Elk hunter will take only a bow to woods | The Tennessean

Deputy Bob Burns’ jurisdiction doesn’t reach Tennessee, but he laid down the law when it came to deciding on the primitive hunting method his younger brother Greg will use in the state’s second managed elk hunt.

Greg will rely only on a traditional bow to take down an animal that could stand 5 feet and weigh as much as 700 pounds.

The entire arsenal, including hand-made arrows, is derived from natural materials.

“We don’t use sights, there’s nothing plastic, it’s all traditional equipment,” said Bob, 52, a deputy with the Pinellas County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. “It will all come down to Greg’s shooting ability and my calling and experience in elk hunting.”

Greg, 49, a retired army staff sergeant from Clarksville, was among four selected randomly to participate in the Oct. 18-22 hunt at the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. A fifth permit was auctioned off by a non-profit, non-governmental organization.

“The only way Bob said he would come along was if we didn’t take any guns into the woods,” Greg said. “He’s confident we can get close enough to an elk to use a traditional bow. If not, he said we’d leave the woods with what we brought in — nothing.”  Click Link Below for Full Story!

via Elk hunter will take only a bow to woods | tennessean.com | The Tennessean.

Apply now for the 2010 Minnesota elk hunt – Review Messenger

Hunters have until Friday, July 16, to apply for one of 11 elk licenses offered this year by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Licenses for the 2010 hunts will be available in the traditional Grygla area and central Kittson County, which is a consolidation of the north and south Kittson zones from last year. Maps of the two hunt zones can be found at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/elk.

“Annual elk hunts help manage population size and provide a unique hunting experience for Minnesota hunters,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator.

Seven licenses (two either-sex and five antlerless) will be offered in the Grygla area. Four licenses (one either-sex and three antlerless) will be offered in Kittson County.

“With the completion of our elk management plan, we’re allocating elk licenses so that we can manage the two populations at established levels,” Cornicelli said.

A total of three licenses (two in Grygla and one in Kittson County) may be issued to qualified landowners in their elk zone in a preferential drawing. Unsuccessful landowner applications will then be added to the general drawing, from which the remaining applicants will be selected. Alternates will be selected in case successful parties opt not to purchase a permit.

In total, there will be two seasons in each zone, divided as follows:

·Sept. 18-26, two either-sex in Grygla, one either-sex and one antlerless license in Kittson County.

·Dec. 4-12, five antlerless licenses in Grygla and two antlerless licenses in Kittson County

Applications may be made at any DNR license agent or the DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. Paper applications will not be accepted. Hunters may apply individually or in parties of two. There is a non-refundable application fee of $10 per hunter. Successful applicants will be notified by mail. In order to hunt, they must purchase an elk license for $250. Each party will be authorized to harvest one elk.  Click Link Below For Full Story!

via Apply now for the 2010 Minnesota elk hunt.

Wolf supporters howling | CJOnline.com

By Marc Murrell

The reintroduction of wolves to western habitats has met with plenty of controversy. Landowners, sportsmen and conservation groups have been on one side or the other since the project began. And now the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is calling the bluff of pro-wolf groups like Defenders of Wildlife, Western Wildlife Conservancy and others for their manipulative use of data concerning the relationships between elk and wolves.

The rub lies in these groups’ use of RMEF statistics that supposedly show an increase in elk populations in the northern Rockies as a result of the wolf reintroduction program. Letters to the editor in western newspapers by these groups, coupled with Western Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director Kirk Robinson’s testimony before Utah lawmakers prompted the RMEF to take action and set the record straight.

“The theory that wolves haven’t had a significant adverse impact on some elk populations is not accurate. We’ve become all too familiar with these groups’ tactics of cherry-picking select pieces of information to support their own agenda, even when it is misleading,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We will not allow that claim to go unchallenged.”

The RMEF gets its data from state wildlife agencies. Information shows that elk populations are expanding in the northern Rockies, but only in areas where wolves aren’t present.

