This bull was in an open unit but after the season had closed, and I was hunting cows. He may be the largest I have ever seen, controlled area or not and suspect he is 350-360".
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Honestly, I believe I have seen 10X more 180 class mule deer than 350 class elk but I admittedly am not a guy who crazes over huge antlers and usually takes a raghorn so that I can get on to other hunts, especially on general tags which is all I have ever had for Rocky Mountain bulls.

As far as reality for inexperienced elk hunters, I think tag soup is reality, normally. People say elk are way easier than mule deer (at least mature mule deer), but I disagree. Maybe it is just the way I hunt and glass. I dunno but that is my experience.