I don't like government but I'm siding with the state as well. The species shouldn't be an issue. If it were renegade lions, they'd be shot, if it were escaped wilderbeast, they would have to be shot, because they are elk and elk are natural to ID, they still should be shot and culled from the wild herd. The rancher is at fault and has a right to quickly reclaim his animals, I think too much time has elapsed to think he's getting them and they need to be shot.

No different here in PA, wild boar escaped a pen and the PGC called for no closed season on them.