And quite the opposite is true where elk share habitat with wolves such as the greater Yellowstone area. Since the reintroduction of gray wolves to the area in the mid-1990s, the northern Yellowstone elk herd has plummeted from 17,000 animals to just over 7,000 animals. Other localities in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are also documenting downward trends.

Additionally, some research shows that high wolf numbers in areas can cause elk to experience nutritional problems, lower body weights and declining birth rates.

“Every wildlife conservation agency, both state and federal, working at ground zero of wolf restoration —Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming — has abundant data to demonstrate how under-managed wolf populations can compromise local elk herds and local livestock production,” Allen said. “There’s just no dispute, and emotion-over-science is not the way to professionally manage wildlife.”

The RMEF continues to support state-regulated wolf management to include hunting and other viable methods. When populations of furbearers like wolves get too high without any control, disease becomes a problem as seen in packs of Yellowstone wolves.

“When wolves are too abundant, they’re more susceptible to diseases, just like all wildlife. The viruses and mange now spreading through wolf packs is another sign of way too many wolves,” said Allen. “Defenders of Wildlife would like to spin sick wolves as a reason to end hunting. But real conservationists know that diseased wildlife populations need better management. Hunting as a management tool delivers that, period.”

“Remember, pro-wolf groups make their living by prolonging this conflict,” he added. “There is no real incentive for them to admit that wolves are overly recovered. Fundraising is their major motive and they’ve built a goldmine by filing lawsuits and preaching that nature will find its own equilibrium between predators and prey if man would just leave it alone.

“That’s a myth. The truth is that people are the most important part of the equation. This isn’t the Wild West anymore. People live here — actually, quite a lot of us. So our land and resources must be managed. Wildlife must be managed. Radical spikes and dips in populations show that we should be doing it better. It’s not profitable for plaintiffs, but the rest of us would be better served if the conflict ended and conservation professionals were allowed to get on with their business of managing wildlife, including a well regulated hunting strategy.”

The RMEF first got involved in wolf litigation in 2009 and supported defendant agencies by filing legal briefs in federal court to help delist wolves and proceed with hunting — “facts conveniently ignored by groups who misuse our name, data and credibility to prolong the conflict,” Allen said.

“We stand for elk and other wildlife and what is happening right now is simply not good wildlife management,” he concluded.

via Wolf supporters howling | CJOnline.com.

