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Recreational Elk Swimming

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Recreational Elk Swimming

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 08 02, 2018 •  [Post 1]

Saw a first this past weekend when I was scouting a new spud state elk area. While scoping up atop a high ridge, buddy and I watched 12-13 elk feeding and drinking along an alpine lake (mid afternoon). As I watched the 10ish cows/calves, spike, and one small bull (4X5) move along the waters edge, the bull waded deeper and deeper into the lake and finally...... kerplunk, started to swim about. I know that obviously elk can swim, but, have never seen one just poke in to a lake to cool off. It was in the mid 90s up there, even at 7K+, so I spose the young guy was just doing some recreational swimming/cooling off. Anybody else seen this before? It was really cool (pun intended). ;)
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Re: Recreational Elk Swimming

Postby Lsb » 08 02, 2018 •  [Post 2]

I've seen elk swim in the Missouri River, it was hot then too.
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Re: Recreational Elk Swimming

Postby Swede » 08 02, 2018 •  [Post 3]

I have seen deer and bear swim, but never an elk. I have watched them play in belly deep water before, but their hooves were firmly planted on the bottom.
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Re: Recreational Elk Swimming

Postby Lefty » 08 03, 2018 •  [Post 4]

We watched an end of August 6x7 in mid body deep water feeding like a moose in a lake in southern Wa.
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Re: Recreational Elk Swimming

Postby ishy » 08 03, 2018 •  [Post 5]

I remember years ago Utah spent who knows how much to transplant 17 elk onto Antelope Island. It wasn't long and all 17 had swum right back off the Island.
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Re: Recreational Elk Swimming

Postby Lefty » 08 05, 2018 •  [Post 6]

ishy wrote:I remember years ago Utah spent who knows how much to transplant 17 elk onto Antelope Island. It wasn't long and all 17 had swum right back off the Island.


I think they left the neighborhood trying to avoid bison dung.
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