Red River Find of a Livetime - Stag Antler

[CatDaddy]

Red River Find of a Lifetime

Pic speaks for itself - found a partial stag antler on the red....unbelievable mass. Picture doesn't do it
justice. Was offered $100 for it on the river by another boat, think I'll keep it. Wow!

 

[svnmag]

You should open a gym and charge a premium for time in the "Stag Room". Good leg workout.

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In all seriousness, are you sure that wasn't drug away from an elk farm?

 

[CatDaddy]

Ok, so basing my thoughts on the find on an article I read about a guy who pulled a giant stag antler from the Red River at low water....not sure what it is but it is massive, old, and really neat. I need to figure out where to take it to get it ID'd.....suggestions?

I'll post a pic of me holding it for perspective when I can...huge.

 

[Gus]

You just wrote your own page in the history books my friend

 

[Ericb]

I've taken old bones I've found to the heritage center in Bismarck. In the lower level is the state archeologist office. They will Id and date for free. Its kindone of fun to take things in there I've found along the Missouri.

 

[Bed Wetter]

I'm confused by this and can't wait to hear other's references to related history or significance.

On a related note, #1 child and I stormed the beaches finding cattle or bison bones. He thought for sure we were going to compile enough to build our own dinosaur. Uncle gifted him an introductory archeological field kit. Best weekend ever.

 

[dean nelson]

I'm curious as to why you think it's a stag instead of an elk?

 

[Pigsticker]

Cool find either way but I don't think we've ever had stag in North America. I'm guessing you have found an elk shed. Whether it be from a wild herd previous to settlement of the west or from an elk farm is hard to say. The river mud can preserve organic items for quite a while as evidenced by the buffalo skulls that are still not yet fossilized.

 

[NDwalleyes]

Call out to the Geology/Archaeology boys at UND. If they can't help you, they will point you in the right direction.

 

[CatDaddy]

I talked to the owner of Fargo Bait and Tackle - he has a picture of a guy who found a complete antler of similar size in the Red near Fargo. The guy claims he sent it to Bismarck and it came back REALLY old and that it was a stag. I'd post a pic of that one, but not my pic so I won't. I gave my number to the owner of the bait shop and asked to have the guy call me next time he comes in. I'm going to pursue having it analyzed. Google tells me stag didn't live here - ever. Stag-moose did, but no true stags. We will wait and see I guess.

 

[Rowdie]

I've taken old bones I've found to the heritage center in Bismarck. In the lower level is the state archeologist office. They will Id and date for free. Its kindone of fun to take things in there I've found along the Missouri.

I'd be careful taking anything from Federal lands.

 

[FishSticks]

I'm confused by this and can't wait to hear other's references to related history or significance.

On a related note, #1 child and I stormed the beaches finding cattle or bison bones. He thought for sure we were going to compile enough to build our own dinosaur. Uncle gifted him an introductory archeological field kit. Best weekend ever.

You rank your kids? I like it

 

[Bed Wetter]

You rank your kids? I like it

Only by seniority. This is a union shop.

 

[svnmag]

Despite my smart-ass; I hope you found something special.

 

[CatDaddy]

Despite my smart-ass; I hope you found something special.

Thanks svn. This is what I love about river fishing on the Red, you just never know what you're going to stumble across. I've found bison horn, deer antlers, a safe, an anchor the same day I lost mine. I'd rather never find a dead body......

 

[fullrut]

Caretaker for the Fordville dam years ago had an elk antler that he pulled out of a cut bank along the dam. Cool find.

 

[Captain Ahab]

Thanks svn. This is what I love about river fishing on the Red, you just never know what you're going to stumble across. I've found bison horn, deer antlers, a safe, an anchor the same day I lost mine. I'd rather never find a dead body......

I caught a dead coyote once. Also, I saw a dead rotweiler laying in the river at a shore spot. I am guessing the folks didn't want to pay to dispose or put it down. It looked like it was shot and dumped. Your finds sound a lot cooler.

 

[CatDaddy]

I caught a dead coyote once. Also, I saw a dead rotweiler laying in the river at a shore spot. I am guessing the folks didn't want to pay to dispose or put it down. It looked like it was shot and dumped. Your finds sound a lot cooler.

How far along was the coyote in the decomposition cycle? That would be nasty - I've seen my share of beaver, deer, cats, etc. and they get to a bloated point where you think they are going to explode!

 

[Captain Ahab]

How far along was the coyote in the decomposition cycle? That would be nasty - I've seen my share of beaver, deer, cats, etc. and they get to a bloated point where you think they are going to explode!

Not far. It was pre-bloat with the cold spring water.

 

[svnmag]

We were tooling along once and my buddy stepped waist deep in a shallow buried cow. Luckily we were near the river. The maggots he rinsed off his body caused quite a stir with the rockbass, etc shortly downstream. He was crawling with them and didn't want to brush them off with his hands, I don't think these fish could've been spooked with dynamite. The odor was unpleasant.