Elk Hunt Forecast for 2009- RMEF

MISSOULA, Mont.—Elk and elk hunting opportunities are plentiful across the U.S. and Canada, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has just released its annual roundup of hunt forecasts for 27 states and provinces, newly posted at www.rmef.org. “Elk herds are in great shape across most of the West, thanks to a mild winter and normal moisture. And, of course, the ongoing habitat stewardship projects supported by our members and volunteers have helped, too,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation. This summer, RMEF passed the 5.6 million acre mark for elk habitat conserved or enhanced. Storylines within the Elk Foundation’s 2009 elk hunt forecast include the amazing herd growth following elk restoration efforts in Kentucky, wolf impacts on elk and hunting in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, massive elk populations in Colorado and the trophy bull reputations of Arizona and Utah. Here’s a condensed look at forecasts from top states and provinces for total elk populations. To see all the reports in their entirety, including contact information for respective conservation agencies, visit www.rmef.org. For even more hutning including sidebars, see the Sept./Oct. 2009 edition of the RMEF member magazine, Bugle. Alberta Elk Population: 20,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: N/A Nonresidents: $298 and must be accompanied by an Alberta resident Hunter Host or licensed guide. Southwestern Alberta has a reputation for big bulls where elk are managed to ensure that plenty of bulls live long enough to reach their full potential. A little farther north, some impressive bulls are killed each year in the Peace River area. Warmer and drier than normal conditions over most of the province brought elk through the winter in great shape. Expect good hunting prospects this season for trophy bulls and cows. Arizona Elk Population: 25,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 35 to 40/100 Nonresidents: $151 hunting license (nonrefundable to enter drawing) plus $595 elk permit. Arizona has one of the finest reputations in the nation as a trophy-producing destination. Any unit has potential for big bulls. More specifically, the units surrounding Flagstaff have been good. Units 1 and 27 on the east side, and 3A, 3B and 3C around Pine Top are units to consider as well. Arizona has seen favorable conditions for elk over the past several years and elk populations are stable in most regions. Elk numbers are increasing in the east-central portion of the state but additional antlerless tags are not being issued because biologists want more elk in this area. British Columbia Elk Population: 50,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 20/100 Nonresidents: $189 hunting license, plus $277 elk tag. Must hire a licensed guide, or in certain cases may be accompanied by a resident hunter. Coastal British Columbia saw significant snowpack but nothing terribly out of the ordinary for wintering elk. Over the central and southern portions of the province, snowfall was normal to slightly below normal. Elk herds are burgeoning in productive habitat. Elk are especially abundant in the Kootenay region, an attractive area for trophy hunters where bull harvest is limited to animals carrying at least six tines on at least one antler. Many trophy areas in British Columbia offer rifle hunting during the rut, an option that has become increasingly rare in North America, with a few notable exceptions. California Elk Population: 1,500 Rocky Mountain Elk, 6,000 Roosevelt’s, 3,900 Tule Bull/Cow Ratios: 20 to 90/100 Nonresidents: $143 nonrefundable hunting license plus $1,163 elk tag. The state’s coveted elk tags are in short supply, making general drawing odds slim. There are three auction tags: one for Grizzly Island, one for Owens Valley and one multiple-zone tag in which recipients can choose to hunt one of the three sub-species. A proposal is afoot to allow nonresidents to purchase landowner tags for 2010, a move that could increase access for those who can afford an outfitter. Lucky residents who pull an elk tag can expect excellent conditions this fall. Elk populations are stable to increasing in all areas. Elk are also increasing in the Lake Pillsbury region, where a new hunting area may be opened next fall. Colorado Elk Population: 280,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 25/100 Nonresidents: $546 bull tag, $251 antlerless. Colorado offers a bit of everything. Limited-entry, tough-to-draw tags provide a legitimate shot at a world-class bull in some units, such as those in the northwest corner of the state, but hunters need 15 to 20 preference points to draw. Over-the-counter tags are widely available, giving hunters a shot at a bull. Most will be spikes and raghorns but mature bulls can be found in these hard-hunted units. The state also allots a plethora of antlerless licenses—though around 10,000 less than last year—giving meat hunters excellent odds. Hunters should have more opportunity at mature bulls this year as the harvest was generally down last year because of weather. Idaho Elk Population: 107,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 10 to 50/100 Nonresidents: $142 hunting license plus $373 elk tag. Have wolves eaten all the elk in Idaho? Not even close, says Brad Compton of Idaho Fish and Game. “We still have some good elk hunting. Wolves have had an impact on our herds in some parts of the state, but they’ve not been decimated like it’s been publicized.” Elk populations are fairly stable statewide with areas of western Idaho trending upward, while wolves have had the biggest impact on the Lolo and Sawtooth zones on the Idaho/Montana border. For 2009, caps will occur on tags offered in the Sawtooth and Diamond Creek elk zones. Idaho elk hunters enjoy around a 20 percent success rate on average. In an area such as the Lolo zone, elk are holing up more often in security cover. Compton suggests hunters who enjoy hunting whitetails in cover should try the same tactics for elk. Kentucky Elk Population: 10,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 35 to 40/100 (branch-antlered) Nonresidents: $130 hunting license plus $365 elk tag. Kentucky’s herd in the 16-county elk restoration zone could soon hit 11,000 animals. Giant typical and nontypical bulls are killed each season, making the state’s elk hunt wildly popular. With such robust numbers, Kentucky is upping its tag offerings by a large portion this season, boosting available licenses by more than 50 percent. The state will offer 250 bull permits and 750 antlerless permits, with 10 percent of the tags going to out of staters. Those who don’t draw can look to landowners who auction their permits or to auctioned Commissioner Tags. Montana Elk Population: 150,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 5 to 25/100 Nonresidents: $593 for regular drawing, $1,500 for outfitter sponsored tags. Elk populations in Montana remain at or above management objectives in most areas, but many