Red River Find of a Livetime - Stag Antler

[deleted_account]

 

[svnmag]

You got that shi'ite right.

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Uncle Steve's nirvana.

 

[gatorbaiter]

Found a bison skull right below Drayton Dam a few years ago. That made me pretty happy. It cleaned up really nicely too.

 

[LBrandt]

Had a dead dog, small one, come out of a ready mix truck. It was nasty. Couple of the guys spent the next few minutes puking in the grass, a little hung over I think. I figure someones pet died and they buried it in the gravel pit and it made it that far.;:;barf

 

[Hornhunter]

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

No shit, right?

 

[CatDaddy]

No shit, right?

I may have been misinformed by info from a guy who found one in 2012. He said he sent his to "Bismarck", not sure where, and they told him it was stag. Best I can find, stag have never lived in North America except a stag-moose which I'm pretty sure this is not. I did measure mass by pulling a wire around the base and the thicker part by the second tine and both were 11". I'm still going to post another pic of me holding so the size can be truly appreciated. I haven't been disappointed yet looking at it! Elk or stag, pretty damn cool....and big!

 

[svnmag]

Well, don't let this die. Pretty sure we'd all like to know!

 

[CatDaddy]

I measured at 11" around at the widest points - base and second tine

Now the trick is how to preserve it.....wrapping in a wet towel tonight to let it dry slower. I'll ask the Heritage Center tomorrow for tips.

 

[svnmag]

Very surprising how the first pic did absolutely zero justice to the size even with the bucket for scale.

 

[CatDaddy]

Very surprising how the first pic did absolutely no justice to the size even with the bucket for scale.

Right! I feel honored to have found it....not to get all sappy. Pretty neat

 

[Journey]

Wow. Cool find. Never would have guessed it was that much mass in the first pic.

 

[CatDaddy]

Wow. Cool find. Never would have guessed it was that much mass in the first pic.

I think that's why I automatically thought stag - possible misinformation and adrenaline! That being said, I saw male elk referred to as "stag" so it may be just misunderstood terminology.

My guess, after researching, is Eastern Elk. Larger than it's western counterpart and carrying a rack up to 6 feet long. Extinct in late 1800's and roamed this area then.

 

[svnmag]

Cool find no matter what it is. If it's common (or not) you have the material for a good knife handle...

 

[CatDaddy]

Probably poached and will be confiscated. Been looking for the rack for years, finally turned up randomly in the river. Likely have it on trail cam in Wahpeton.

 

[svnmag]

Don't get negative about it! That's cool and has livened this place up a bit!

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Remember what I said about the knife handle...you also have stock inlays and pistol grips...

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[CatDaddy]

Don't get negative about it! That's cool and has livened this place up a bit!

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Remember what I said about the knife handle...you also have stock inlays and pistol grips...

Wow that looks very cool! The specimen I have is cracked and pretty old - not sure it would work like that. I have it wrapped in a wet towel to try and prevent any cracking from drying.

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[svnmag]

Especially if it's Eastern...

 

[Enslow]

That is awesome. Have that specimen analyzed but not in bismarck as they are too busy trying to sort out the deer lotto and looking for ways to assign blame when the big lakes get zebras.

 

[svnmag]

I believe there's plenty of salvageable materiel for a custom slabsides and much more for inlays/knife handles. Even if it's "recent"; it's a great story which could be turned around for decent beer money IMHO. I'd go with "Red River Aged Bone".

 

[CatDaddy]

I believe there's plenty of salvageable materiel for a custom slabsides and much more for inlays/knife handles. Even if it's "recent"; it's a great story which could be turned around for decent beer money IMHO. I'd go with "Red River Aged Bone".

Like I said, I was offered $100 straight away for it less than 2 hours later on the river....at the moment it's worth quite a bit more in hand to look at!

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That is awesome. Have that specimen analyzed but not in bismarck as they are too busy trying to sort out the deer lotto and looking for ways to assign blame when the big lakes get zebras.

I contacted the Heritage Center in Bismarck, not G&F for a reason. Competence comes to mind.....got a response from both their Chief Archaeologist and Senior Paleontologist. Will get them pics and measurements tomorrow.