute, a hunter and bachelor who lived and worked in Crested Butte, shot this huge bull elk in 1899 in the Dark Canyon of Anthracite Creek, 12 miles west of Crested Butte with a 30-40 Krag rifle.

He gave the horns to John Rozich who later gave them to his stepson Ed Rozman.

It was Ed and Tony Rozman who first made the effort in 1955 to bring recognition to the rack. A measurement form was filled out and sent to the Boone and Crocket Club in New York. In September 1960, with the help of the Hotchkiss Elks Lodge and Jesse Williams of the Montrose Game and Fish Department, an official measurement was made and also sent to New York.

A letter from Boone and Crocket stated that the horns would have to be shipped to them to be measured by their own officials.

On March 19, 1961 they were certified in a new world record: score 442 3/8. Recently, a set of horns from Arizona apparently surpassed the Crested Butte elk by a mere .25 points.

Through the efforts of the American Sportsman’s Club, a cape was mounted to the Crested Butte antlers by official taxidermist Joe Jonas Jr. and displayed during the National Western Stock Show. Countless numbers of people have seen the head.

When not on loan and/or tour, the head is being displayed at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center in downtown Crested Butte. It is still one of the most impressive displays you will ever see.