hunters will have to work harder to find elk this fall. Quentin Kujala of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says tough wintering conditions in portions of western Montana decreased the number of yearling animals. Some areas will no longer offer over the counter, either-sex tags. Wolf impacts near Yellowstone National Park appear to be stressing elk populations. Anecdotal evidence from popular hunting grounds in the Snowcrest, Ruby, Centennial and Gravelly ranges suggest that wolves are dispersing elk in ways that make for tougher hunting. Finding a mature bull will remain tough in the region between Butte and Boulder, where extensive road access keeps bull/cow ratios extremely low. All in all, though, Treasure State hunters can expect a fine season. Nevada Elk Population: 11,000 Bull/Cow Ratio: 40/100 Nonresidents: $142 hunting license plus $1,200 bull tag or $500 antlerless tag. With a 14 percent increase in adult elk numbers and a slight boost in bull/cow ratios from 2008, Nevada’s elk are thriving. Most areas have seen modest herd expansion with fairly rapid growth in Elko County. About 75 percent of the state’s elk are located in the eastern part of the state, where massive fires have converted brushlands to grasslands, hurting mule deer but boosting elk numbers. All of the state’s elk tags are issued by lottery. No matter where you hunt, the outlook is as good this season as it’s been in years. New Mexico Elk Population: 80,000 Bull/Cow Ratio: 45/100 Nonresidents: $547 standard bull tag, $772 quality bull tag. For elk hunters, the “Land of Enchantment” lives up to its nickname with great opportunities to hunt elk in unique habitat, with potential for big bulls. From a management perspective, units fall into two categories: “quality” units that are managed for bigger bulls with low hunter densities, and “opportunity” units that have higher tag allotments to give more people a shot at an elk. Hunter success rates typically run from 35 to 50 percent in the quality units with many of the bulls killed being 6 years old or older. But hunters in the opportunity units do very well by most standards. Success rates run from about 12-30 percent. Overall, the state’s elk population is stable to slightly increasing. Oregon Elk Population: 120,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 12 to 30/100 Nonresidents: $439. Oregon’s elk population trend has been stable over the past decade. The state’s herd is split almost equally between the Roosevelt’s sub-species in the west and Rocky Mountain to the east, groups that see notably different management. For the most part, general season hunting with over-the-counter licenses reigns in the west, while limited-entry regulations dominate in the east. Bowhunting is the exception, with most areas open to archers carrying a general tag. “Conditions should be fair to good, similar to last year,” says Test. Success rates are higher in limited entry units, but hover around 10 percent for general season hunting. Saskatchewan Elk Population: 15,000 Bull/Cow Ratio: 20/100 No nonresident tags available. Saskatchewan’s elk fared well last winter. Snowpack across the province was variable but didn’t adversely affect elk populations. During the winter of 2008, two elk in the Nipawin area were found dead. Both tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), the first confirmed cases of the disease in free-ranging elk in the province. However, wildlife officials have been monitoring CWD for nearly 10 years after a mule deer in the Manitou Hills tested positive. Although the disease has the potential to adversely affect elk numbers, massive die-offs aren’t likely. CWD has plagued elk in several states, including parts of Colorado, without the disastrous effects some biologists predicted when it was discovered. Elk populations remain healthy and growing across the province, with a fine hunting season predicted for this fall. Utah Elk Population: 67,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 15 to 80/100 Nonresidents: $65 hunting license, plus $388 general tag, $795 limited entry tag, or $1,500 premium limited entry tag (allows hunting in all weapon seasons within a unit). Utah is viewed by many hunters as one of the top destinations for trophy bulls, especially after last fall’s “Spider Bull” became the new world’s record nontypical. Elk enjoy rich habitat with populations stable or trending upward across the state. Permits are limited but over-the-counter bull tags are available if you’re willing to take a spike. New for 2009 is a regulation change that also allows the harvest of spike bulls in limited-entry units with an over-the-counter tag. Fewer unlimited areas allow hunting for any bull. Most of these are found in designated wilderness areas on the north and south slopes of the Uinta Mountains, where success rates run around 15 percent. Washington Elk Population: 58,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 12 to 20/100 in most units Nonresidents: $396. Bull/cow ratios are at management objectives nearly everywhere. Couple that with a snowy but manageable winter where no areas suffered above average mortality, and hunters should expect a favorable hunting season. Bull/cow ratios in some Blue Mountains areas are running the highest in the state. Overall elk numbers remain stable in the Evergreen State with slight increases in the northeast and some decreases in the southwest where managers have moved aggressively to trim the herd in the Mt. St. Helens area. Washington still offers over the counter bull tags for Roosevelt’s elk in the west and Rocky Mountain elk in the east. Bulls in the west must have at least three points on one antler, while spikes-only can be taken on a general tag in the east. Wyoming Elk Population: 105,000 Bull/Cow Ratios: 11 to 40/100 Nonresidents: $577 for regular drawing, $1057 for special drawing, $288 for cow/calf. Cowboy State elk populations are at or above objective and elk hunting opportunities have never been higher. Antlerless tags are abundant. Hunters can anticipate an exceptional elk season, with a few exceptions. Jeff Obrecht of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department cautions that access to the elk-factory Laramie Peak area is problematic with public lands highly fragmented and private lands heavily leased. Reduced forage on winter range left elk struggling in the southwest. Bull-to-cow ratios remain low east of Jackson where biologists are observing just 11 bulls to 100 cows. Leftover tags (after the drawing in 2009) went on sale on a first-come, first-served basis in early July. One of the most notable changes in elk country for 2009 could be a wolf hunt in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Stay tuned to the respective state wildlife agencies for news and details. RMEF is a vocal supporter of state-regulated hunting to manage restored populations of gray wolves. For more info, visit www.rmef.org. About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Keep Predators Away From Your Elk Carcass

