Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: lewy on October 07, 2019, 02:13:56 PM

Title: Sick elk
Post by: lewy on October 07, 2019, 02:13:56 PM: I got some footage of a sickly cow this weekend, have passed it along to the regional biologist along with a pin drop for location. Curious what comes of it, hopefully nothing to serious/contagious......

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ACHqdPss09H8RNIdREZt8NfecTmdZ2lP/view?usp=drivesdk
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Timberstalker on October 07, 2019, 02:40:42 PM: She wasn't injured in any way?
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: medic6 on October 07, 2019, 02:41:07 PM: That’s why You shouldn’t eat mushrooms.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Practical Approach on October 07, 2019, 03:38:01 PM: What unit is that elk in?
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Dawgfather1 on October 07, 2019, 03:57:11 PM: Strange. Looks to be a healthy cow otherwise. Interested to hear what comes of it.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: ThurstonCokid on October 07, 2019, 04:31:14 PM: Can’t help but feel sorry for her..

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Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Old Man8383 on October 07, 2019, 04:34:17 PM: Thanks for reporting it to WDFW. Another post unfortunately might be closer than they think in their comment about mushrooms. A die off of elk occurred in Wyoming about 15 years ago due to elk feeding on a specific type of lichen. Hope it's not another new disease outbreak.

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/lichen-blamed-for-mystery-elk-deaths-scientists-now-studying-how/article_a881f22c-d38f-5acc-97cd-fe42e6fd0d84.html
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: PlateauNDN on October 07, 2019, 04:37:46 PM: Quote from: Practical Approach on October 07, 2019, 03:38:01 PM
What unit is that elk in?

:yeah:
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: HillHound on October 07, 2019, 05:40:48 PM: Reminds me of the moose that get brain worm almost. Well I guess other than it’s not running in circles.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: mikelonsford on October 07, 2019, 05:56:41 PM: Fermented apples ??
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: NOCK NOCK on October 07, 2019, 06:57:07 PM: That was kinda painful to watch. I know its not legal, but I would have been tempted to put her out of her misery.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: lewy on October 07, 2019, 07:16:52 PM: No noticeable injuries and I looked her over pretty good, appeared to be an otherwise healthy looking young adult cow. Did have quite a bit of weeping from the eyes.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: X-Force on October 07, 2019, 07:54:16 PM: Mad cow? No pun intended
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Goshawk on October 08, 2019, 07:46:18 AM: I hope it's only mushrooms. It reminded me of some videos on CWD.
I've lost both goats and even beef to fall mushrooms, so that's a solid possibility.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 08, 2019, 07:59:44 AM: Any sort of season open there? Could she have been wounded or had a projectile in her you couldn't see? I once killed an elk that had a black powder maxi ball in his shoulder. It had mostly healed over but there was a small hole that wasn't noticable until I went to skin it. I first noticed some puss and thought it might have had tics or something. But when I skinned it, the size of the puss pocket became more obvious and as I cleaned it out, I found the maxi ball.

Animals are tough and can survive bad wounds but still have a hard time motating.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: cryder on October 08, 2019, 09:03:47 AM: And there u have it , the most depressing part of the day n age of hunting we live in , pay for and are constantly reminded , very sad to say the least !
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: 2MANY on October 08, 2019, 09:08:03 AM: Elk are becoming more and more educated.
Perhaps it was simply an act to escape?
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: cryder on October 08, 2019, 09:51:32 AM: Love that , escape method 🤣 , I don't care if it's in living color in h.d. , I won't watch a video of sick elk , can't take it , knowing what I've learned in 35 years of Mr majestic I've seen and no enuff ,,,,, again with the ,, very sad
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: KP-Skagit on October 08, 2019, 10:17:03 AM: Had a blacktail doing similar antics in my backyard related to fermented grapes. Knowing that was what was going on it was pretty hilarious (little button buck junping around, stumbling, falling down, kicking like a bucking bronc). If I did not know that was what was going on it would have been very concerning and sad.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: cryder on October 09, 2019, 11:17:15 AM: We watch the Robin's every year eat the fermented berries on the niebors tree pretty hillariouse
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 09, 2019, 11:23:40 AM: Quote from: medic6 on October 07, 2019, 02:41:07 PM
That’s why You shouldn’t eat mushrooms.

There are a lot of amanita muscaria out right now. They eat them and she might be stoned and tripping.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: Pegasus on October 09, 2019, 11:35:55 AM: Obvious case of TDS. Spread from humans to elk in the past few years. Very contagious.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: big al on October 11, 2019, 01:34:43 PM: Sad to watch, especially when she just fell down. Sad situation.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: yakimanoob on October 11, 2019, 03:30:34 PM: Bummer for her, for sure.

I understand the desire to put her down, but without good reason to believe the condition was terminal, I would definitely not have pulled the trigger. If I was carrying an appropriate tag, though, 100% she'd be the one I took, and I would definitely have the tissue tested for various diseases.
Title: Re: Sick elk
Post by: howlow on October 11, 2019, 07:21:25 PM: Is there a hidden grow patch near by?