>Actually here is the summary on
>Elk in New Mexico based
>of New Mexico Game and
>Fish and what I learned
>from a wildlife biologist. Before
>1900, there were two subspecies
> of elk in
>New Mexico: the Rocky Mountain
>elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and
>the Merriam's elk (Cervus elaphus
>merriami). Merriam's elk were once
>found from Arizona to southwestern
>Oklahoma, but were hunted to
>extinction by humans by the
>early 1900s. Actually in 1910
>15 elk from Yellowstone where
>stocked in Bartlett Ranch (Vermejo),
>which was from a tread
>for turkey. In 1911,
>territorial game warden releases 12
>more elk in Sangre de
>Cristo Mountains. Over the next
>few years New Mexico
>began to reintroduce elk in
>to the state. Twelve animals
>from Colorado were introduced near
>Raton and Las Vegas, and
>fifty animals from Yellowstone National
>Park were introduced near Pecos
>and in San Miguel County.
>All the reintroduced elk were
>the subspecies Cervus elaphus
>nelsoni. The state elk population
>has recovered steadily since. In
>New Mexico The Rocky Mountain
>elk currently live throughout Merriam's
>elk's historic range including Raton.
>The actual historic timeline summery
>is as follows: (information courtesy
>of New Mexico Game and
>Fish,
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us )
>
>1875- A group of 2,000 elk
>observed in southern New Mexico
>
>1880- Territorial Legislative Assembly prohibits elk
>hunting May 1 to Sept.
>1
>1900- Extirpated from southern New Mexico
>
>1903- Declared a game animal
>1909- Extirpated from northern New Mexico
>
>1910- Bartlett Ranch (Vermejo) stocks 15
>elk from Yellowstone
>1911- Territorial Game Warden releases 12
>elk in the Sangre de
>Cristo Mountains
>1912- Elk population estimate was 60
>
>1926- First elk release in Grant
>County, 25 animals at GOS
>Ranch
>1933- First elk hunts on public
>lands, Pecos area
>1934- Approximately 4,000 elk in the
>state
>1939- Elk released at Mt. Taylor,
>Philmont Scout Ranch, Tres Piedras
>and Zuni Mountains
>1948- First release in Jemez Mountains,
>at Clear Creek
>1955- Total of 140 elk released
>on public lands, 160 released
>into Class A parks
>1956- 213 elk released on public
>lands, 356 released on private
>lands
>1958- Elk population estimated at 8,000
>
>1966- Last elk release recorded, Cimarron
>Canyon Wildlife Area
>1967- Elk population estimated at 12,000
>
>1970s- Hunting conducted under regional approach
>
>1981- Unit system adopted to distribute
>hunting pressure
>1982- Elk population estimate reaches 53,000
>
>1994- Harvest of elk exceeds 10,000
>animals
>1999- Approximately 72,000 elk in New
>Mexico
>1999- Herd reduction approved for 21
>management units statewide
> And yes I do agree
>wolves are a bad idea,
>I don't think todays ecosystem
>and cycle of life is
>what it was when they
>roamed free at one time.
>After all there is a
>reason they were killed off
>and it was because they
>cause a lot of damage
>to farmers and wildlife and
>those that live of the
>fruits of there work.
That is a neat summary for the state. Thanks for posting it .