LOL I went for a ride once. Came up on a deer (I was still a youngin) that I THOUGHT was dead and like a true idiot (rookie) I go to straddle the deer to slit the throat. Well OOPS the damn thing didn't know it was dead yet! Up it came with my scrawny rear on it's back hanging on to it's antlers for deer life. (get the pun? ) Neither one of us went very far for it really was a good shot but as we all know as hunters that many deer are dead but they seem to not want to agree with that assessment! Needless to say I was one scared little boy, my dad, who witnessed the whole thing by the way, dang near peed himself he was laughing so hard! Said it was the absolute funniest thing he had ever witnessed in his entire life! I ever tell you folks my dad had a mean streak? First time I ever cussed at my dad was that day! I think it made him laugh even harder!

Now, after that story, here's a little diddy for you guys, that elk was in death throws no doubt. There seemed to be no nervous system contact from MD's description as well as the pics and it seemed they went up to it fairly quick. I wouldn't expect it to be getting back up but it wasn't completely dead yet. Pretty simple explanation without the need of a "mediums" services