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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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