spike elk mistake

[rsarkks]

Interesting article

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2014/nov/11/spike-bull-elk-tempt-hunters-take-gamble/

[kenzmad]

He’d shot an elk, and it wasn’t a true spike,” Andrews said. “He shot it from the left side, and when he saw it, he could see that on the left side there was a kicker coming off the spike. That’s OK — you can do that as long as the other side is a true spike —


Ummmmm. Nope. At least not how i read it.

[LITTLEBUCK]

Sounds like to me he was in the Oak Creek area and not a true spike area. So, only a spike needed on one side.

[bowhunterwa87]

Ya but sounds to me like he blasted a 2x2 and the wardens let him walk....

[MR5x5]

Sounds to me like the whole story is BS.

[Woodchuck]

Ya but sounds to me like he blasted a 2x2 and the wardens let him walk....

[Curly]

I wish there was a pic of the elk.  Good to hear of some discretion. 

[runamuk]

I wish there was a pic of the elk.  Good to hear of some discretion. 

I agree my gut says the guy shot a not true spike in an area where regular spike is fine but he thought he did it wrong.   A picture would tell the story better because the description isnt really working for me.

[bowhunterwa87]

The article says it has a kicker on both sides...

[runamuk]

based on the regs and how I read the remarks

Spike Bull Restrictions:
Elk taken in these game
management units (GMUs) must have at least
one antler with no branches originating more
than four (4) inches above where the antler
attaches to the skull
An animal with a spike on
one side (1x2) is legal in spike only units
An
animal with more than one antler point more
than four inches above where the antler attaches
to the skull on both sides (2x2) is illegal

and

Antler Points:
To qualify as a point, an antler
point must be at least one-inch in length,
measured on the longest side

the description of a kicker beginning to form with no picture is really hard to peg as an antler point of at least one inch.  My guess is discretion was used and that the "kicker" was of sketchy size.  I am glad they used discretion and glad the guy was responsible and didnt just waste an elk leaving it behind upon discovering his mistake, but still would like to see the animal because I am very visual like that.

[Curly]

Yep, it was likely a legal elk.  Or at least one so close that if you asked 10 wardens, they would not all agree with each other.  One like that should go in the hunters favor in most cases.