Here is a shot of a group we took cow #7 and bull #3 from.


Most of the larger bulls had dropped their horns, with some starting to show some growth. The spikes still had their horns on. The previous day one spike was darted, but in the process dropped both horns between the dart and release.


We used two different drugs to revive the elk, actually, those with proper training did.


Within about 30 to 60 seconds, the elk would "become VERY alert", realizing that they now had control of their bodies, and jump up with little warning.


Within a few steps, they had regained their footing and stood there wondering, "Hey, why the anal probe?!?!?"

The cow in the first post decided to wake up before we gave her the reversal, probably due to her "Boone & Crocket" size, but we were able to bring her back down to the ground safely, and she went on her merry way.

Here is a few shot of one of our other patients for the day.

For those who remember, it was like being a walk on cast member for Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Unfortunately, or not , while Marlin was safely observing the process from the helicopter, I played the part of Jim wrestling the elk down in the reprod.

For those who have thought about joining the AHE program, this is what you are missing. The teamwork and professionalism exhibited by the WDFW staff and volunteers was amazing to watch. We even had a few enforcement officers who helped out with various stages of the project. I had a great opportunity to bend the ear of a WDFW Bio for most of the day, learnig lots about the elk I hunt, the season setting process, and many other things that if I told you, I'd have to hunt you down and ............ well, you know.

I don't have to do another project for another five years, but I can tell you that I will be involved in future "elk rodeos" in the near future. It is a huge amount of work, with the adrenaline hits like a regular elk hunt, but you get to do it many times in one day.

One final note, there was no mortality from today's operation, and all elk were immediately released after revival. There was no transporting involved.

Andy