Elk in the Chiricahua mountains ????

Last Fall before departing on my round the world adventure I was doing some exploring in the Price Canyon area of Arizonas Chiricahua mountains. This range of mountains is the Largest of the "Sky islands" in this neck of the Desert.

The Chiricahuas were the traditional summer time Home of Geronimo and his People back in the Day, During the winter the Apaches would camp in the Cochise stronghold or Dragoon mountains to the west accross sulpher springs valley. Between present Day Elfrida and Tombstone, Arizona.

As luck would Have it ,I found a Nice (tho small) Bull Elk skull with a complete set of antlers on it. By the weathering of the skull and antlers it was obvious they had been out there for abt 3 to 4 years or so. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk

The strange thing is that according to the Fish and Game Officer I spoke to Elk are not suppose to Live in the Chiricahuas and have never been known to exist there. This is definatly an Elk skull and antlers and it makes me wonder where this animal came from.

How this Elk came to live and Die in the Chiricahua mountains would be an interesting story, If only these bones could talk.

Tomahawk, scouts out!