Rewards of a Game Warden...

Fish · 02-07-2007, 12:32 PM

Neat story about a field I almost went in to...

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- It's not all checking hunting and fishing licenses. Sometimes the issues are bigger. Like when a Nevada game warden was handed the chore of figuring out how to separate two bull elk who locked horns while sparring and couldn't untangle them. The saga began Nov. 21 when a rancher in Reese River Valley spotted the two elk. By the following day, the animals were gone and the rancher assumed they had separated.

A week later, according to Nevada Division of Wildlife biologist Tom Donham, the rancher was out looking for some of his cows and saw the elk again. This time, he called the wildlife department and Donham, game warden Brian Eller and Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist Bryson Code headed out to see what they could do. When they reached Indian Valley, south of Austin, it was Nov. 29, one week after the elk were first seen. "When we arrived where the rancher had last seen them, we found them pretty quickly. They were both lying on the ground and one of them was in a very uncomfortable looking position with his head directly above the others head and his nose pointing straight up to the sky," Donham said. Eller said he wondered if they had survived their ordeal. "Once we found out they were alive, I was hoping they couldn't move and would stay where they were. That didn't happen. When they ran off, I was hoping that they could not go very far. That didn't happen either," he said. The elk may have been sparring at the outset, but Donham and Eller say they used teamwork to run for nearly a mile to evade the newcomers. "It looked like they had been doing it all their lives; serious cooperation if I've ever seen it," Donham said.

After two unsuccessful attempts, Donham was able to get a tranquilizer dart into one of the elk. With one down, the other could not run, but was also partially tranquilized in order to separate the two. Eller and Code helped hold the elk down while Donham used a hand saw to remove part of an antler off one of them. "As soon as they were apart, the bull that hadn't gotten a full dose jumped to his feet and Bryson, Brian and I quickly gave him all the room he wanted. He went off about 30 yards and lay down for about 10 minutes before finally walking up the hill and over the ridge, none the worse for wear" Donham said.

The other elk was treated with antibiotics and eventually walked off as well after the tranquilizer had worn off. "If these two bulls had not been discovered, and we never got the call, they more than likely would have both died. Watching the bulls walk away, and knowing that we likely saved them from a slow death was definitely one of those moments that makes this job rewarding."

FDS · 02-07-2007, 12:43 PM

Coyotes, wolves or big cats must not have been very hungry.

FirstDownSamie

1adam1238 · 02-07-2007, 12:45 PM

Good story....just down the road from me.

CoMoChief · 02-07-2007, 01:13 PM

Elks are stupid.

Reerun_KC · 02-07-2007, 01:17 PM

Nice Find, What a cool story!

both of those look like trophies...

JimNasium · 02-07-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Elks are stupid.

bogie · 02-07-2007, 01:38 PM

I've heard of this happening to white tails. Two bucks found dead with locked antlers. Nice story.

boogblaster · 02-07-2007, 02:29 PM

Ive found whitetails dead locked-up more than once..nice 10 pointers one time ...

bogie · 02-07-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogblaster

Ive found whitetails dead locked-up more than once..nice 10 pointers one time ...

My sister is a retired game warden (wildlife conservationist) she found two whitetail bucks locked up. One was dead the other was still alive dragging the dead one around.

Redrum_69 · 02-07-2007, 02:51 PM

Antifreeze here would have done the trick

B_Ambuehl · 02-07-2007, 09:00 PM

When I was a kid my dad used to take me hunting to Freer, Tx and I once found 2 sets of antlers locked up...must've been like that for years because there was no bones, hair or smell....just the antlers lying on the ground.

KChiefer · 02-07-2007, 09:09 PM

Thanks for sharing.

El Jefe · 02-07-2007, 09:11 PM

Interesting.

**Bwana** · 02-07-2007, 09:18 PM

Yeah, I got that about a week ago, very cool. I have another oen that is call hooves and horns that is in power point that is kick ass. Any way to attach that to here or not?

