Truck Hits Large Bull Elk on Interstate Near Salina
Todd Pittenger - Tue 09:31 AM 10/04/2011
The elk was hit a mile east of the Niles Road Exit, on Interstate 70 in Saline County.
Officials say that a truck driver is fortunate to walk away from a crash on Interstate 70 involving a large bull elk.
Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. J.L. Riedel tells KSAL News that the crash happened early Monday morning, a mile east of the Niles Road Exit in Saline County. The elk stepped out in front of a west bound semi.
Riedel says that a Kansas Wildlife and Parks Officer responded to the scene, and confirmed the bull elk.
According to Riedel, bull elk are rare in Central Kansas. They are known to live at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, and some have been spotted in the Fort Riley area.
Riedel says that if it had been a small car that hit the elk, which "easily weighed in excess of 600 pounds", the driver may have been seriously injured or killed.
The semi that hit the elk was disabled, and had to be towed away. The driver was not hurt.
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Armyretired
Tuesday 4 October 2011 09:54 Report this comment
There is quite a few on Fort Riley, I personaly have received 2 tags since 2000. Land owners can buy a tag in every county in Kansas except Washington county.You can actually drive around Fort Riley and the town of Riley along with Keats and view them on a good day.They were not spotted on Fort Riley ther is actually a well maintained herd in the surrounding area.Hunters may apply for a tag in July of each year.
anothernobody
Tuesday 4 October 2011 10:11 Report this comment
Did Deputy Queen put a kill tag on it?
KSSimNut
Tuesday 4 October 2011 11:39 Report this comment
Queen is no longer a Deputy, as was reported previously. I suppose there is some reason KDWP has to have an officer come and "confirm" what is killed. Do they really think multiple personnel on scene cannot identify what it was?
sweetness
Tuesday 4 October 2011 11:48 Report this comment
Anothernobody That is the best comment of the year
idoh82w84you
Tuesday 4 October 2011 12:58 Report this comment
If I recall correctly, although city officers, county deputies, and troopers are responsible to work car/deer, car/elk, car/turkey, car/whatever accidents... since State of Kansas wildlife is involved, a Conservation Agent actually has the right to seize any part or all of the animal or bird involved if they feel so inclined. Just because you hit a trophy buck and totaled your car, dont expect to keep the antlers or the meat...
Birdawg68
Tuesday 4 October 2011 13:40 Report this comment
Getting two tags since 2000 is pretty good considering you are only eligible for a bull tag once (lifetime) and cowtag every 5 years. I have put in every year since 1999, as active duty, and this year as retired. Only drawn once for a cow, and had to turn it in because we were deploying to Iraq. Some people have all the luck.
siren
Tuesday 4 October 2011 15:02 Report this comment
Really tasteful picture. Way to go.
anothernobody
Tuesday 4 October 2011 15:07 Report this comment
Sweetness, thank you very much! KSSimNut: you must be Queen's mom to say something like that.
stinger159
Tuesday 4 October 2011 21:22 Report this comment
there were a few in the New Cambria area too...and people say there are no elk in this state...OR mountain lions, which one was documented north of New Cambria on Woodward Road a few years ago
risingr
Tuesday 4 October 2011 23:08 Report this comment
Wondered what happened to my tomatoes this year, thought maybe it was a very large cow escaped from Farmers & Ranchers...
Armyretired
Wednesday 5 October 2011 06:00 Report this comment
Birddawg68,Yes one Bull tag in 2000 and a cow tag in 2004, I havent applied since,They were easy hunts and the bull was larger than any I have killed in colorado.Flat ground and hardly any hiking to it.But now that you mention it,I may give it another run in 2012.
uneducated
Wednesday 5 October 2011 13:18 Report this comment
Tasteful picture is right, man just seeing it laying there conjured up pretty delightful recipes. Elk are mild in flavor like beef, tender, juicy. They don't taste anything like venison. Maybe they all gathered around and cut the liver out like Dances with Wolves. No matter, whoever got that elk got them some mighty fine eating. Where's the field dressed pictures? See that tongue sticking out, that's pure 100% chuck roast taste. Hmmm tasty critters here on the plains.