Former World Record Elk to be auctioned--The Plute Bull from Dark Canyon, Colorado

The Plute Bull, formerly the world record largest elk on record with the Boone & Crockett club and the most famous big game trophy ever taken in America, will be sold in an online auction that will conclude on September 14, 2016, along with several unusual, high-quality antiques & collectibles from turn-of-the-century Crested Butte, Colorado. The Plute Bull, as it is known, was taken in 1899 near Dark Canyon, Colorado, by coal miner John Plute of Crested Butte. Plute was an avid hunter and horseman, and ventured alone into the high country to bring meat back to the boarding house where he lived above a bar. The locals at the bar doubted his story that he had shot a monstrous elk, so he rode back into the mountains and packed out the antlers that he had left behind. Plute was a bachelor who had no heirs. When he died in a horse accident in 1922, the antlers were left with the Rozman family, who owned the bar and boarding house. The trophy has been in their family ever since. In the 1960's, Ed Rozman arranged to have the antlers scored by an official Boone & Crockett scorer, and the antlers were confirmed by the Boone & Crockett club as the biggest elk ever taken, with a score of 442 3/8. Ed Rozman is now 93 years old and his son, Roger, is his caregiver. The proceeds from the sale of the antlers will serve as a retirement for Roger, as he has served as caregiver for his mother, June, before her passing, and now fills the same role for Ed.

Crested Butte, Colorado, collectibles for sale--antique slot machines, soda bottling machine, roulette table

The Rozmans are also offering several high-quality antiques from turn-of-the-century Crested Butte, including a solid oak nickel slot machine; a roulette table in beautiful condition; a very unique soda pop manufacturing machine; a beautiful National cash register with the latest patent date of 1891; a bartop nickel slot machine; a large collection of 78 records; and a massive, very heavy safe with thick double doors. All of the items are from Crested Butte, Colorado, from the late 1900's to the Depression era, and the provenance of these items is verified by Ed Rozman and Roger Rozman.

Bidders for the Plute Bull must register with the auctioneer and wire a $10,000 refundable earnest money deposit to the auctioneer. The successful bidder must wire funds for the purchase to the auctioneer within 24 hours of the conclusion of the auction, which will be held online only. Bidders are invited to schedule a time with the Auctioneer to preview the items. The auction will conclude with a "soft close", meaning that each time a new bid comes in, the auction will be extended by three minutes until there are no more new bids.