To quote Chief Seattle: “When the beasts are gone we will die from a great loneliness of spirit.”

Last year when an enormous bull escaped his pen and was wandering down the middle of the Eagle bypass, eveyone just slowed way down until some cowboys showed up to take him away. No death penalty needed.

No argument here. I live near the old Pen, at the apex of the funnel described by F&G, and I consider the wildlife an amenity. But I confess many of my neighbors do not. The wildlife, especially deer, create a large traffic problem and eat my neighbors flowers.

I would prefer the engineering of a crossing platform to safely grant wildlife access across Warm Springs to the river much like they have near Banff. And since it is clear that development is causing the restricted access I’d argue that development should shoulder some of the expense.

Have to agree with the G-Man on this one. I hope the cop would not even consider shooting a horse running through the city–even a wild one. LOGIC tells me the horse and the elk would present about the same degree of danger.

From all I have read, the elk was not about to gore anyone and the cop waited until the critter was in a vacant lot to use his handgun.
Bad call by the cops and even worse for the big guys to endorse the use of a handgun on an elk.

Sis, I agree on your point of requiring developers helping compensate for the loss of migrations paths. Harris Ranch would of been a great place to start as the Barber Valley is home to 250-300 deer year around. But this restricted access is not new. It would also be nice to address some of these lost “migration” routes in existing neighborhoods such as yours and mine in the North End.

As for the fate of the Elmer(Elk) yesterday, chances are he would of been fine left alone. And we don’t shoot loose cows in Idaho cause of a law as old as this state. Idaho is an Open Range state, shoot it and it is yours.

I’ve lived in the valley and surrounding areas for many, many years. There has always been wildlife in the heart of the city. Growth will most likely decrease the number of animals rather than increase their numbers. We really should just count our blessings. It enriches everyone’s lives to have them here. I agree that we should accomodate them. Although I have seen them look both ways before crossing a street, accidents do happen. I’m sure they would appreiciate the help.

You guys are just anti-cop, anti gun. Every time a Boise officer uses a gun , people like you hop on the bandwagon and decry the split second professional decisions our officers use when facing potential lethal consequencs from a bad guy.

An antler or a hoof on a wild animal is a danger to our peace loving public and community. These brave men are willing to take a bullet or antler to protect you and all you can do is complain. If it wasn’t for our brave peace officers, willing to use guns to protect us, Boise would be a far different place. People are moving here because they feel safe and they know our police are not afraid to use guns. I think wildlife in the city limits needs a message like this once and a while. “Stay where we can’t see you…or die.”

Porc, I didn’t say I wouldn’t participate. I recognize my development as part of the problem. And frankly I live near the golf course which seems an ideal spot for an access over Warm Springs that would cause the least impact except for that one house on the hill there I refer to as the fortress of solitude. Of course a big problem is how to alert the deer. I’ll leave that to the biologists.

Clancy I think Harris Ranch brought the issue into focus. The next phase should exacerbate the problem. I’m sure Tony Jones has been all over this issue.

Mom
you said….Something in your past comments makes me think you are living in the middle of Harris Ranch or that vicinity…perhaps Golden Dawn?

Nope I live in a small house on the way to Idaho City….

Who approved shooting a 400 pound elk with a HANDGUN?

I take it the cop and the approving authority grew up as city boys.

Too bad for these animals that they plan their “incursions” on slow news days.

I’ll confess to having come very close to being arrested by a policeman once, long ago, but only about 320 miles away, when I instinctively grabbed his arm as he sought to pull his service relvover on an angry and threatening dog, in the stone-lined lobby of a people-ccrowded building. He and I both acted out of instinct, but, so did the dog. (And for the final shoe to drop, the dog was “captured” by a college-age young man who simply took off his belt and slipped it around the dog’s neck and held onto it until transportation arrived).

grumpy and reflecting.

Why not elk? They are larger than bunnies. Too bad they don’t just let every gun totin’ yahoo go after them – why just the yahoos that have a badge? Bunny clubbing was open to all yahoos, not just the “special” ones who are “trained” to “protect” the taxpayers.
Honest – With the national press looking at Idaho (thank you Mr. Craig) we must look like a bunch of shoot ’em up yahoos!!! Perhaps Craig does represent this state well: “I was so afraid that I did not think, I just had to shoot those elk, I would never have shot the elk and endangered all of the people in the area if I was not so afraid.”

“The cops don’t shoot loose horses or cows which pose the same threat when they wander onto the roads.” … or children (though perhaps I shouldn’t give them the idea).

Yeah, elk can be dangerous — though not nearly so dangerous as little chunks of lead zipping around at the speed of Superman. I was surprised, though, to see that a cop fired two rounds, instead of they usual 30 or 40.

I live in Gem County, and I frequently see deer, skunks, rabbits, etc. wandering around my house. I love it! Let ’em eat a few of our plants, or nibble on the hay bales — so what ?
Haven’t seen a bear here, but I have seen bear sign.

As for weapons — I have a .22 handy, figuring the noise would scare off any critters that bother me, if any ever do. And I have a few 00 buckshot rounds I could stick in the 12 guage if it ever became really necessary, but I sincerely doubt that will happen.

The critters are mostly just passing through, having a little lunch along the way. Occasionally I see feathers indicating a bird didn’t make it — probably forgot to move out of the way of the dozens of coyotes that visit, or maybe some other predator.
Neighbors say they’ve seen a wolf in the area — I don’t know whether they’re right.

Haven’t seen a bobcat or mountain lion, but who knows?
Ain’t rightly scared of them either, although a cougar does sometimes have somebody for a snack.
But the danger of that happening is a helluva lot less than getting smeared by some idiot with four wheels who can’t see (or pay attention) well enough to keep from running into another four-wheeled tin can, or a two wheeled machine, or an elk or whatever.

