Trophy elk donated to Elks Lodge

CNJ staff photo: Benna Sayyed Lash LaRue's prize elk, propped in the corner of the Clovis-Portales Elks Lodge, will be officially donated to the lodge on Oct. 14.

Benna Sayyed

It only seems fitting that a trophy elk displaced by a fire at K-Bob’s two years ago has found a permanent home at the Clovis-Portales Elks Lodge.

The elk, which stood 8 feet tall and weighed 1,200 pounds when Clovis’ Lash LaRue brought it down with a single shot in Magdalena in 2000, will officially be donated Oct. 14 the Clovis-Portales Elks Lodge.

“That thing just won’t fit in an ordinary room,” said LaRue, 75, who has worked for BNSF Railway for 36 years. “It’s too tall for my house. I’ve been a member up there for almost 44 years. So it’s a donation thing. I thought that the Elks lodge could benefit from my trophy elk.”

“I think it looks good out there,” he said.

The elk was housed in K-Bob’s Steakhouse until the restaurant burned down in November 2009. The animal, which suffered smoke damage in the fire, has been housed in several locations since then.

Connie LaRue, Lash’s daughter, said her family has been part of the Elk’s Lodge for many years.

“It’s just a nice place to be able to go to, a private club where everybody is respectful. You can have a nice dinner with your family,” she said.

LaRue enjoys spending time at Elks lodge visiting with members and supporting the Elks’ mission to better the community through youth and veteran programs, charity and sponsorships for higher education.

Lash has been hunting elk since 1959.

“Elk was probably one of my favorite animals to hunt,” Lash LaRue said. “They are pretty challenging. This animal was nicknamed Casper because he hid and you couldn’t find him,” said Lash, gesturing toward his elk and breaking off into laughter.