Oregon's
legendary Taft bull, one of 30 elk imported from Wyoming in 1912 and 1913, was also a
victim of mistaken identity.
The mature bull was one of the first 14 elk to be relocated to save Wyoming's elk herd
following a suggestion of the U.S. Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture. The
winter of 1911-1912 was severe and the elk in Jackson Hole were starving.
At the same time the once plentiful elk in Wallowa County, OR were reaching a point of
extinction with only an estimated half dozen left. The cost for restocking was estimated
at $1100. The people of Wallowa County raised $300: the Elks Lodges of Oregon donated
$232.25 and the remainder was jointly financed by the Oregon Game Commission and the
Biological Survey.
In 1912 seven cows, six calves and two mature bulls were shipped. The larger bull was
nicknamed "Roosevelt" and the other bull "Taft", appropriately after
presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Shortly after arriving in Oregon,
the bull Roosevelt died from clashes with the rival bull Taft. A year later another
shipment of 15 elk including a big mature bull, arrived in Wallowa County to join the
first herd. During this time, the elk were relocated in different areas and in 1922 the
containment fences were lifted and winter feeding ceased.
After the elk were released, the original "Taft" bull was not seen again.
However, the case of mistaken identity took place when people spotted a huge bull at
Wallowa Lake. Being such a big bull, the people assumed it was the original Taft bull, and
therefore called this bull "Taft". It was later discovered this other Taft bull
was the one that came from Wyoming on the second transplant in 1913. The second Taft bull
from Wallowa Lake was sporting an enormous set of antlers, and was growing old. It had
also become aggressive towards visitors and tourists around the lake - even chasing people
up trees. Due to its aggressive and dangerous behavior, the state game commission ordered
the killing of "Taft from Wallowa Lake."
On September 28, 1930, near the lake, this magnificent bull was found dead following a
battle to the death with a younger bull named Tarzan. Taft had been injured from a gun
shot in the face and was not at full strength to defend his herd dominance. Tarzan was
found the morning after the fight. He was also seriously injured in the great battle and
had to be shot. Tarzan measured an impressive 364 B&C points. The magnificent Taft
bull from Wallowa Lake later measured 411 net non-typical.
It was believed that Tarzan was the son of the bull he killed in the fight. However, it
was later discovered that Tarzan was the son of the original Taft bull from the first
transplant in 1912.
Tarzan killed the most magnificent bull of all, the bull of mistaken identity from Wallowa
Lake.
The full story of Taft and the reintroduction of elk into Oregon can be found in the
Record Book for Oregon's Big Game Animals, Second Edition produced by Northwest Big Game
(www.nwbiggame.com). |
= Story Included
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