Elk Hunting in Marin?

[eoats]

just read in the SF Chronicle about the organic dairy farmers upset about the elk herds;

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Reintroduced-tule-elk-compete-with-cattle-on-5816969.php


One of the solutions mentioned is to issue hunting tags to the ranchers to encourage/compensate for allowing the elk to share the land. That would be great! but I know it ain't going to happen
I can dream can't I?

 

[Bossbrott]

With enough inbreeding the population should take care of itself!!

 

[eoats]

Yes those yule Elk all coming from such a small pool is spooky. Suppose the Lions & bears would've taken care of the dim-witted ones

 

[eoats]

Sad News...

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Conservationists-upset-after-nearly-half-tule-elk-6204983.php


It sure would have been nice to have had the chance to go and thin that herd instead of such a tragic waste.

Some more background:
http://www.ptreyeslight.com/article/elk-growth-threatens-seashore-zoning

 

[Bubblehide]

Issues with this herd have been going on for a long long time. Due to the location, the herd is unhuntable, legally. But in the past, animals from the herd have been transplanted; this will really cut into that program for some years to come. But the real issue has been that the farmers did not want the elk there. Years back, the elk used farming property, feeding and watering. However, over the years, the elk have been fenced out. So, between the drought, and the farmers exercising their right to fence the elk out, this is the result we get.

From a purely business perspective, I get that the elk were costing the farmers all their profit, in some cases, and exposing their operations to undue risk and disease. However, from a conservation/pro hunting perspective, it's a tragedy.

 

[eoats]

Thanks for the wake up call Bubblehide. just can't help but fantisize about an elk tag out on Pt Reyes.

"... farmers exercising their right to fence the elk out."
I guess this is one of the sticky parts for many people. Seems this is US Gov Park land so it does get complicated. I'm sure there'll be more elk moved to other locations & the birth-control thing will be tried out....

 

[DFGELK]

Just wanted to set a few items correct. There are two completely separate things going on at Point Reyes. The elk in the enclosure and the free ranging elk. The Park in cooperation with the Tule elk preservation act to re-establish tule elk within California Established the fenced enclosure at Point Reyes. The elk have a background rate of Johne's disease and cannot be moved because of that. There is ongoing testing for it but the last thing anyone wants is for diseased elk to be moved to other areas of the state. The ranchers had nothing to do with that fence. When the park was established in part to protet ranching way of life in Marin there were no tule elk there. The PRNS established a free ranging elk herd in the wilderness area of the park, but not all the elk stayed and now some of those elk are in a different area that has the ranchers. Hope that clears up a few items.

Joe

 

[Flinch]

Thanks Joe. Someone should tell KCRA news the true story, last noght they published a piece and basically stated that half the heard had died in the last 2 years becuase the were dehydrated - no water.

Flinch

 

[Grizzlydad]

I was just out at PT Reyes last week and there were lots of elk to be seen, I also noticed some of the locals have put out home made signs about the elk fence. These pics were taken between north beach and the light house. There were several fairly large herds in the area to be seen but this was the only one close enough for an iPhone picture. Sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate them. View attachment 85024 View attachment 85023

 

[eoats]

Thanks Joe!

right now it seems to be about numbers. in one article, the olser one, it mentions herds/groups of 100 were what was deemed sustainable. Am I getting confused with these groups that number 450 in some instances?

 

[DFGELK]

I have read some of the articles but not everyone. I am also familiar with the situation. It is a no win situation in many ways. Lets start with the elk behind the fence. The fenced group was original installed to help re-restablish tule elk in California. Many federal agencies participated in these activitires (San Luis NWR, Concord Naval Weapons Stations, Fort Hunter Liggett) as part of the tule elk preservation act. The Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) established elk within the fencd enclosure but it become apparent that they had some level of Johne's disease present. That basically means the State will not move those elk to new areas, we do not want to spread disease. The PRNS is actively testing animals again but there is no defined protocol to determine they are disease free. In the past the PRNS had used contraceptives to keep that population in check. This is time intensive, costly, and ongoing forever not to mention it does have effects on the elk themselves. When they completed an elk management plan back in the 90's or 2000 (I think) they said they were no longer going to use birth control and that the numbers would fluctuate over time. They did lose quite a few elk but say they had enough water to get through the drought, now you have 600 elk, then 800, etc all within a fenced enclosure that you can not take anywhere outside the park? You can kick the can down the road but eventually something has to give, either naturally or man induced.
I think there are 70-90 elk in the free range portion of the PRNS that are impacting the long term leasee's. The PRNS decided they wanted to put elk into their wildnerness area in a free range situation, some of them did not stay and are not in with the dairy ranchers. Again, no identified means of population control at this point. The PRNS is working on a compehensive plan, a portion of which is elk, and trying to decide how they will proceed. It is a somewhat complicated issue but at the same time, a level of population control needs to be implemented otherwise it will continue and eventually roll off the park boundaries. Not sure that cleared up anything but my quick two cents.

Thanks

Joe

 

[mezcan]

Ever expanding population of humans is what needs to be controlled in this state .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RoosterKiller]

I am surprised as this is California that someone has not suggested to Introduce wolves into the park as a means of control.

 

[eoats]

I am surprised as this is California that someone has not suggested to Introduce wolves into the park as a means of control.

I have heard people say just this, and/or Lions, but so far they seem to be on the lunatic-fringe. (As am I for suggesting hunting.)