How rare are double-shovel caribou?

AlaskaHunter · Mar 23, 2017

I've read that double-shovels are 1 in 1,000 or more.
I've shot less than a dozen caribou and one was a double-shovel.
My hunting partner has shot less than 20, and 2 were double-shovels.
These were from 3 different herds(40-mile, white mountains, central arctic).
My impression is that double-shovels are not as rare in Alaska as 1 in 1,000.

Kaitum · Mar 23, 2017

I wouldn't say they're that rare. One of my five was a double shovel, he was the smallest of the bulls I shot.

teamhoyt · Mar 23, 2017

They are extremely rare in Montana!

Gerald Martin · Mar 23, 2017

They are so rare that every caribou hunt on TV seems to get one!

Is that 1 in 1000 documented science or country boy myth? I know guys who have caught muskies without casting 10,000 times.

Kaitum · Mar 23, 2017

Gerald Martin said:
They are so rare that every caribou hunt on TV seems to get one! Is that 1 in 1000 documented science or country boy myth? I know guys who have caught muskies without casting 10,000 times.

I don't know, I've made far more than 10,000 casts in my lifetime and never caught a muskie

dcopas78 · Mar 24, 2017

Kaitum said:
I don't know, I've made far more than 10,000 casts in my lifetime and never caught a muskie

My wife caught a 42incher the first time she ever fished for them, and first time she used a baitcaster reel, with less than 50 casts! Better not ever take her caribou hunting....

Frenchy · Mar 24, 2017

The first bull I ever laid eyes on (and shot) was a nice Double shovel. So I'm 1 out of 1.

That was the 40-mile herd.

Gut Shot · Mar 24, 2017

I've only killed one caribou, it had a very nice double shovel. As for 1 in 1,000? It is possible when you consider over half of a herd are cows that won't grow a pair of shovels, the vast majority of the remaining animals are going to be young bulls that won't grow double shovels. The remaining bulls that we target while hunting have the possibility of growing doubles and then we pick out the biggest bull we can find increasing the odds that he will have more bone over his nose.

We may see a dis-proportionate amount of double shovels on dead animals because of this.

AlaskaHunter · Mar 24, 2017

Posters in this forum said 1 in 3,000, 15%, etc.
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/4225-How-rare-is-a-double-shovel-bull

Thanks. I think we have confirmed here that double-shovel bulls are
really not rare, especially if we are talking exclusively about mature bulls.

--Skeeter

Bambistew · Mar 24, 2017

AlaskaHunter said:
Thanks. I think we have confirmed here that double-shovel bulls are
really not rare, especially if we are talking exclusively about mature bulls.
--Skeeter

IMO it depends on what you consider a "shovel." I think in terms of scoring if it has 2 points, or is wider at the tip than the center of the point its considered a "shovel"

In terms of scoring as a shovel, I think 4 of the last 6 we've killed had double shovels.

I'd take a nice topped bull, with decent bez and a single shovel over an average double shovel bull. The ones with big bottoms rarely have nice tops. Hard to find one with both.

Kaitum · Mar 24, 2017

Bambistew said:
I'd take a nice topped bull, with decent bez and a single shovel over an average double shovel bull. The ones with big bottoms rarely have nice tops. Hard to find one with both.

Exactly my thoughts and observations. Hard to find one with both. Best bull I ever saw that 'had it all' I let walk 300 yards from camp while I was in the first couple days of a sheep hunt. I still regret that decision today.

Gary · Mar 26, 2017

In AK double shovels are much more common than they are in, say northern Quebec. I think the ratio in AK is much closer to 1 in 100 (or even less). In northern Canada, it might be closer to the rule of thumb (1 in 1000).

Muche · Apr 8, 2018

This one had some decent qualities.

CampRipleyLF · Apr 8, 2018

Muche said:
This one had some decent qualities. View attachment 81672

Now that's a nice specimen

cowboy · Apr 8, 2018

That is quite the pic for your first post, and with your now in the background besides. Well done and welcome to LRH.

Gerald Martin · Apr 8, 2018

Welcome to the forum Nick! It's about time you made your appearance into this corner of the world.

Muche · Apr 9, 2018

Thanks Gerald! I've read through nearly every post on here about Alaska and I can say that this is by far the best compilation of AK hunting information I've been able to find. Figured it was time to join and see if I can learn a thing or two.

EYJONAS! · Apr 11, 2018

Muche said:
This one had some decent qualities. View attachment 81672

That's a damn nice bull..... I'm planning a 2019 adventure and can't wait.

Elkwhisper · Apr 11, 2018

Not sure if you consider this one a double shovel or not.... didn't matter when I saw this one the first day of my first caribou hunt. The second "shovel" is longer than the big one, and is wider in the middle than at the base, but is pretty much just a long bladed point. I was plenty happy either way.

I am 1 for 1 with what I would call double shovels, but we shot two big bulls that day and the other one was definitely just a single shovel,

How rare are double-shovel caribou?

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