Serious Elk Problems

[DrMike]

Fascinating article on elk in southern Alberta.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/herd-o...o-control-rancher-demands-mass-cull-1.2052516

Look for Alberta to increase harvest during the coming several years. It is the problem we face here in the Peace.

 

[truck driver]

They should trap some and send them to us so we can replenish the east coast where Elk once roomed freely even here in Maryland.

 

[DrMike]

They should trap some and send them to us so we can replenish the east coast where Elk once roomed freely even here in Maryland.

I imagine Alberta would be willing to do such if Maryland was willing to make the request and underwrite the plan.

 

[tddeangelo]

PA's elk are actually doing pretty well, but he game commission wants them to stay in the several-county area where they reside and not venture elsewhere. I wish they would let them spread, but the concern is the same issue..... Farm damage and human/elk conflict (biggest worry is on highways).

 

[wildgene]

...unruly elk, eh??? Well, that the problem w/ all these PC elk herds, no discipline, too much video games, not enough exercise. Pretty soon they'll be thugs & gangbangers...

 

[Oldtrader3]

Maybe the ranchers should sell hunting leases to the hunters or guides for elk season. Then everyone wins and the elk are controlled by hunting, by taxpayers who will pay to kill these elk anyhow and get nothing from it!

Washington is another example. The professional state hunters have killed nearly all of our big herds just to mollify greedy ranchers, who won't continence letting hunters on their land to solve the issue. Now the hunters in Washington have nearly no elk to hunt and the landowner's make all of the profit without sharing the resource which does not belong to them anyhow! Considering that much of these ranches land in the US is comprised of BLM land with illegally locked gates that the ranchers won't allow access to for hunting, like they are supposed to!

 

[mustanggt]

No surprise about that in this state or any other for that matter. The little guy has no voice or lobbyist like corporations and rich political donors. My $50 bucks to whatever candidate pales in comparison to what cash those people can lay out. Oh and let's not forget Mr. Wolf either. He's got the backing of the state and Federal Govt. and once again Mr. Little Guy takes it in the arse.

 

[super-7]

Maybe the ranchers should sell hunting leases to the hunters or guides for elk season. Then everyone wins and the elk are controlled by hunting, by taxpayers who will pay to kill these elk anyhow and get nothing from it!

Washington is another example. The professional state hunters have killed nearly all of our big herds just to mollify greedy ranchers, who won't continence letting hunters on their land to solve the issue. Now the hunters in Washington have nearly no elk to hunt and the landowner's make all of the profit without sharing the resource which does not belong to them anyhow! Considering that much of these ranches land in the US is comprised of BLM land with illegally locked gates that the ranchers won't allow access to for hunting, like they are supposed to!

No offence to you old trader so I hope you don't take any..
Paid hunting and paid access are illegal in Albera. And as a resident we intend to keep it that way. Paid hunting soon becomes a rich mans game . As it stands now the farmers and ranchers own the land but not the resource. That is owned by the crown( taxpayers).
We have continuously fought to keep it this way thru our Fish and Game associations .

It's a complex problem because of the Army base the Elk have a safe haven , then venture out into crop , hay , pasture lands for food . Then venture back to the safety of the base.
As I am sure you can understand our DOD doesn't really want a ton of civilians running around the base for 2 months of the year. They did open some limited hunts in there last year.

 

[truck driver]

Invite me up to hunt them , my 35 Whelen is begging to shoot an Elk. :mrgreen:

 

[Oldtrader3]

No offense taken, Super 7. We have some of the same issues here on public land (BLM) being made inaccessible. Than these same ranchers scream to have the elk eliminated.

 

[SJB358]

...unruly elk, eh??? Well, that the problem w/ all these PC elk herds, no discipline, too much video games, not enough exercise. Pretty soon they'll be thugs & gangbangers...

I was thinking the same thing Gene.. Can you imagine their disregard for rules and law.. :lol:

 

[yellow dog]

Washington is another example. The professional state hunters have killed nearly all of our big herds just to mollify greedy ranchers

are sure wa has state paid hunters?

 

[Oldtrader3]

Washington tried some bow seasons for elk in Skagit County and other locations about 5 years ago. It was a disaster of several dozen archers, jumping farmers fences and shooting from the state highways. Bleeding elk staggering around the state roads at rush hour traffic with several arrows sticking out of each elk! None dead, just many perforated elk left to die!

The slob-city hunter, incarnate and out of control!!! Since then, F&G quietly goes out and thins the herds when farmers call for it.

 

[yellow dog]

wow. I thought they called up there master hunter certified hunters for this kind of thing. think ill call and check on this tomorrow.

 

[yellow dog]

found this article.

also wdfw website states that "wdfw does not employ paid hunters or harvest animals at all for any reason. they rely on the master hunter program or native American hunters for their research specimens.

"And though there is a plentiful elk population south of Highway 20, elk hunting is not allowed there because of the proximity to houses, Phillips said. A general bow hunting season was allowed in 2009 in an area between Highway 9 and Highway 20 and east to the intersection of 20 and Cape Horn Road. The hunt was an attempt to keep elk out of human-occupied lands in eastern Skagit County.

But the hunt went terribly wrong, with inexperienced bow hunters shooting dozens of arrows into the panicked herd. Neighbors called the hunt a “testosterone-poisoned circus.” Wildlife then announced an emergency closure of the hunting season and haven’t opened it since.

Hunting is allowed there now only by master hunters who are called in to cull an animal from a problem herd, Phillips said. Landowners also have the option of requesting a kill permit after they have sustained damage from elk.

“It’s restitution for the damage that they’ve incurred,” Phillips said of the kill permits. “When they get that (kill permit), they sign a document that they’re not going to get money for fencing or restitution.”[/i][/I][/i]

 

[Oldtrader3]

Great, thanks for the update. When I lived here before in the 1960's, they used Wardens and Gov't Hunters. I am glad that the Master Hunters get that reward.

 

[Ridge_Runner]

They should trap some and send them to us so we can replenish the east coast where Elk once roomed freely even here in Maryland.

till the whitetails are gone, or nearly so elk won't last long in the east, whitetail carry a brainworm parasite that are deadly for elk.
RR

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The elk in TN seem to be doing good....the herd is up to around 600 I think...that's the herd down near Knoxville....there is another, little known, herd that started on its own from escaped farm elk that is also growing.

 

[Oldtrader3]

They should trap some and send them to us so we can replenish the east coast where Elk once roomed freely even here in Maryland.

Aside from crooked Politicians, Maryland has enough land for about one elk herd big enough for maybe three bells! :mrgreen: