One hot, dry, dusty afternoon ... wait... it might have have been a cool, dry, dusty morning.
Either way, it does not matter much except to know that ONE DAY in Northeastern Nevada I was bouncing around on some two-tracks in the middle of
nowhere with a suicide inducing headache when I came across something tangled in the fence.
My first thought was "Did I bring a gun?" Not to wantonly kill something, but if it was beyond help with broken legs or something I might want to end
the suffering.
Mercy killings, something we do far to often with animals, can you imagine if we treated people that way?
Where is little Billy?
Oh, he fell of the swing, broke both his legs, poor guy, so I shot him....OUCH!
As you can tell I am digressing from the true story here. None the less I did have a firearm, so parking the Jeep I walked up to the poor little guy
to see the damages.
Lucky for both of use there was no need for such drastic action. While it did appear that he had be trapped in the barbwire for some time based on the
hole he dug and the swelling on the side of his head.
Carefully I cut him free from the fence fearing that once he was free he would start thrashing around and hurt one of us. To be honest with you, I was
more concerned with myself.
Instead he just laid there, to exhausted to move. It was 5 minutes, more or less, before he was able to get into a 'sitting' position.
Then he tried several times to stand, looking much like a newborn calf or foal, but was unable to do so right away. At this point I probably should
have moved over to the relative safety of the far side of the fence.
Do you know what was the first thing he did upon standing? He attempted to head-butt me. So much for gratitude. The good part is that it was like
being head-butted by a lazy 5-year old kid.
At this point I retreated to the other side of the fence in case he was able to recover much quicker than one would assume.
Now that I have the fence in between me and he, and he was in no hurry to leave, I offered him some water. It was a little awkward at first, I am only
guessing here, that wild Elk do not drink out of water bottles very often?
After a few attempts he was a drinking like a drunkard with a new bottle of watermelon wine.
Well, he did have trouble walking and keeping the life giving elixir from running down his chin, much like the drunkards one might see on The Andy
Griffith show.
Before I knew it he had downed three bottles of water and was starting to get frisky.
Soon he turned his back to me and trotted away with nary a glance back and that, my friends, is the true story of how I once rescued an Elk in
Northeastern Nevada.
Fatboy - 7-26-2017 at 07:31 PM
Proof you say?
Fatboy - 7-26-2017 at 07:33 PM
One more...
mtgoat666 - 7-26-2017 at 07:55 PM
I have found a few deer carcassses with feet stuck in top 2 strands. I think barb wire fences often snag wildlife that way.
If the ma was not around, the coyotes probably ate your friend for dinner that night TMW - 7-26-2017 at 07:57 PM
GOD loves you for that.chuckie - 7-26-2017 at 07:59 PM
Good for you...happens pretty often that they get caught like that...Fortunate for that one you came along...Thanks....bajabuddha - 7-26-2017 at 08:01 PM
Years ago in southern Salt Lake County, Utah a young teen boy was found next to a tangled deer in a fence line, his ATV parked next to his dead body,
kicked in the head by the deer he was trying to save. Neither survived.
Wyoming's 3 greatest lies are, 1) my pick-up is paid fer... 2) only mud on muh boots... 3) honest honey, I wuz just tryin' to help that thar sheep
through the fence1
Good on ya for helping the lil' critter. Kharma goes around mostly, you deserve a pat on the back. BajaBlanca - 7-27-2017 at 08:33 AM
Wow....what a great story and the photos are eye-openingly amazing. That he would even attempt to attack you is just bizarre and I never would have
imagined that could happen. Now I know better. Good on you for helping that elk!
The teen next to the fence is very sad.msteve1014 - 7-27-2017 at 08:54 AM
Great story. I have also seen many deer and elk caught in the top 2 wires on a fence, but never still alive. I don't think they last long. Very lucky
that you came by.
shari - 7-27-2017 at 09:50 AM
Ahhhh Fatboy...you are a gentleman and an exceptional word crafter....love your tales man.Fatboy - 7-27-2017 at 09:56 AM
Thanks All, it is dangerous whenever you are in close proximity to a wild animal.
