Rex Rammell in The Wall Street Journal

On Environment: Raised elk for antler velvet and for hunter's trophies

Part of the herd escaped in the summer of 2006. Gov. Jim Risch issued an emergency order to shoot the animals, arguing it was necessary to protect Idaho's wild elk herds from genetic impurities and disease. 43 elk were killed.

Rammell has sued the state of Idaho and Risch over the elk slaying. Rammell claims the elk killing was intended to curry favor with anti-elk-ranching voters. Risch said he had "no choice" but to shoot the elk, given the risk to wild herds in three states

On Principles & Values: Running against Risch for killing his elk herd

Dr. Rammell told reporters at the time that state officials would get the "fight of their lives" and he hoped "to see Jim Risch never gets elected in this state again." One day he staged a sit-in on a fresh elk carcass that officers were trying to remove. His arrest for obstructing justice and subsequent acquittal by jury turned Rex Rammell into a household name.

His legend grew further when, in the middle of the whole episode, his daughter refused to have her picture taken with Mr. Risch after being crowned Miss Idaho USA. "I respect the office but not the man," she says now. "I think he's a weasel."

"The race is clearly a personal vendetta," Risch said.