Elk takes down helicopter in Utah

kutv.com...

The Australian flight crew was in the process of netting a cow elk, which jumped and hit the tail rotor of the helicopter.

I've heard some wild stories over the years, but it's not everyday that you see an elk hitting a helicopter...

Every one but the elk appears to be fine.

That is what the get for trying to mess with an elk. The elks club is a big organization.

a reply to: RadioRobert

Well... how soon before they blame the ELF (Elk Liberation Front) for this brazen attack upon the peaceful people???

The gall of it all.

What was an Australian helicopter crew doing in Utah "netting" an Elk??

That's my question!!

take them to Afghanistan

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
What was an Australian helicopter crew doing in Utah "netting" an Elk??

That's my question!!

Elk heard them say "mate" and misunderstood. Took the noble way out.

The Oz-men probably let their guard down, having come from a land where everything tries to kill you and all. Little did they know...

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

It was a Texas based crew that was contracted by the state.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Okay?????



edit...now I don't know Jack about Utah wildlife rules (even though I went to college there), but in Wyoming no Australian air crew is getting anywhere near a wild Elk...not ever! It's going to be DNR or federal Wildlife...or nobody.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I don't know if they're Australian and work for them, or someone figured Australia was close enough to Texas, but the company doing the work is Texas based.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Farmed animals may be different (in Utah), but otherwise see my previous edit.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

The company was contacted by the state to tag and collar them for study. The easiest way to do that is by helicopter. Most land management agencies will contract that kind of work out because they don't have the resources to do it on a large scale.

They dropped the net and didn't get a good catch on the elk so they were coming down so someone could jump out of the helicopter to hobble it, when it jumped up and hit the tail rotor.

a reply to: Zaphod58

...or someone figured Australia was close enough to Texas,...

Now that's funny!!

Something I could completely believe the US Government would do!!!

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
What was an Australian helicopter crew doing in Utah "netting" an Elk??

That's my question!!

click the link and read the article. they were doin it to collar it to study as contracted by DWR

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yes, I am acutely aware of how this works...with animals such as wild horses and such (having actually been involved in some of it personally), but not Elk. At least not that I am aware of.

a reply to: truthnlies

Okay, well, I will acquiesce for now, but this must be relatively new. Historically Elk have been highly protected and regulated in the state of Wyoming. I grew up there. Wyoming is my home.

Additionally, tagging is one thing...drugging, netting and transporting is something entirely different (as is herding by helo).

DP

originally posted by: RadioRobert

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
What was an Australian helicopter crew doing in Utah "netting" an Elk??

That's my question!!

Elk heard them say "mate" and misunderstood. Took the noble way out.

The Oz-men probably let their guard down, having come from a land where everything tries to kill you and all. Little did they know...

a reply to: truthnlies

Correction...you're probably right.

This was Utah. As I stated, I don't know how the Utah wildlife folks operate.

a reply to: rickymouse

Yes. We are a large and benovelent organization. We don’t take down
Helicopters. We take them for transportation and enjoyment. I was
Very fortunate to spot a large hammer head shark on my helicopter
Ride last October cruising down Panama City Beach.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I did a quick search with the old goog and found several studies where they were tracking mortality rates among does and another (or simply later) program tracking migration patterns. Dates back to 2006.