MISSOULA, Mont.—Black bears, grizzlies, cougars, wolves, coyotes—just some of the potential looters you may find skulking around the scene of your next successful elk hunt. These tips from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will help keep meat stealers away from your elk carcass.

“Deterring predators ensures all that hard-won protein ends up in your freezer, but personal safety is a factor, too. If you hunt in grizzly country, for example, it’s worth minimizing the risk of surprising a bear that has claimed your kill,” said P.J. DelHomme, hunting editor of the Elk Foundation’s member magazine, Bugle.

Here are five tips for discouraging marauding carnivores:

1. Hang quarters at an unreachable height 100 yards or more from the entrails, etc. Parachute chord works well; it’s small, light, cheap and strong enough for the job. Bring way more than you think you need. Try to select a hanging tree in a relatively open area that can be glassed from at least 300 yards away. If no trees are available, you can hang quarters off a rimrock ledge, too. Prime cuts of meat should get the first trip out.

2. When safe and legal, build a fire next to the quarters. Burn damp, pitchy wood that produces a good plume of smoke. This detracts predators and helps you locate the site on your return trip. Remember to mark the site in your GPS and take compass bearings as a backup.

3. Leave an article of clothing with the quarters, preferably something that’s been close to your skin and absorbed your scent. A brightly colored item also helps you locate the site. Urinate nearby to further saturate the area with human smell.

4. Many hunters won’t carry their rifle or bow once their elk tag has been punched. However, when returning to a carcass, consider carrying a handgun or bear spray for personal protection in case you encounter a defiant critter. Be as noisy and obnoxious as possible as you approach the site. Clap your hands. Sing as loud as you can.

5. Be ready to back off. An elk carcass is never worth fighting over. If a looter is adamant that it needs the meat more than you do, or has rendered your elk unsalvageable, check the state’s hunting regulations. A game warden may issue you a new elk permit.