Working near whales as Shari often does and as the deer story shows, things can get ugly quickly.chuckie - 7-27-2017 at 09:58 AM
Kinda like visiting an ex wife....BajaTed - 7-27-2017 at 10:09 AM
Now, now Chuckie, we are limiting this to post to only NORMAL apex predators and belowchuckie - 7-27-2017 at 10:15 AM
There is that....Fatboy - 7-27-2017 at 12:08 PM
Don't know ... think I would rather untangle a bear from a fence than deal with some of my X'sBajaBlanca - 7-27-2017 at 05:59 PM
me too.LancairDriver - 7-27-2017 at 07:26 PM
Found this poor guy too late on our ranch on the So. Oregon coast last year.
Fatboy - 7-27-2017 at 07:29 PM
Holy Bull, you would think he could just pull the fence down.
What a shame though, majestic creatures.bajabuddha - 7-27-2017 at 09:31 PM
Hey Fatboy, that wouldn't have been anywhere near Jarbidge, would it? Kewl area. Got a story about my trip there once. Someday hope to return. Fatboy - 7-27-2017 at 09:51 PM
Hey Fatboy, that wouldn't have been anywhere near Jarbidge, would it? Kewl area. Got a story about my trip there once. Someday hope to return.
Sort of, I was Southeast of Jackpot by about 30 miles. probably 50 mile SE of Jarbidge.
Would like to hear your story, love that country, lived in Elko for 2 years and did a lot of exploring out there.bajabuddha - 7-27-2017 at 10:51 PM
FB, since you're the OP I'll hijack your thread for a story on Jarbidge NV. It's as out-of-the-way as you can get in the U-S-A if you've ever been
there... I had a young college student as a client in Salt Lake City back in the early 80's tell me he did an internship there as a conservation
student, and said there was a bar there that had to be visited called the Red Dog Saloon... so OF COURSE I had to check it out, being a back-bar
aficionado as I was... so my GF at the time and I ventured for a road party to the town.
When arriving we found the Red Dog Saloon was closed for remodeling, so the other bar in town (and I kid you not) the ''Outdoor Inn" was up and
running... now keep in mind this is a town of a stabile population of about 300 plus or minus... this other bar was having a birthday party for
everyone in town born in that particular summer month, plenty of cakes, pot lucks and stuff all over the place... and we were warmly greeted and asked
to join the party. Being the same month I was allegedly born in, why not?? So, we indulged. For HOURS.
About 11 p.m. a man came in asking, "who are the strangers asking about the Red Dog Saloon?" That would be us. He was the owner, and had heard
someone ventured all the way from Utah-haha to see his bar, and said, "C'mon, i'll show ya!" So, off we walked down a few steps to his establishment,
and he unlocked and let us in, turned on the lights and Lo! and behold, there were some cots with workmen sleeping in the area... he said, "Roll over
boyz, i'm showin' off the place!" and proceeded to show us the mysteries of his establishment, starting with some drinks at the bar, ON THE HOUSE, of
course. I felt terrible about it, and told him we shouldn't be disturbing the hired help. He only laughed and said, "It's part of the dance, folks!"
So we proceeded to hear some local yore and had two toddies, and at my insistence went back to the Outdoor Inn for more libations.
Now.... after everyone had left, it was in the wee hours, I asked the barmaid what time they closed because it were just the three of us... she said,
"You ain't from around here are ya.... it's Nevada rules here, gent. You're buyin', I'm pourin'." I realized I was outside the Zion Curtain at that
point. I ordered a n'ern. We finally found our way up-canyon at about 3 am (I think) and pulled off in my old camper van for the night.
Next morning I got outa the fart-sack and headed for a morning whizz next to the Jarbidge river, a beautiful lil trout stream, and said hello to a
couple of mule deer watching me display my (reluctant) manhood to nature. The rest of the day was going over the Jarbidge wilderness mountains and
down into the western flanks of the mountains into Wildhorse area, and then eventually back home. Incredibly large country. The whole of
northeastern Nevada is still such an incredible journey.
Thanks for the memory lane, FB.
Fatboy - 7-28-2017 at 06:42 AM
Pretty cool. Been through Jarbidge a few times and it pretty much the same. Thanks for sharing.
