quote:

Originally posted by hoppes no9:
My question is, what the HELL were Australians doing netting elk in Utah? Was this on private land? By permit? So many questions...

quote:

Leaping elk crashes low-flying research helicopter
8 hrs ago

Authorities say a leaping elk brought down a research helicopter trying to capture the animal in the mountains of eastern Utah.

[Go to URL to view the photo] Photo courtesy of Wasatch County Sheriff's Office

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Authorities say a leaping elk brought down a research helicopter trying to capture the animal in the mountains of eastern Utah.

Wasatch County authorities say the elk jumped into the chopper's tail rotor as it flew about 10 feet above ground, trying to capture the animal with a net.

The two people on board weren't seriously hurt, but wildlife officials say the elk died of its injuries.

The state-contracted Texas-based crew was trying to capture and sedate the elk so they could give it a tracking collar and research its movements about 90 miles east of Salt Lake City.

Mark Hadley with the state Division of Wildlife Resources says the state helicopters are frequently used to monitor remote wildlife and this is the first such accident in Utah.

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Originally posted by walkinghorse:
So no meat ?

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
idiots.

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Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Quite the opposite of being dumb, it seems like netting is a very viable plan, and is done routinely all around the world. But like with anything in the news, you just don't usually hear about the 99.9+% of helicopter netting attempts that go right.

There are lots of photos and articles online involving netting elk and other animals, as well as some videos on YouTube, like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGp2okWpyJg

I know you're an elk hunter, but have you ever tried to dart an elk? Especially from a helicopter?

Neither have I. But I suspect it's not anywhere near as easy as sitting back at 200 yards with a .308.

Tranquilizer darts are inherently short-range, and relatively slow and inaccurate (compared to bullets). Throw in the fact that if trying to dart an animal from a helicopter, the dart would have to contend with the chopper's massive blade wash/downdraft.

In addition, it appears that tranquilizers have to be tailored to the size/sex/species of the animal, and sedatives take a while to wear off. Whereas nets allow a wide range of animal sizes/sexes/species to be safely trapped with a one-size-fits-most implement. And they can be quickly released once tagged, without having to wait around for a sedative to wear off. No chemical side-effects either. Plus, the nets can be reused and reloaded into the net guns, so they can net and release multiple animals with the same net per outing, which I suspect makes it significantly cheaper than tranquilizers too.

Even if they do end up sedating the elk, it would be more easily accomplished once it's already netted and contained, and the sedation could be done on the ground.

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Originally posted by trebor44:
"Wasatch County authorities say the elk jumped into the chopper's tail rotor as it flew about 10 feet above ground, trying to capture the animal with a net."

Superelk? or did it just have wings. Elk are not jumpers... Yeah the adults can clear a range fence but just barely!