Additionally, if legal, you may have an opportunity to add the predator to your game bag. Remember that many predator populations need management via state-regulated hunting, same as elk. The Elk Foundation is a vocal supporter of this system for managing restored populations of gray wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, too.

Bugle magazine is a wealth of elk hunting and conservation information. An annual subscription is included with a $35 membership to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. For details, visit www.rmef.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK

via 2009 News Releases.

Kentucky Hunting Access Grows with Elk Foundation Help

MISSOULA, Mont.—By facilitating agreements between corporate landowners and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has helped open or secure over 250,000 acres for public hunting access.

The milestone was recognized at a recent meeting of agency commissioners.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett said, “The Elk Foundation has been vital in this process—without them we wouldn’t be nearly as successful in obtaining these landowner agreements. The Elk Foundation gets things done with coal and timber companies that we, as an agency, have a hard time accomplishing. They have built a great relationship with landowners in Kentucky.”

Participating companies include Molpus Timberlands, KY River Properties, Begley Lumber and International Coal Group. Some lands were previously closed, others were historically open but scheduled to be leased—each situation was different.

David Ledford, initiative director for the Elk Foundation in Kentucky, explained, “Each agreement is different because each landowner had specific goals and sideboards. We worked with companies on an individual basis and helped them determine how to structure hunting access on their lands. Some agreements came together quickly, others took time, but the results are good news for hunters in Kentucky.”

At a June 11 meeting, Gassett presented Ledford and RMEF Regional Director Bill Carman with limited edition art prints as a token of thanks from Kentucky hunters.

Most of the state’s 11,300 elk are on private lands. More than 46,000 people applied for a chance to hunt them, and this fall more than 1,000 lucky selectees will take to the hills in pursuit of a Kentucky elk. Helping hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts access this growing resource is imperative, says Ledford.

Gassett said, “The coal industry has done great things for wildlife in Kentucky. In fact, without the coal industry, elk wouldn’t be here. We appreciate what they’re doing for public hunting access, too.”

For more information and regulations governing public hunting opportunities on corporate lands, visit the KDFWR Web site at http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

via 2009 News Releases.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – Quota Elk Hunt Drawing Extended Through the Weekend; Deadline was April 30

Frankfort, Ky. – Hunters now have three extra days to apply for the 2009 Kentucky elk hunt. Citing technical problems over the past few days with state government’s online payment application, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officials today extended the original April 30 deadline to midnight Eastern Time, May 3.

“We want to ensure that everyone who wants to apply has that chance,” said Wildlife Division Director Karen Alexy. “We’ve already had a record number of applicants because Kentucky is issuing a record number of its elk permits. The word is getting around that a Kentucky elk hunt is truly the hunt of a lifetime.”

To date, more than 37,500 people have applied for the 2009 general elk hunt while an additional 375 people have applied for the special Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area WMA youth hunt. Kentucky will issue 1,002 permits for the general elk hunt, and five permits for the WMA youth hunt. The deadline extension applies to both the general hunt and the WMA youth hunt.

Applications for the elk hunt are $10 and available online only at fw.ky.gov. The drawing is open to Kentucky residents and non-residents.

Last week, the department began encountering problems with the electronic payment system for its online permit and license sales. Department officials took the payment system offline for part of the day on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, until the problem was fixed.

Any person who encountered difficulties with an online transaction on the department’s website in the past week may call the department at 1-800-858-1549.

Kentucky’s elk herd numbers approximately 10,000 animals. Last year, the hunter rate for bulls reached 96 percent, while 89 percent of cow hunt hunters enjoyed success.

New for this year is the WMA youth hunt. The five youngsters drawn for this hunt have their choice of taking a bull or cow elk in one of the best hunting areas in the state. Hunters must be 15 or under by the end of the application period to be eligible.

“These are probably the best odds we’ll ever see for a quota elk hunt,” said Kentucky’s Big Game Coordinator, Tina Brunjes. “Young hunters should apply for this hunt. I guarantee it will be a hunt that they’ll tell their grandchildren about.”

