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Post by Land Between the Lakes on Jun 29, 2016 23:44:33 GMT -5
I recently talked with the refuge manager at Big Oaks about this by way of email. He said Big Oaks actually had discussed the idea of elk reintroduction in recent years. However, it was not feasible at the time. He said holes in the fence around the refuge would have to be fixed, and the openings at the creeks would have to be closed. He also said the refuge would need to hire more staff to monitor the elk, and as a result of federal budget cuts that has not been possible since the area became Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. However, he actually said it is possible one day elk could be reintroduced into Big Oaks NWR as long as there is adequate funding, staff, and public support.
This was a surprising answer. But it certainly would be interesting if this happens one day. I live in Kentucky now but still keep updated on things occurring in Indiana. It sure would be great to see something like this happen one day.
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Post by bartiks on Jun 30, 2016 1:38:07 GMT -5
I work with a guy whose father owns some land in eastern Kentucky and said that they have a lottery for elk hunts out there. If things go well why wouldn't they just start introducing them farther westward and then eventually nature would take it's course. However I have never been nor claim to be an expert on their behaviors. Just thinking it would be cheaper for the elk to do the leg work.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 30, 2016 11:17:21 GMT -5
Rodney had them at his place and they did a lot of damage to his truck ...while it was parked.
We're supposed to go pick up a big bull elk this fall.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Jun 30, 2016 11:35:30 GMT -5
Rodney had them at his place and they did a lot of damage to his truck ...while it was parked. We're supposed to go pick up a big bull elk this fall. He needs to be quicker about getting their feed out!  Where do you have to go to get the bull? |
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Post by budd on Jun 30, 2016 12:10:04 GMT -5
We have a small wild herd here Minnesota, about a hour straight west of my place. DNR is keeping them from reaching out and populating new areas for some reason. They try to keep the herd at 100 head by having a season every year...lottery.
Yet we have 10,000 freaking wolves and can't touch them!!!!
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 30, 2016 12:21:05 GMT -5
Rodney had them at his place and they did a lot of damage to his truck ...while it was parked. We're supposed to go pick up a big bull elk this fall. He needs to be quicker about getting their feed out! Where do you have to go to get the bull? That's a good question. He asked me if I wanted to go with him probably six months ago, but he said it would be later this year, maybe even December. He was trading a hunt for it. It sounds odd, but how does one catch a bull elk? Rodney told me that the guy was setting a trap for it in a barn??? I figured they'd just tranquilize it. Maybe the better question is: How does one get a big bull elk in a trailer? It will be an experience that I won't want to miss. To me, it didn't sound like he was too excited about getting elks again. I don't know, but think he gets some pretty good deals with the trades. It seemed like to me this place was somewhere near Avon, but I just heard elk and do you want to go? LOL This guy has become a good friend of mine. I talk with him every week and have probably been down there 5 times this year. I took Ella once and she loved it. His little boy tells me hunting stories that have me hanging on every word. It's like being on vacation to me. |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 30, 2016 12:23:53 GMT -5
We have a small wild herd here Minnesota, about a hour straight west of my place. DNR is keeping them from reaching out and populating new areas for some reason. They try to keep the herd at 100 head by having a season every year...lottery. Yet we have 10,000 freaking wolves and can't touch them!!!! I've heard Wisconsin is getting bad with wolves. This will have to change. I guess I was okay with repopulating them, but they sure need to be controlled. They are amazing animals, but think even moose are taking a hit. |
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Jun 30, 2016 12:46:59 GMT -5
There's enough ground for a small herd over here by me, on the HNF in Lawrence/Jackson/Monroe/Brown counties. The trouble would be keeping them on the forest, since it's surrounded by tempting agriculture land and there would be no hunting pressure to keep them away.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 30, 2016 12:57:45 GMT -5
What would be bad about introducing them to the population here?
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Jun 30, 2016 13:06:59 GMT -5
I don't know that you or I would see any negative effects. But if farmers squall about deer damaging their crops, wait until a herd of elk hits their fields. Same with drivers hitting them in their cars.
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Post by greghopper on Jun 30, 2016 14:19:23 GMT -5
What would be bad about introducing them to the population here? INDIANA is the crossroads of America ... Hitting a Elk on the road would not be good for anyone! |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 30, 2016 16:44:54 GMT -5
I think road kill is a poor excuse to not bring them in. One could have said the same about deer, and look how much fun we have. We could put those deer whistles on all vehicles ...well, you could, but I could just afford my own.
Bring them in! The DNR could sell a lot of OOS licenses and make a fortune ...enough to give old fat handicap guys free licenses.
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Post by Land Between the Lakes on Jun 30, 2016 18:41:39 GMT -5
I work with a guy whose father owns some land in eastern Kentucky and said that they have a lottery for elk hunts out there. If things go well why wouldn't they just start introducing them farther westward and then eventually nature would take it's course. However I have never been nor claim to be an expert on their behaviors. Just thinking it would be cheaper for the elk to do the leg work. Eastern Kentucky has over 10,000 wild Elk. In western Kentucky there is a small Elk herd in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL). The Elk in LBL live in a fenced off enclosure, but are still considered wild animals. They are there mostly for educational purposes. If Big Oaks ever does decide to reintroduce elk, it is very possible they will come from Kentucky. Kentucky has helped several states with elk reintroduction efforts in recent years. |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jun 30, 2016 20:29:33 GMT -5
I work with a guy whose father owns some land in eastern Kentucky and said that they have a lottery for elk hunts out there. If things go well why wouldn't they just start introducing them farther westward and then eventually nature would take it's course. However I have never been nor claim to be an expert on their behaviors. Just thinking it would be cheaper for the elk to do the leg work. Eastern Kentucky has over 10,000 wild Elk. In western Kentucky there is a small Elk herd in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL). The Elk in LBL live in a fenced off enclosure, but are still considered wild animals. They are there mostly for educational purposes. If Big Oaks ever does decide to reintroduce elk, it is very possible they will come from Kentucky. Kentucky has helped several states with elk reintroduction efforts in recent years. ...mostly for educational purposes??? I need educated on how to hunt one. |
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Post by swetz on Jun 30, 2016 21:32:06 GMT -5
I think it would be awesome to have elk in sufficient numbers to hunt, but obviously those with crops may have a different perspective.
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Post by nfalls116 on Jun 30, 2016 21:39:18 GMT -5
I think it would be awesome to have elk in sufficient numbers to hunt, but obviously those with crops may have a different perspective. I feel the same about pigs. |
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Post by swetz on Jun 30, 2016 21:44:08 GMT -5
I'm a little more reluctant about the pigs. They destroy turkey nests and even kill fawns.
I was always surprised that they didn't get established here. They talk about how they reproduce like crazy and are so invasive and from what I've read they've been around here (and still may be in some small pockets).
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Post by dbd870 on Jul 1, 2016 4:19:30 GMT -5
I definitely do not want to see pigs; elk I have no strong feelings on either way. This probably should be in the Big Game Forum if I or one of the others moves it take a look there.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Jul 1, 2016 6:45:54 GMT -5
No to pigs, they will be here in larger numbers soon enough. Elk? I say bring them on...
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