How does your state manage its elk herd

whs · Apr 3, 2006

During our recent RAC meeting here in central Utah it was brought up to look at other ways of managing our elk herds. Right now we go off an age classification but I was wondering how all the other states are managing their herds and what is the good and bad of your system.

COHunter · Apr 7, 2006

Colorado doesn't manage its Elk herds. The DOW just lies and makes statements about us having 300,000+ elk so that they can sell a Billion tags at $500.

Roy · Apr 7, 2006

Texas doesn't have an elk herd. Though elk do live here, but were either born in captivity, shipped here and now live on Private Property (all of Texas is private). They are considered exotics. And like everything else in Texas - they are bigger! At least the Texans think so.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID7/5747.html

They are considered exotics and do not manage them but let the landowners do it.

Probably not the answer you were looking for.

ROY

stexashunter · Apr 7, 2006

TEXAS LETS LANDOWNERS MANAGE ITS ELK, DEER, AND EVERYTHING ELSE, #1 REASON WE HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST WILDLIFE POPULATIONS ON THE EARTH! THANK GOD WE DON'T HAVE ALOT OF PUBLIC LAND, ESPECIALLY FOREST SERVICE LAND, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF OVEREDUCATED STATE BIOLOGISTS, THAT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, WHO WISELY IGNORE THEM AND DO WHAT MAKES SENSE!

WOULDN'T YOU KNOW THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES ON THE LAND, LIVES OFF THE LAND AND ACTUALLY HAS A PAYCHECK RIDING ON THE OUTCOME DOES A BETTER JOB THAN A STATE OR GOV. EMPLOYEE?

huntindude · Apr 8, 2006

Oregon's system is as follows : take the number of dollars you need in the fish&wildlife budget, divide that by the price of the tag = number of tags sold.

Pre64 · Apr 9, 2006

Idaho introduces non-native predators to manage the elk herd for us. We have a calf survival rate that is way too high, so the predators help us keep the number of calves down. Were so happy with the number of elk being killed we export our management practices to other states. And all we have to do is nothing and let the predators migrate on their own. I hope neighboring states enjoy this management practice because soon our predators will be helping to manage their deer and elk as well. Thank you ESA!!!

ironhead · Apr 9, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Apr-09-06 AT 11:02AM (MST)[p]In Washington we manage our Elk herds by giving out tags to anybody that wants one, then we get to hunt for spikes only so that some bulls (that we can never hunt) get exceptionally old and slow. That way predators from other states will be able to kill them more easily.(Apparently the spikes are to fast and not very nutritious)

huntnut64 · Apr 11, 2006

Ironhead,I could not have said it
better my self,and it dose not look
like it will ever change.

huntnut64

shortmag · Apr 14, 2006

In Idaho, the wildlife guys risk their lives by flying helicopters in lots of units or sub-units collecting info such as numbers, herd composition, bull/cow ratios, cow/calf ratios, and pathogen loads. They trap elk by restraining them after they entangle themselves in nets (try that sometime) and place telemetry radios on them to monitor movement and causes of mortality. Units have objectives and the above data is used to make changes in the management(types and numbers of hunts)of the herds. From what I can tell, they are passionate, hard working, and serious about their thankless jobs. Most are hunters who give a #####.

huntindude · Apr 14, 2006

I've hunted Idaho a few times and I'm not impressed, with unlimited tags for res hunters and an oh my god amount for nonres hunters I don't think all the data is of much use. a quick look at the record book will back me up , not many elk from Idaho in there. nothing against Idaho it's caught in the same trap as most states managing for dollars and politics not for quality hunting useing biology.

Lien2 · Apr 14, 2006

ND elk is only open to Residents and they only give out about 200 tags for about 10,000 applicants. No bonus or preference points given either.

Lien2

Pre64 · Apr 14, 2006

>In Idaho, the wildlife guys risk
>their lives by flying helicopters
>in lots of units or
>sub-units collecting info such as
>numbers, herd composition, bull/cow ratios,
>cow/calf ratios, and pathogen loads.
> They trap elk by
>restraining them after they entangle
>themselves in nets (try that
>sometime) and place telemetry radios
>on them to monitor movement
>and causes of mortality.
>Units have objectives and the
>above data is used to
>make changes in the management(types
>and numbers of hunts)of the
>herds. From what I
>can tell, they are passionate,
>hard working, and serious about
>their thankless jobs. Most
>are hunters who give a
>#####.

I agree 100%. I think its a shame that wildlife management is a matter of politics as much as biology, if not moreso. The introduction of the wolves in Idaho epitomizes the role that politics plays. People who have never seen a herd of elk cannot appreciate the sight, but everyone wants to identify with a predator.

shortmag · Apr 16, 2006

Non-res are limited to 17,000. Other than data, what would you use? Record book animals do not necessarily equate to good management. And ask a biologist who hasn't seen a cost of living raise in 8 years if the state is managing for dollars.

huntindude · Apr 16, 2006

shortmag
I think record books do mean something, it shows what you might have a chance at. I hunted Utah for elk once and took a book bull, I hunted Idaho twice and took a dink,Colorado and took dinks, and Oregon my whole life with a few nice bulls and a ton of dinks. if I ever draw Arizona I'll have a chance at a great bull, it's all in the record book. sure I may never have another tag in Utah but it's hard to argue about who has the best management. an oh my god amount of tags = crappy hunting always. if the states were managing with biology they would let the biologist set the tag numbers without any other input from the state, where does that happen? I think Wyoming comes close if you look at thier laws. I'm afraid " Show me the money " pretty well sums it up on wildlife managment. that said Colorado's deer, Utah's elk , most everything in Arizona and this and that in other states need to have credit given where it's due and not just criticize.

okiebugle · Apr 16, 2006

Oklahoma has a small huntable heard out by Lawton. There manage by the Federal Wildlife Comm. They have about 700 elk on th refuge. They kill about 60 bulls and 150 cows a year.

Cornhusker · Apr 17, 2006

Nebraska manages the elk herd. Only residents can apply if you draw a tag you have 30 days to obtain permission since most of our elk are on private land. If you obtain permission or want to try the limited state and federal land a tag is $135.00 which is quite reasonable. So far 20 years of trying and never drawn, but then again we only give out 28 bull permits and 100 or so cows.

shortmag · Apr 22, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Apr-22-06 AT 08:58PM (MST)[p]Some indicators of quality management might be: hunter success (% of hunter who harvest), % of mature bulls in harvest, % of harvest of 6 point or better, bull/cow ratios, cow/calf ratios, post season population, and some indicator of quality of range.