For more information about season, regulations and elk hunting in Kentucky, visit the department’s Internet site at fw.ky.gov.

via Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – Quota Elk Hunt Drawing Extended Through the Weekend; Deadline was April 30.

Deadline Approaching for Kentucky Elk Quota Hunt Lottery

Apr 09, 2009

Frankfort, KY – Hunters who dream of harvesting an elk in Kentucky have just a few short weeks left to buy a chance at that opportunity.

Kentucky’s elk quota hunt application deadline is midnight, April 30. One thousand lucky applicants will be drawn to hunt elk this year.

Elk lottery applications are available for $10 online at fw.ky.gov, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ website. Applications are not sold in stores or through the department’s phone license sales vendor.

Applying for the elk quota hunt lottery takes just a few minutes. Applicants will need to have their Visa, MasterCard or Discover card ready. From the department’s website, click on the blue “Apply for Elk Lottery” icon on the right side of the homepage. This secure license sales system walks applicants through each step of the process. Hunters must provide identification information, including their Social Security number.

Hunters who don’t have access to the internet can call Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549. A department employee will take their credit card information over the phone using the same online system. Those without a credit card may purchase a Visa, MasterCard or Discover gift card, and use that gift card to apply through the internet or by calling Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. These gift cards are easily purchased at large chain stores such as Walmart and Kmart, as well as some grocery stores and gas stations.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts a random electronic drawing in early May of all those who have purchased an elk lottery application by the April 30 deadline. Applicants can check to see if they were drawn beginning May 4. They can enter their license confirmation numbers online at fw.ky.gov or call the department at 1-800-858-1549. Drawn applicants are also notified and given further instructions by mail. General firearm elk quota hunts occur in southeastern Kentucky in October and December

Big-game hunting close to home | The Times Daily | Florence, AL

Kentucky, Tennessee now open to elk hunting

By Dennis Sherer

Staff Writer

The last time Jeff Patterson went elk hunting, he spent 25 hours behind the wheel driving to the Rocky Mountains.

He hopes to be able to go elk hunting this fall or winter a little closer to home – about 350 miles from Florence.

Patterson is among thousands of hunters throughout the country who have applied for a permit to go elk hunting in Kentucky.

“It’s exciting to think I might be able to hunt elk only five or six hours from here,” he said. “It would be really neat if I am able to kill one that close to home.”

Since being released in 1997, elk have proliferated throughout the eastern Kentucky mountains.

Dave Baker, a spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said the agency will issue 1,000 elk permits this year. In 2008, only 400 were issued.

The cost to apply for an elk permit is $10. Those selected in the lottery-style drawing must then pay $365 for a permit for non-residents to go elk hunting in Kentucky.

Baker, editor of the agency’s magazine, Kentucky Afield, said 250 of the permits issued for upcoming elk season will be to harvest bulls. The remainder will be for harvesting cows. The reason for increasing the number of permits is to stabilize the state’s elk herd, which is the largest east of the Rocky Mountains. Elk hunting was first allowed in 2001.

Baker said Kentucky’s elk population has grown quicker than expected. Baker said grassy areas left when strip mines are refilled created prime habitat for elk. The mild weather of the Bluegrass State allows the animals to grow more rapidly than Elk living in western states where deep snow often covered grazing areas during the winter.

“There is a tremendous amount of food available to the elk. They grow very rapidly and the bulls get really big,” Baker said. “We’ve already had several Boone and Crockett-class bulls harvested here.”

Gabe Jenkins, a wildlife biologist for the agency, said many hunters who harvest elk in Kentucky had never hunted anything larger than a white-tailed deer before being selected to receive an elk permit. He said most are amazed by the size of the elk.

“When somebody asks me how big the elk are, I tell them to imagine a horse,” Jenkins said. “They are as big as horse.”  Click link below for full story!

via Big-game hunting close to home | TimesDaily.com | The Times Daily | Florence, AL.

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.

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