Brasher: Elk hunt on target to be good thing, someday : Outdoors : Memphis Commercial Appeal

By Bryan Brasher Contact, Memphis Commercial Appeal

Sunday, January 25, 2009

For many West Tennesseans, the idea of our state holding an elk hunting season is kind of sore subject.

Here’s how they see it:

TENNESSEE ELK SEASON

It was announced during last week’s meeting of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission that Tennessee will hold its first elk hunting season in October.

Residents and non-residents will be allowed to apply for five permits, but only one will be awarded to a non-resident.

Elk hunting will take place five or six hours from here in eastern Tennessee. The hunting project will cost thousands of dollars that could be spent to help other struggling species like the bobwhite quail. And even if Tennessee does hold an elk season, they’ll only give out a handful of permits, meaning everyone’s chances of being drawn will be next to nothing.

Since the TWRC announced its plan to hold the state’s first elk season this October, I’ve gone over those three points a lot — and I’ve reached a conclusion:

None of it matters.

So what if the October elk hunting season will be held in eastern Tennessee? That’s about as close as any other elk hunt West Tennesseans will find.

If you don’t believe it, leave out for Wyoming right now, and call me when you get there to tell me how long the drive took.

Then I’ll tell you about Tennessee’s funding efforts for the elk restoration project.

The elk project costs approximately $300,000 a year, but at least half of that is paid by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The rest is paid by TWRA, the University of Tennessee and other various groups. Click link below for full story!

via Brasher: Elk hunt on target to be good thing, someday : Outdoors : Memphis Commercial Appeal.