Cow Elk Starving

alp75 · Dec 17, 2010

I was not sure how to title this post, but I was out snowmobiling a couple days ago up near Strawberry and came across a cow elk. It was obvious that she was staying in just one area. The snow is already at least two feet deep and I don't think there is any way she will make it to wintering grounds (not to mention it's obvious she's not trying to). I tried to call the DWR today, but they are closed on Fridays. So my question is will they do anything? It seems to me that if nothing is done she will simply starve. I would think it would be better for a sportsman to be able to go in and shoot her and at least fill the freezer instead of letting her rot. What are some of your thoughts?

mntman · Dec 17, 2010

I think its nature. She is either not smart enough to go to lower elevation she may have some disease too that is making her weak, again nature at work weeding out the weak (body/mind) ones.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

kingfish · Dec 17, 2010

Let nature run it's course.

pookiebar · Dec 17, 2010

+1 on that. If she is diseased or injured or too old to make it down to wintering grounds then why would you want to eat her anyway?

wyobackcountry · Dec 17, 2010

Remember where she's at and go back for her ivories in the spring.

Gator · Dec 18, 2010

Drop off some hay every week and see if she makes it.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

Aaron84 · Dec 18, 2010

I bet a lion will get her before she starves or a pack of coyotes. Which is one less healthy elk they will go after. Let nature take its course, ya it sucks and is sad but thats how it was way before man came into play.

bullelk97 · Dec 18, 2010

Did this cow have her bottom jaw open really wide with her tongue sticking out and a glazed over look and not wanting to go anywhere? I was up there first part of November and on the shore of Strawberry was a cow like I described. I called the DWR on her but don't know what became of it.

alp75 · Dec 18, 2010

>Did this cow have her bottom
>jaw open really wide with
>her tongue sticking out and
>a glazed over look and
>not wanting to go anywhere?
> I was up there
>first part of November and
>on the shore of Strawberry
>was a cow like I
>described. I called the
>DWR on her but don't
>know what became of it.
>

No, she actually looked young and healthy. We were just cutting cross country and trying to find a place to cross a creek and jumped her out of the creek bed. She ran off about 100-150 yards. She didn't look like she really had any issues other than she's not in a good spot to make it through the winter.

swbuckmaster · Dec 20, 2010

alp
there are quite a few elk up high still. they are not in any danger of starving and when they want down they will get down. the feed is actually better higher up then it is out in the desert.

there is still deer up high as well.

The harder you work the luckier you get!!

alp75 · Dec 20, 2010

SWB,

Her wintering ground is a long, long ways away. With this storm the snow pack just went from 2-3' deep to 5-6' That is tough for an elk to move around in. Elk and deer in the Wasatch stay high much longer because they don't have as far to go to winter. Elk and deer in the Uintas and up by strawberry have to migrate much earlier. Just how it works.