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Title: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: woodman on October 15, 2011, 09:25:25 PM
This elk showed up at one of my trail cams. He layed down in a neat spot for the camera, but does he look sick to you. Where he is laying is just above a swamp and he looks like he had been in there. Someone told me that a bull during rut will lose weight fighting for his cows. Maybe that is what is going on here. Any ideas?

I added the picture of the elk laying on it's side. This pic gives a better picture of the elk"s shoulder. I think that runamuk was first to notice. It did not occur to me that it my have been shot and not killed until reading responses here. Since this post I have heard from different people that this is not uncommon to happen. I have learned of 46 elk in the last two years according to some people from different areas that were shot and got away. Sounds like some people could work on their hunting skills.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: Swannytheswan on October 15, 2011, 09:29:07 PM
 :dunno: but where the pics is?
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: woodman on October 15, 2011, 09:31:09 PM
They should be there now, hate it when I forget to attach
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: runamuk on October 15, 2011, 09:31:48 PM
that elbow looks swelled up and he is bone thin not looking real healthy to me
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 15, 2011, 09:34:49 PM
Looks rutted out, he's big enough to be a breeder and the timeframe is right.  He's thin, but not on death's door by any means.  He definitely needs to pack on some groceries.  :twocents:
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: Swannytheswan on October 15, 2011, 09:35:13 PM
he does look rough I don't know what could have caused though...getting chased by wolves all the time??
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: 50CalJim on October 15, 2011, 09:36:37 PM
It looks like Romeo is plum tuckered out. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: Jeffrey on October 16, 2011, 05:33:13 AM
 :yeah: 
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: nwwanderer on October 16, 2011, 06:06:11 PM
Probably been on the chase for more than a month.  A big framed bull pushing 800 pounds on September 1 maybe less than 500 today and blue as can be if you take that hide off.  Survival is a function of food and weather.  A bad storm now he is probably dead.  If he is living close to food and the weather prediction mild, he will do it again next fall.  He does look tough.  Another good reason to heed the advice 'shoot the calf'.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: runamuk on October 16, 2011, 06:12:07 PM
Well I guess I will explain my position...I cant imagine that is "normal" for a rutted up bull if it was then none would survive winter ever....if that was a horse you'd be calling animal control in the standing pic the spine is raised and the hip bones look like coat hangers, I've lived in areas with bulls and dont see them look like this very often  :dunno: if you look at him he looks like that elbow is swollen which may be an injury from fighting rivals  :dunno: again I am not a long term hunter but I have a hell of a lot of animal experience and that animal looks done for unless he gets damn lucky and we dont have a winter and he happens on a haystack and penicillin  :dunno:
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: woodman on October 16, 2011, 06:23:36 PM
Probably been on the chase for more than a month.  A big framed bull pushing 800 pounds on September 1 maybe less than 500 today and blue as can be if you take that hide off.  Survival is a function of food and weather.  A bad storm now he is probably dead.  If he is living close to food and the weather prediction mild, he will do it again next fall.  He does look tough.  Another good reason to heed the advice 'shoot the calf'.

That rut sounds like a helluva diet!
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: WABONEHNTR on October 16, 2011, 08:35:08 PM
 Elk are still going full bore where I am at.  My guess would be he has a broadhead in him somewhere.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: rosscrazyelk on October 16, 2011, 08:36:09 PM
You try having sex with 20 or more people mutiple times a day for a month and see how much weight you loose..LOL
I hope he puts on some weight quick
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: Wea300mag on October 16, 2011, 09:16:28 PM
Yes, I think he was trying to burn the candle at both ends. Here is a bull I found while deer hunting this weekend who was happy with just four females. He was very healthy.


Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: cle elum bowhunter on October 16, 2011, 09:29:53 PM
Beautiful animal but definitely unhealthy thin.  Hope the elk gods smile on him and he gets to see another frosty September morning.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 16, 2011, 11:01:59 PM
Elk are still going full bore where I am at.  My guess would be he has a broadhead in him somewhere.

99.9% of the times, you see something that skinny and that is exactly the issue. It has been wounded by something, wether it be a broadhead, bullet or even got horned by another bull. I have seen plenty of elk after the rut and they do not look like that.  I have seen a ton of them that have been wounded and most of them look the same exact way...

Joe
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: blindpig on October 17, 2011, 06:03:31 AM
Just some rough living for the past month.  Partying way to much.  Hormones, gotta love em.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: bear on October 17, 2011, 06:29:27 AM
Yes, I think he was trying to burn the candle at both ends. Here is a bull I found while deer hunting this weekend who was happy with just four females. He was very healthy.



Hey, I recognize that one.  Son is still holding out for now. Bear
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: 500 long on October 17, 2011, 12:41:18 PM
You try having sex with 20 or more people mutiple times a day for a month and see how much weight you loose..LOL
I hope he puts on some weight quick
:tup: I could stand to lose a few pounds :chuckle:
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: KFhunter on October 18, 2011, 10:47:13 PM
This elk showed up at one of my trail cams. He layed down in a neat spot for the camera, but does he look sick to you. Where he is laying is just above a swamp and he looks like he had been in there. Someone told me that a bull during rut will lose weight fighting for his cows. Maybe that is what is going on here. Any ideas?

that there is a critter in major pain, see him eyeballin that shoulder and the way he laid down akward with that shoulder up
 
if I were to wager a guess, I'd say he has a muzzleloader ball in his shoulder
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body
Post by: huntnnw on October 19, 2011, 01:17:36 AM
definitely something wrong with that leg
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body Pic added for different view
Post by: jmx369 on October 21, 2011, 07:42:38 PM
Why can't I ever find a bull like that when I am out hunting?
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: woodman on April 01, 2012, 05:56:43 PM
Does this look like the same elk to you?
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: threedwizard on April 01, 2012, 06:50:38 PM
He does look thin compared to the bulls I've hunted. He may have gotten wounded defending his cows or challenging a bigger bull? I have a set of antlers from a small 6x6 that had a broken G4and he had a gash in his neck from fighting.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: NWBREW on April 01, 2012, 07:05:38 PM
Looks like the same one to me.  :dunno: 
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: cannon-master on April 01, 2012, 09:43:12 PM
way different bull horns are not the same size at all but that one looks thin as well
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: LoganOregon on April 04, 2012, 02:58:22 PM
Definitely not the same bull.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: summit creek on April 04, 2012, 07:29:54 PM
hes sick or hurt they dont sleep like that
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: Hunter Dug on April 05, 2012, 09:11:40 AM
My guess is theres salt right there and he is wallowing in it.  He appears to be wallowing in the pictures not sleepin.  Maybe elk are smart enough to now that salt helps a wound if indeed he is injuies and not just rutted out.   :dunno:  The second bull is just smelling were the big boy was wallowing.
Title: Re: Big antlers scrawny body - I think he made it through the winter is it the same
Post by: hirshey on April 05, 2012, 09:31:28 AM
Definitely a little thin... looks like two different critters to me but I can't tell without seeing the 2nd bull's horns at a slightly different angle.

I shot a cow three seasons ago with an antlerless tag on the west side that looked like that and regretted the decision as far as filling the freezer was concerned... but as far as ending her suffering it was a good decision; its incredible once their outward appearance starts to deteriorate to that level how many terrible things are concurrently going on inside; my animal's heart was twice as big as it should have been with a clear gel insulating it... and all her blood came out in a large congealed mass only minutes after she was killed. It is one of those hard truths that every year after hunting seasons close there are a number of animals walking around the woods like that.
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