Harve Curry
Member
Another thread rekindled my interest in the question about elk being hunted to near extinction in Arizona and New Mexico. Being a elk /deer hunting guide I get to be out more then most and know how hard it can be in those mountains. Even with the best of todays spotting scopes elk can avoid detection so I think it is probable that the reports that the elk were gone by 1890 to 1900 were false. Elk are smart, can see, have a memory and use it. Knowing some pretty hardy types (myself not included) how could our ancestors have shot them out with no optics, iron sight rifles, early metalic cartridges like 45-70 and 30-30's?
These elk can have an unusually large antlers compared to northern parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Some say it's because there were some elk left and they bred with the elk reintroduced (Roosevelt elk) early in the 1900's.
What do you all think?
, Bill Weddle
These elk can have an unusually large antlers compared to northern parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Some say it's because there were some elk left and they bred with the elk reintroduced (Roosevelt elk) early in the 1900's.
What do you all think?
, Bill Weddle