Elk Iveries

[guardian]

For removel I use a claw hammer. Place the claws under tooth pull back done. Takes two seconds. Works great if you have one handy.

[runningboard]

This is kind of off topic, but this thread got me thinking how I take ivory's out of an elk. Im not sure how everyone else does it, but thought I would post how I do it and maybe you will get a new way of removing them or you may already use this method. An outfitter I used to work for in Wyoming taught me this after I struggled for a while trying to cut them out.
Open the mouth of the elk as far as you can, then take a solid stick or a piece of or wood about 2"x2" and put it on the front of the ivory's (the side facing the front of the mouth) next take another stick or the back of a hatchet head and hit the end of the stick that is on the ivory and it will pop right out of the socket of the mouth. It might take a few whacks depending how light you hit it. You might have to cut any tissue left, but this is very effective for removing them. I have never broke an ivory doing this and the outfitter said he never has either.

Its actually easier to cut them out, just roll up the lip and score the gum and bone in an upsidedown "V" above the tooth and yank it out the side, comes right out very easily 

not sure about easier, I use a plastic tree falling wedge & anything heavy enough to hit it with in much the same way descibed by bigpaw. pops right out except I don't prop the mouth open