Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
09-05-2002 | 08:55 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Waynesboro Georgia USA
Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
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Hunting allowed out of concern for farmers
By The Associated Press
PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Transplanted elk that leave the wooded mountains of eastern Kentucky in search of greener pastures will be fair game for deer hunters beginning next year.
Jonathan Day, head of the state's elk restoration project, said concerns about the large animals damaging crops in agricultural areas prompted the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission to take the tougher stand on roaming elk.
“When we set out to re-establish elk, we agreed that we would do it in certain counties where it was most feasible,” Mr. Day said. “We, of course, would love to see the elk live and be just about everywhere, but that's not always possible given human constraints.”
A mature bull elk can weigh as much as 800 pounds and have antlers that measure 4 to 6 feet in length. Their larger size makes them more damaging than deer on cropland.
Wildlife managers began reintroducing elk to Kentucky in 1997 — in 14 counties in the state's Appalachian region. The population now stands around 2,000 elk, most of which were shipped from Utah, Arizona, Oregon, North Dakota and Kansas. The goal is to have about 7,500 elk in the mountain region.
Mr. Day said elk will remain protected in the 14 eastern Kentucky counties where they have been released, plus a 10-county buffer zone made up of Lawrence, Elliott, Morgan, Wolfe, Lee, Owsley, Jackson, Laurel, Whitley and McCreary counties.
West of that zone, deer hunters will be permitted to shoot both bulls and cows during bow and gun seasons for deer.
“If you see them, you can shoot them — but that will not take effect until the 2003-2004 hunting season,” Mr. Day said. “If we let them wander outside the zone and become established, there is no limit on how far they could go.”
Stephanie Boyles, a wildlife biologist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said game managers should be encouraging farmers to coexist with the elk, rather than giving them licenses to kill.
“There are scare devices that can be used to keep away without having to kill these animals,” Ms. Boyles said. “The Department of Fish and Wildlife knew this was going to occur. They knew the grievances the farmers had, and they reintroduced the elk anyway. It was irresponsible for the elk and the farmers.”
Wildlife managers in Virginia have been allowing deer hunters to shoot trespassing Kentucky elk for the past two years. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said the decision was based in part on fears that the large animals might carry disease across the state border and that the animals could damage crops.
Kentucky elk also have ventured into West Virginia and Tennessee. Two elk out of the first group of animals brought into Kentucky took up residence on a golf course in Tazewell, Tenn., leaving hoof prints on manicured greens.
Mr. Day said shooting elk outside the restoration area will not negatively affect the restocking program.
“This just eliminates those rogue elk that have wandered off and are not going to come back,” he said.
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Edited by - mike bell on 09/05/2002 21:57:37
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Hunting allowed out of concern for farmers
By The Associated Press
PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Transplanted elk that leave the wooded mountains of eastern Kentucky in search of greener pastures will be fair game for deer hunters beginning next year.
Jonathan Day, head of the state's elk restoration project, said concerns about the large animals damaging crops in agricultural areas prompted the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission to take the tougher stand on roaming elk.
“When we set out to re-establish elk, we agreed that we would do it in certain counties where it was most feasible,” Mr. Day said. “We, of course, would love to see the elk live and be just about everywhere, but that's not always possible given human constraints.”
A mature bull elk can weigh as much as 800 pounds and have antlers that measure 4 to 6 feet in length. Their larger size makes them more damaging than deer on cropland.
Wildlife managers began reintroducing elk to Kentucky in 1997 — in 14 counties in the state's Appalachian region. The population now stands around 2,000 elk, most of which were shipped from Utah, Arizona, Oregon, North Dakota and Kansas. The goal is to have about 7,500 elk in the mountain region.
Mr. Day said elk will remain protected in the 14 eastern Kentucky counties where they have been released, plus a 10-county buffer zone made up of Lawrence, Elliott, Morgan, Wolfe, Lee, Owsley, Jackson, Laurel, Whitley and McCreary counties.
West of that zone, deer hunters will be permitted to shoot both bulls and cows during bow and gun seasons for deer.
