Elk Ivory

[Kensco]

Do you keep your ivory? Since I never hear anyone comment about them when people talk about their hunt, I'm assuming a lot of people don't value them.

I've got mine. It makes a nice momento

 

[rhnm]

Every time my wife or daughter kill an elk i pull the ivorys and have jewelry made. I have a friend that is a Navajo silversmith. So far he has made a couple of pins and rings a lighter case and bracelet. This year he is making a set of ear rings. I hope he finishes before christmas or I'll have to go shopping.

 

[snoopdogg]

Yup, I've got mine. Definitely a memento of the hunt, that and the steaks! LOL

 

[WildBird]

Kensco -

The RMEF magazine has ads by jewelers for making cool things from ivorys. I haven't gotten around to it yet but plan to eventually. WB

 

[Patrick]

I think most people keep them. The few winter kill skulls I've found I've taken them out of.

We make sure and take ours if we have to leave the animal and pack it out the next day. In most areas if you don't take them someone else will.

 

[widgnwhacker]

I keep all mine and make jewlery out of them for family and friends. Even got a website if ya want to take a look.

Elk Ivory Creations

WW

 

[lawdog]

At the risk of looking like an idiot, what is elk ivory?

 

[Speckmisser]

Lawdog,

You beat me to it. Since I'm thinking positive for my October hunt, how do I get the ivories? I probably won't keep the hide and not even sure about a full head mount (maybe just antlers), but the ivories would be a sweet part of the deal.

 

[MrRee]

Gotta be the eye teeth don't it?????

 

[FTTPOW]

On an elk's top jaw, there are 2 teeth, one each side, that are separate from all the others. Exactly what purpose they serve beats me. They are in the gap by themselves between the front row of teeth and their molar group. In appearance they don't look to be made of enamel like their other teeth. They're rounded and don't look like they're for cutting off forage, like their front teeth, or for grinding it up like their rear teeth. Does anyone know what their use is?

 

[ranchwife]

They are used to help the bull bugle. Without these teeth they wouldn't bugle. At least that is what I have heard.

 

[Patrick]

I've got a couple sets from cows. They don't bugle.

 

[Kensco]

The canine teeth. They have nothing to do with bugling. In old photos you can see indians wearing a full necklace of them sometime.

 

[OR186]

Some guys call those teeth the whistlers.Cows may not bugle but they bark ,squeal, chirp & make a bunch of sounds. I believe elk do use those teeth in their vocalization.Cow ivories are more slender than bulls.

 

[hronk]

You mean that they aren't the long pointed things that Elephants have??? What the heck have I been shooting at?....hronk

 

[vinemaplesavage]

The fellow that mentioned tusk has come the closest, They are on top and as elk have no upper insisers are back a ways in front of top molars. Some of the ones with best looking birds eyes are from cows in the 8yr to teens as very few bulls live beyond 8yrs old. So be sure if you take a cow to check ivory.

Millt