Elk may not be a big deal out west but on the East Coast it is a big deal. In fact, I remember reading about spotlight night hunting during the depression just about eliminated the White tail deer on the East Coast in the 40s.
You mean what I saw last year in a rural area of central Jersey might not have been just a big-@$$ deer? BTW, there are more deer here in suburban NJ now than there were in 1776! No predators remain, except the automobile.
I’ve heard stories around here about the old days. There was a huge guy that they’d strap a backpack on with a car battery in it, and a headlight that he’d search with. Big Bill Kentuck, I think was his name. I’ve heard stories of people back East calling the neighbors over when they found a deer track. If you watch The Andy Griffith Show, some of the early episodes show the mounted head of a doe over their mantel.