Maybe the BPD should just shoot anything that moves. Might eventually solve the problem.

Not to poop on the cop bashing party, wich appears to be a favorite pastime on here…but it appears from the article that the Fish and Game offers made the call to shoot the elk, even though BPD carried it out.

Do you really think that an officer just shot the elk with out consulting F&G re: options?

I would be asking those questions, instead of taking the easy way out and bashing the first thing with a badge in sight….

EDITOR NOTE–Nemo, do you think F&G cops carry rifles? Do you think they would be able to deal with and have complete jurisdiction over the elk? THEY didn’t shoot the elk, even though they were on the scene. Sometimes people make wrong choices and sometimes they wear badges. Have you EVER heard the BPD say, “We made a mistake and we won’t do it that way next time?”

What a bunch of arm chair quarter backs.

The ignorance and naivety of this group of people knows no bounds. BPD carries .40 caliber handguns to kill humans, not elk. 99.5% of their contacts are with people, not wildlife. Geez, give them a break. With citizenry like you all out there, it’s surprising that anyone would want to wear a badge and gun to protect you people.

Gordon – you could be the poster boy for this group. Make sure the next time someone breaks into your house and is threatening to kill you or your family you tell the dispatcher to ensure the deputies only uses two bullets – no matter what. Oh yes, and also make sure the deputies don’t leave their engines running outside like those lousy BPD officers.

Idaho Native says: “I am personally sick of reading of all the comments of people on this blog, rather than bitching and complaining, start standing up and make a differance.” (sic)

Firstly, don’t forget that our country was founded by a bunch of dissenters.

Secondly, picking apart our actions after a crisis is a good way to plan for the next. It’s metacognition and it’s good for you.

Thirdly, holding public officials accountable to the public IS standing up and making a difference. Are you advocating that we all join the BPD? No? What exactly would you like us to do in order to Make a Difference?

Mr. Logic…

“Think of the thousands of people judged by a cop to make mistakes each month. Since cops come from the same society LOGIC tells me they screw up at the same rate. Live with it dude. A cop is no better than a teacher, coach, doctor, scientist, cook, or preacher….and those folks don’t shoot elk with handguns in the city.”

That is the most illogical thing I have ever heard you say……Jobs are different, responsibilities are different, and life experiances are different. In fact I would say the life views of many in public safety are so far removed from your own that it would be different worlds…… I suggest you read On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs – by Dave Grossman for a better understanding(http://hobbes.ncsa.uiuc.edu/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html)

BTW, a car crash caused by an elk (or moose, or even large deer) tends to be devastating. ALso, the difference between a horse and an elk is that you can coax, and often convince a horse to go back from whence it came…Elk are more likely to run from you (straight into traffic??) than a horse. Never saw a horse attack me, and I have been around them all my life. Ever try to catch an elk with a bucket of sweet feed? Ever try to put a halter on an elk? Comparing elk to horses in this situation isnt…logical. 🙂

Not saying I totally agree with the actions taken, but I am smart enough to realize that it could have been worse and also a LOT worse…and most people in that situation wouldnt have been much better and likely they would be simply ineffectve trying to dis-entagle their good intentions from the need to take action.

I am also comfortable that the descision was made in good faith and with some thought…we dont have to agree with it or the thought process…We just have to demand that there was one.

By all acounts there was a thought process, a reasonable one, and one that involved the “experts”- “Fish and Game”. If you want to blame BPD, then you have to blame F&G too if you are going to be honest (not that I think they were wrong, just pointing out the double standard). Otherwise, step back jack, or go down to NOLA or NYC, and see if the cops there are any more tolorant of your opinions.

THese are for the most part good guys and gals on the PD and SO, they do a job you wont do, and probably cant do, or would be too ineffctive to do….so if you are going to slam them (as is your right) then at least do so with an attempt at objectivity.

I see that several policemen and police supporters have come out in support of the sorry incident of the tortured elk. I haven’t seen everything about this embarrassing incident but I have certainly heard or seen no contrition from the parties involved or any resolve to do better next time.

I haven’t socialized with many of the Boise Police since before they imported that eastern dude to run the outfit. Several years back the knowledgeable members who could qualify with the weapon carried .45 A.C.P.s of one sort or another. Back then they did not carry them to “kill people.” They were armed, at least at that time, for self defense and to STOP violent FELONS from escaping or continuing to perpetrate heinous actions on the populace. The “mighty” .40 S&W is only a half step in power over the generally inadequate for even people 9×19 “Paraballum/Luger” round. Not one of this class of rounds, even the superior .45 Auto can be considered adequate for killing an animal the size of a healthy bull elk. These jesters are lucky they were in Boise harassing an herbivore with their ineptness instead of “up north’ chasing large bears.

If elk are truly the imminent threat and present such a deadly danger to the inattentive, cell phone yakking, text messaging, NASCAR wannabe commuters in Capitol City, how was it that the four elk that escaped torture and death did NOT wreak havoc, multiple crashes and produce the feared dead school children? After all, the experts only eliminated 20% of the “deadly” threat that day. Eighty percent of the reported elk failed in their purported suicide missions.

I still feel that the actions of the BPD representatives AND IF&G were ignorant, ill informed, inept, inadequate, inane, and inhumane. Bottom line, they harassed one of the west’s premier and magnificent BIG game animals with a pop gun. But then perhaps the city boys think that with all the new subdivisions, high speed roads, increased traffic and the recent epidemic of “let SOME of ‘em burn themselves out” fires that worrying one elk to death. From what I understand the new head cop’s view, could be summed up as “Vee sot eet vuz zee most humane vay.”

Boise PD carries 45 caliber, not 40, just for the record.