I explained that I was a silver and gold smith not a dentist. They all laughed and dropped some elk teeth on the counter, without the elk. Suddenly the whole thing became clear to me. As many ways as there are to set them, there are equally as many stories about the elk tooth. With the help and advice of the game warden, our local hunters, a few outfitters and a butcher, I have gotten to the root of the matter.
Elk have a molar on each side of their upper jaw about half way back behind the front teeth.
On the lower jaw, elk have only a front row. The two molars or as we call them, buglers or whistlers, are used for just that purpose. The elk blow air over these teeth to make his or her mating call. There is no difference between the male and the female teeth. Size, shape and color are up to the individual elk.