For an Elk, Kentucky is certainly a great state to live because the herd is booming since they were reintroduced in 1997. It’s amazing to see what Kentucky Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Conservationist, Sportsmen, and I’m sure others have been able to do to help restore the elk. The Kentucky habitat is ideal for the elk, not many predators, plenty of food, and mild winters have really been key to rapid growth.
Hunting is a vital tool in wildlife management and Kentucky conducted the first elk hunt in 2001 and has had one every year sense. The number of tags issued is limited and controlled to maintain the balance of this growing herd. Kentucky officials just met this month and if all goes as planned they plan to increase the number of elk tags to 400 representing a 33% increase over this years tags.
Kentucky is certainly a success story in restoration of the elk and other states have followed their lead. Here in North Carolina we have a small herd inside of Great Smoky National Park but the results of this restoration project are not as good as Kentucky. Harsher winters and heavy predator pressure on the newborns has stymied the growth along with the inability to bring in additional elk because of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
Hopefully we’ll see the majestic elk restored to many of the lands they once roamed.
