Wisconsin Elk Hunting. Has A nice ring to it. A dream many of us share. In 1995 they released 25 animals,that herd is now estemated to be 135 as of 07/07. I'd like to have my fellow hunters take a look at what's been done what's being planned and discuss ideas on the subject and what we can do to help. I found this DNR page to be very informative and interesting, check it out.http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/..._CL_Update.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/elk/questions.htm

There is also more good information linked to that page including an article about a "PROPOSED BLACK RIVER FALLS ELK HERD." basically saying the plan was OK'd but then put on hold due to CWD. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/elk/brfalls.htm
Now I think reintroducing Elk is a wonderfull idea and think this project has gotten a lot of bang for it's buck with some real good data and results. My hats off to the folks who made it happen but what now?
All the studies were done for BRF,( Black River Falls, WI.) Impact studies, habitate studies, everything was planned and ready to go in 2002. THEN, CWD raised it's ugly head in southern WI. and the DNR just dropped the Elk plan for BRF.

I can't talk about the Elk with out also talking about the wolves. We all know that they've been delisted and we're in a new time where the states will be taking over the responsability of wolf population control. Just in time for WI. , a little too late for some of the western states.
So we have wolves in the north, CWD in the south. It doesn't look real bright for our deer populations future or the Elk. In all of history there's never been a time like this in Wisconsin and I think it's time for some changes.

First, Why did the DNR stop the BRF Elk project? They're affraid CWD will spread up north and wipe out the Elk.

What are they doing about stopping the CWD? Trying to wipe out the deer herd in the CWD zone.
is it working? No, slowing the spreading down at best.
How do we get rid of CWD? We let the wolves do it for us. No creature, including man, can do the job better.
Now if you are familur with the BRF's area, you might know that it's been recently ran over by wolves. Hunters are crying and the deer population has taken a drastic hit in numbers. I believe this is great news! Here's why. The clam Lake herd has been living and growing right a long with the wolves in that area. Bears have actually done more predation than wolves on the Clam Lake herd. Cars have taken more elk than wolves. The wolves in that area are eating the deer instead. If there are no deer, there is no CWD. If the wolves can make a buffer zone between the Elk and CWD our Elk herd just might have a chance and now is the time to get BRF Elk reintroduction plan back on track.

Problem is how far south do they let the wolves get? Every time a wolf or bear gets anywhere near the CWD zone, the DNR catch 'em and send them back north. Time or change. The southern Wisconsin petting zoo mentallity has to change. Everyone wants a bunch of deer to feed in there back yards but history and our own deer population numbers show that deer with out predators doesn't work. Up north, they have wolves wether they like it or not. If you take the wolf population map and impose it over the CWD zone maps, deer population maps and add the Elk population and proposal map, ad bear populations also and then tell me what you think? I think, as is, we're in trouble. Deer in the south are in trouble, deer in the north are in trouble and the DNR trying to keep CWD down south and wolves and bears up north makes no sense to me.
Things have been so out of balance in Wisconsin for well over 100 years now. Deer population have been through the roof and we can expect a big down cycle. This land had wolves, bears, cougars, carabou, Elk, buffalo, moose and deer to name a few. In the past 20 years we've made some progress in returning bears, wolves, eagles, turkeys, Pheasants (wich aren't even native to Wisconsin), cranes... Shows how fast things can improve with a little effort. If Wisconsin hunters invested half of what we spend to hunt Elk in other states and Canada, we'd have a huntable population of Elk in 10 years. If we do nothing more than put 25 Elk in BRF, we could have a huntable population in 25 years. While western states are trying to recover from overpopulation of wolves, we have a chance to bring both up together and the ability to control the wolf population. Something the western states weren't allowed because od the endangered species act.
There are a lot of Elk reintroduction plans that have worked well in other states. It's working here despite the fact that we've dropped the ball. Our herd is growing at a rate of about 15% per year. That's amazing considering that we started with 25 elk in 1995 and the winters of 95-97 were the 2 worst winters on record. I think it's time we start doing something. The Clam Lake herd is using 40 square miles. They have 700 square miles set asside for them in the Clam Lake area alone. Even if we do nothing but move 25 Elk to BRF from Clam Lake, it would be better than having all the Elk sitting in one area waiting for CWD to get there. Things are going to change wether we like it or not and with a little effort we could get our elk herd a boost while we're waiting for the deer population to rebound. Our hunting dollars have already paid for all the studies and plans, why drop the ball now?