“If you see them, you can shoot them — but that will not take effect until the 2003-2004 hunting season,” Mr. Day said. “If we let them wander outside the zone and become established, there is no limit on how far they could go.”
Stephanie Boyles, a wildlife biologist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said game managers should be encouraging farmers to coexist with the elk, rather than giving them licenses to kill.
“There are scare devices that can be used to keep away without having to kill these animals,” Ms. Boyles said. “The Department of Fish and Wildlife knew this was going to occur. They knew the grievances the farmers had, and they reintroduced the elk anyway. It was irresponsible for the elk and the farmers.”
Wildlife managers in Virginia have been allowing deer hunters to shoot trespassing Kentucky elk for the past two years. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said the decision was based in part on fears that the large animals might carry disease across the state border and that the animals could damage crops.
Kentucky elk also have ventured into West Virginia and Tennessee. Two elk out of the first group of animals brought into Kentucky took up residence on a golf course in Tazewell, Tenn., leaving hoof prints on manicured greens.
Mr. Day said shooting elk outside the restoration area will not negatively affect the restocking program.
“This just eliminates those rogue elk that have wandered off and are not going to come back,” he said.
Help Us help Others
www.hhh-usa.org
Edited by - mike bell on 09/05/2002 21:57:37
09-06-2002 | 09:35 AM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,672
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From: Fredericksburg Virginia USA
RE: Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
One interesting note on elk in Va. is you are allowed to dismember the elk as long as when you check it all the parts are there to where they can tell what sex it is, it counts as a deer and any sex can be taken.
The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club
The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club
09-11-2002 | 02:26 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: pelham nc USA
RE: Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
can you tell me how many elk are in VA now and where would be a good place to start looking for one,thanks [email protected]
09-11-2002 | 09:09 PM
#4
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 547
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From: The mountains of Southwest Virginia
RE: Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
Outlaw,
I have no idea how far east they have traveled but they are thick in Wise county. One of my buddys is a game warden and he spent a lot of time running them out of gardens last fall.
SF
I have no idea how far east they have traveled but they are thick in Wise county. One of my buddys is a game warden and he spent a lot of time running them out of gardens last fall.
SF
09-11-2002 | 10:54 PM
#6
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
From: The mountains of Southwest Virginia
RE: Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
Wise county is in the most southwest part of the state.
There is the Jefferson National Forest here and some corp. of Eng. Land and it is public.
I am just outside a small town called Pound. The first week of the season any wide spot in the road is taken with campers and out of town hunters but it dies down after a couple of weeks.
SF
There is the Jefferson National Forest here and some corp. of Eng. Land and it is public.
I am just outside a small town called Pound. The first week of the season any wide spot in the road is taken with campers and out of town hunters but it dies down after a couple of weeks.
SF
09-13-2002 | 09:25 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,324
Likes: 0
From: Danville Va. U.S.A.
RE: Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
I read where a guy killed an elk in Roanoke Va. last year.Said it was the biggest deer he had ever seen<img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>.Man he really needs to be hunting doesn't he....LOL
Danville Va.LAST CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY
Danville Va.LAST CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY
09-13-2002 | 09:27 PM
#10
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
From: The mountains of Southwest Virginia
RE: Elk roaming outside eastern Ky. fair game
Outlaw,
They have started to bugle now but it isn't anything like the sounds on t.v. This could be because they are ,for the most part, young bulls. More of a high pitched whistle than a true bugle. The cows however sound EXACTLY like the do on the hunting shows. So far they are using the same area as last year. I help a freind with a pro shop part time and we just got our bull and cow calls in and on the shelf yesterday. I stopped in today and he said they all were gone by this morning! Thank heavens for private land. Bull fever is setting in and I can't sleep nights anymore!
SF
They have started to bugle now but it isn't anything like the sounds on t.v. This could be because they are ,for the most part, young bulls. More of a high pitched whistle than a true bugle. The cows however sound EXACTLY like the do on the hunting shows. So far they are using the same area as last year. I help a freind with a pro shop part time and we just got our bull and cow calls in and on the shelf yesterday. I stopped in today and he said they all were gone by this morning! Thank heavens for private land. Bull fever is setting in and I can't sleep nights anymore!
SF