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Author Topic: saw my 1st wild ELK on Friday  (Read 864 times)
cookiedough
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Posts: 11683

southern WI


« on: April 18, 2021, 07:00:12 PM »

heading up to Eau Claire WI in the cage just 1 mile south of Black River Falls WI on Interstate saw a pair of adult ELK about 50 yards off the road grazing on the edge of the woods behind them but out in the open looking at the traffic whizzing by around 5 p.m..    

I knew there were suppose to be a few of them in the Jackson County forest land but pretty darn close to the road would hate to hit one crossing the road.   NO idea how deer hunters can mistake ELK for a deer during hunting season.  Those ELK are HUGE not even close to a deer's size, unless I guess a young en...

Also was pretty close to the ATV trails in Jackson county since was near the railroad tracks which we cross a few times just south of Black River Falls.  Would be a wake up call having an ELK cross right in front of us on a dinky ATV since not much clearance on the trails on the sides to see them coming. 
« Last Edit: April 18, 2021, 07:03:51 PM by cookiedough » Logged
Valkorado
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Posts: 10493


VRCC DS 0242

Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.


« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2021, 07:12:09 PM »

They're heeeeere!

I've had close calls with them in cages.  They are massive beasts, and make deer look puny.

I've hit deer when driving cages, and don't want to duplicate that feat on two wheels with any hoofed thing.  I've come close.   Undecided
« Last Edit: April 18, 2021, 07:17:26 PM by Valkorado » Logged

Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good,
there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood?
- John Prine

97 Tourer "Silver Bullet"
01 Interstate "Ruby"

The emperor has no clothes
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Posts: 29945


« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2021, 07:22:32 PM »

When your Learners Permit at 14 includes avoiding these guys, everything else seems child’s play.  Smiley

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Rams
Member
*****
Posts: 16208


So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out

Covington, TN


« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2021, 03:20:41 AM »

Back in the day, (while assigned to Ft Carson, CO) every year the wild life folks would request Army helicopters to take their folks out and do wildlife population counts.   That was a mission everyone wanted to fly.   Elk are truly beautiful animals and I hear they are also pretty tasty.   I'm not a hunter so, I haven't ever taken one but, I have been offered elk meat from other hunters who some how knew where to find to those elk.

Not sure how that happened and I'm sticking to that story. Wink

I've encountered several deer in my life with not so good results to my cage and even worse for the deer.  Almost hit a few on my bike but, I'd really hate to hit an elk.   Who won might be hard to tell.

Edited:   Oh, BTW, my wife feeds to 3 to 8 deer every evening in our back yard.    Roll Eyes
There are some things I'll never understand.  What the deer spill, the squirrels, birds, racoons, geese or other wildlife clean up.   It's expensive being married to Mother Nature.  Wink

Rams
« Last Edit: April 19, 2021, 03:40:23 AM by Rams » Logged

VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.

Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
hubcapsc
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Posts: 16780


upstate

South Carolina


« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2021, 05:08:08 AM »

They're heeeeere!

I've had close calls with them in cages.  They are massive beasts, and make deer look puny.

I've hit deer when driving cages, and don't want to duplicate that feat on two wheels with any hoofed thing.  I've come close.   Undecided

They're even here! I heard some guys talking about them being near Cataloochee
in the Smokies.

-Mike
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..
Member
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Posts: 27796


Maggie Valley, NC


« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2021, 05:30:27 AM »

They're heeeeere!

I've had close calls with them in cages.  They are massive beasts, and make deer look puny.

I've hit deer when driving cages, and don't want to duplicate that feat on two wheels with any hoofed thing.  I've come close.   Undecided

They're even here! I heard some guys talking about them being near Cataloochee
in the Smokies.

-Mike

And Maggie Valley.

Sometimes they like to promenade along Main St.

A friend of Sandra's live up the mountain over yonder and he sometimes has elk walk up to his front deck for a hand fed snack. I'm waiting to see him on an episode of "When Wild Animals Go Bad".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn2RgjdtNvM
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0leman
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Posts: 2294


Klamath Falls, Or


« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2021, 08:07:39 AM »

Since left OK in '69, have worked/lived where elk are.  Have had the good luck to put one in the freezer 18 out of 19 tries.  Have walked up on elk feeding as close as 20 yards away and watched them for a bit.   Have seen a huge bull in the high country of AZ which would have been a record in anyone books.  Would see herds of 20 or more when working in WY nearly every day I was in the woods. 

Yeah they are pretty good size.

That being said, Have walked up on a cow moose with her little one while wearing snow shoes on 3' of snow.  When you stand well over 6' in height and standing on 3' of snow, moose are pretty impressive when they look you straight  in the eye. 
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Rams
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Posts: 16208


So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out

Covington, TN


« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2021, 04:17:25 PM »

Saw my first Elk in the Wichita Mountains close to Ft. Sill, OK.   Was pretty exciting.

We used to fly a "Predator Kill" mission there.   Would take the rear passenger doors off of an OH58 helicopter and Game Wardens carrying goose guns would shoot any 4 legged canine we found.   Those canines were decimating the fawn population of a re-stocking program.   

I'm not really sure how much effect we had but, they shot predator/canine within the refuge.   That really pissed off some hunters/poachers a few times also but, that's another story.

Rams
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.

Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
Valkorado
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Posts: 10493


VRCC DS 0242

Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.


« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2021, 04:32:47 PM »

Since left OK in '69, have worked/lived where elk are.  Have had the good luck to put one in the freezer 18 out of 19 tries. 

There's a pretty good amount of skill involved that feat as well.  Sounds like yer eatin' well!   cooldude
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Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good,
there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood?
- John Prine

97 Tourer "Silver Bullet"
01 Interstate "Ruby"

cookiedough
Member
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Posts: 11683

southern WI


« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2021, 08:05:51 PM »

yah, I would say doing really well 18 out of 19 bagging an ELK.  That is a lot of meat to eat vs. say even 2 normal whitetail deer.  I guess  ELK are not that common in WI as compared to other states though.  I would think spotting a MOOSE in the wild is even more rare than seeing ELK in most of the US.  Then again,  this past summer a black bear was spotted in southern WI heading into ILLINOIS, poor bear must have been insane heading into IL... Grin
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