Nice 7x7 elk

So the other day my dad was out taking pictures of some elk in a friends field. As the elk moved out of the field they had to jump a fence. Normaly not a big deal, but when this big guy jumped it he caught the top wire with his legs. It sent him tumbling, but they figured he'd just get up and walk it off. When he didn't get up they thought maybe he broke his neck, but as they got closer to inspect the situation he rose his head up, but was not holding it steady at all. They called the fish and game officer who lives down the road and he came up to see what was going on. He determined that the only option was to shoot the animal and put it out of it's misery. Upon final inspection of the bull they found that when he fell it cracked his skull, thus disabling the animal.

Before this turnes into a thread about harrassing animals please know that the animal was moving from one field to another field accross the road to feed and was at no time harrassed. It's just an unfortunate accident that could not have been avoided.
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MuleyMadness
Wow, bummer for sure. Nice bull, thanks for sharing the story and photo with us.
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killerbee
well that stinks
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Default Avatar
That sucks. I was out looking for sheds a couple years ago and found what was left of a little buck that got his back legs caught in a fence. It's too bad when stuff like that happens.
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Hiker
Wow! that is something else. Thanks for sharing that with us.
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bigbuck92
yep thats to bad. this summer we seen an elk during the hunt that we thought got shot or something but it was wounded but it looked like an old wound so we called F&G and left. i dont know if they put it down or not
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AGCHAWK
Wow, that is too bad but accidents happen.
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Default Avatar
wow what a bummer. Now my question is did game and fish let anyone have him for the meat or did this guy go to waste?
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kadejones2
wow thant looks bad
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DeadI
two bad. looks like he would have been a very big bull in a nother couple of years. thanks for sharing
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HUNTIN FOR LIFE
Really nice bull thats tobad it happened to a bull like that.
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Default Avatar
Very sad.
We have some huge heards around here, many of the ranchers lower areas of their fences to keep them from getting torn up but after seeing that horrible picture it also saves lives.
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Default Avatar
It is always a shame to lose an animal like that, especially one as big as he is. I have come across several deer caught in fences (mostly fawns) but have never had to see one suffering in the fence. Most had already been chewed on by the coyotes and other critters.

He could have been such an asset to the herd...
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Utahbowhunter
Ya that sucks BIG time. :>/ !!! For a 7x7 he isnt that big. Poor guy.
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chet
That poor thing was probably only 3 or 4 years old..... had ALOT of potential! too bad.

The fish and game does not waste the meat when things like this happen. here in Tooele there is usually elk meat for dinner at our local banquette. I've seen it donated to shelters as well.
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Utahbowhunter
hmm... that elk dont look like it has a big body. thats wierd! :-k
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79Ford
"muleystalker01" wrote:wow what a bummer. Now my question is did game and fish let anyone have him for the meat or did this guy go to waste?
 Nothing went to waste.The fish and game let the landowner (my dads employer) keep the meat, and the antlers were kept by the fish and game and I assume they will be mounted and auctioned off.
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79Ford
"TreeLine" wrote:Very sad.
We have some huge heards around here, many of the ranchers lower areas of their fences to keep them from getting torn up but after seeing that horrible picture it also saves lives.
 Most of the are thet this bull is from is cattle country so the landowners dont have drop fences so they can keep the cows in during the winter. It's just too bad that this has to be a result. I do have to say though it is the first elk I have heard of being killed by a 4' fence. Usually they clear them with no problem.
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MuleyMadness
Usually they clear them with no problem.

Yea, and sometimes the don't "clear" them, they just go through them and knock them over. I must say they are tough animals, and that is a surprise and rare thing for sure.
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79Ford
"chet" wrote:That poor thing was probably only 3 or 4 years old..... had ALOT of potential! too bad.
 I guess the game warden looked at this elk and judged him to be fairly old. Old enough that my dad said all the meat was good for was jerky. (???)
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