02-07-2007, 12:32 PM
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2018919	Rewards of a Game Warden... Neat story about a field I almost went in to... RENO, Nev. (AP) -- It's not all checking hunting and fishing licenses. Sometimes the issues are bigger. Like when a Nevada game warden was handed the chore of figuring out how to separate two bull elk who locked horns while sparring and couldn't untangle them. The saga began Nov. 21 when a rancher in Reese River Valley spotted the two elk. By the following day, the animals were gone and the rancher assumed they had separated. A week later, according to Nevada Division of Wildlife biologist Tom Donham, the rancher was out looking for some of his cows and saw the elk again. This time, he called the wildlife department and Donham, game warden Brian Eller and Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist Bryson Code headed out to see what they could do. When they reached Indian Valley, south of Austin, it was Nov. 29, one week after the elk were first seen. "When we arrived where the rancher had last seen them, we found them pretty quickly. They were both lying on the ground and one of them was in a very uncomfortable looking position with his head directly above the others head and his nose pointing straight up to the sky," Donham said. Eller said he wondered if they had survived their ordeal. "Once we found out they were alive, I was hoping they couldn't move and would stay where they were. That didn't happen. When they ran off, I was hoping that they could not go very far. That didn't happen either," he said. The elk may have been sparring at the outset, but Donham and Eller say they used teamwork to run for nearly a mile to evade the newcomers. "It looked like they had been doing it all their lives; serious cooperation if I've ever seen it," Donham said. After two unsuccessful attempts, Donham was able to get a tranquilizer dart into one of the elk. With one down, the other could not run, but was also partially tranquilized in order to separate the two. Eller and Code helped hold the elk down while Donham used a hand saw to remove part of an antler off one of them. "As soon as they were apart, the bull that hadn't gotten a full dose jumped to his feet and Bryson, Brian and I quickly gave him all the room he wanted. He went off about 30 yards and lay down for about 10 minutes before finally walking up the hill and over the ridge, none the worse for wear" Donham said. The other elk was treated with antibiotics and eventually walked off as well after the tranquilizer had worn off. "If these two bulls had not been discovered, and we never got the call, they more than likely would have both died. Watching the bulls walk away, and knowing that we likely saved them from a slow death was definitely one of those moments that makes this job rewarding."
Posts: 47,663

02-07-2007, 12:43 PM	#2
FDS Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Casino cash: $10004900	Coyotes, wolves or big cats must not have been very hungry. FirstDownSamie
Posts: 368

02-07-2007, 12:45 PM	#3
1adam1238 Knob Noster Alum Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dayton, Nevada Casino cash: $9048155	Good story....just down the road from me.
Posts: 633

02-07-2007, 01:13 PM	#4
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8032254	Elks are stupid.
Posts: 39,164

02-07-2007, 01:17 PM	#5
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $8301160	Nice Find, What a cool story! both of those look like trophies...
Posts: 934

02-07-2007, 01:38 PM	#7
bogie West Coast Chief Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: california Casino cash: $10004900	I've heard of this happening to white tails. Two bucks found dead with locked antlers. Nice story. __________________
Posts: 3,562

02-07-2007, 02:29 PM	#8
boogblaster MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Verdigris Valley Campsite Casino cash: $10004900	Ive found whitetails dead locked-up more than once..nice 10 pointers one time ... __________________ WR or S please
Posts: 10,305

02-07-2007, 02:51 PM	#10
Redrum_69 Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: your nightmares Casino cash: $10004900	Antifreeze here would have done the trick
Posts: 6,358

02-07-2007, 09:00 PM	#11
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9805405	When I was a kid my dad used to take me hunting to Freer, Tx and I once found 2 sets of antlers locked up...must've been like that for years because there was no bones, hair or smell....just the antlers lying on the ground. __________________ Who's decision was it to fire Romeo" - Coleman C Hunt: "It was my decision but it was one that Scott agreed with" LOL
Posts: 2,605

02-07-2007, 09:09 PM	#12
KChiefer Fantastic Planeteer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Champaign, IL Casino cash: $10006721	Thanks for sharing.
Posts: 4,943

02-07-2007, 09:11 PM	#13
El Jefe Don't tread on me. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Where the peaches grow Casino cash: $9030572	Interesting.
Posts: 8,540

02-07-2007, 09:18 PM	#14
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139293647	Yeah, I got that about a week ago, very cool. I have another oen that is call hooves and horns that is in power point that is kick ass. Any way to attach that to here or not? Last edited by Bwana; 02-07-2007 at 09:25 PM..
Posts: 69,782