First off, the helicopter is here.

Good news is, the new game warden says he likes to fly, and is willing to do all our deer surveys.

We'll see after he's been whirling around in the bird for three hours or so. Which means, I need to be prepared to relieve him, just in case his stomach isn't as solid as he thinks.

Oh, joy.

Pray for his stomach, please.

Bad news?

Local rancher reported a sick, sick elk on his place. Same warden collected said elk today. Everything looked and sounded like classic symptoms of chronic wasting disease. This 40-some miles from anyplace else where we've found that disease. If so, this would be the first case in my personal part of the state.

Warden collected said elk and hauled it to the lab. Tests are pending. But vet said it looked like classic CWD to her, too.

Craaap.