Elk Hit And Killed on I-26

CRC

Old Mossy Horns
Curious where that from they have had elk for years even have a permit hunt

In All Areas Outside of Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise Counties:
Any elk (bull, cow, or calf) can be taken on any day of an open deer season (archery, muzzleloader, or firearms) in the county/locality in which the individual is hunting. Legal weapons for taking elk coincide with legal weapons for deer during that specific season except that elk may not be taken with a slingbow or air rifle.

https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/elk/

Eventually folks in the coal counties next to Kentucky got the state to protect elk in those counties for a future hunt. They think that will bring in visitors and $$$. There was opposition though.

Everywhere else they can be shot
 

CRC

Old Mossy Horns
No.

Tennessee wants to follow Virginia from what I gather.

The Tennessee Wildlife Commission is actively talking about allowing deer hunters to take elk outside of their restoration zone.


Their restoration zone is north of Knoxville and does not include the Smokies. That would allow deer hunters on the TN side of the Smokies to take any elk wandering over the state line (outside the park of course).

Whether the locals around the TN Smokies (a big tourist area) would like the idea is another story. They might want the elk to remain protected to attract tourists.
 

FishHunt

Old Mossy Horns
That's one expensive elk...from buying, tracking and now paying for studying why he was on the highway as well as paying for the flatbed to haul him to the research station.

They should also have to pay for the unfortunate person's vehicle that hit the elk.

<>< Fish
 

hunter

Eight Pointer
Contributor
At on
yea, expect them not to disperse while they have no natural predator to keep them in check.
At one time black bears were working on them (calves) pretty hard in the Park. So Park staff moved the bears....... Go figure.

Also, CRC pretty much nailed it. The Park wanted something to be a big tourist draw so they settled on elk. As best I can recall from what I was told back then the WRC weren't interested because there wasn't a lot of good elk habitat and figured they would end up in pastures, gardens, orchards, etc. and the WRC would have to spend hunter license dollars to deal with it. Knowing full well that there wouldn't be many to hunt and that there would be a lot of opposition to hunting even if the population could stand it. Also, most folks don't realize that the WRC has no jurisdiction over wildlife on the Park so while they were consulted they really didn't have a say.
 

turkeyfoot

Old Mossy Horns
https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/elk/

Eventually folks in the coal counties next to Kentucky got the state to protect elk in those counties for a future hunt. They think that will bring in visitors and $$$. There was opposition though.

Everywhere else they can be shot
Dickenson co. Is my home county many many family members there as well as surrounding counties your quoting old info and only bout half. And you did say Tenn not sure how coal counties got threw in
 

Blackwater

Twelve Pointer
So far as expecting civilization to keep them hemmed in, you can forget that idea. If you don't believe it just ask the residents of Evergreen and Buena Vista, CO, Banff, Alberta and a good number of western towns how that's working for them.
 

CRC

Old Mossy Horns
In 2016, the Wildlife Commission paid for a 2-mile-long fence along a private farm in Cataloochee Valley, which cost $19,000 for labor and material, with state money originating from hunting license sales. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation reimbursed the commission for $1,900 of the costs.

The elk, a herd of 30-40, were wreaking havoc on the private farm and were chasing cattle and eating their wheat crops.

The owners of the farm shot and killed three elk, and no charges were filed because investigators could find little evidence that the animals were shot for any reason other than being a nuisance to their farm.

https://www.transylvaniatimes.com/s...hanging-out-in-the-area-brevard-nc/37171.html

McVey said that problems with people pop up when the elk are approached or being fed. Feeding them is illegal, according to McVey, and so is approaching them.
 
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CRC

Old Mossy Horns
https://www.smokymountainnews.com/o...overall-prognosis-positive-for-elk-population

While McVey was monitoring the elk’s movements, he didn’t attempt to relocate him back to the main herd, and following the traffic accident he’s gotten some heat for that.

“The question that I’m getting a lot is why didn’t we move him,” said McVey. “We didn’t move him for numerous reasons.”
The time of year and the elk’s phase of life had a lot to do with it. It’s been pretty hot this summer, which can be physically stressful for the animals — anesthetizing him under those conditions could ultimately prove harmful to the elk.

In addition, the young elk was in velvet — the term used for antlered animals like deer and elk that are still in the process of growing their antlers.
 

CRC

Old Mossy Horns
NC elk herd does have some supporters

It’s time again for one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, and it already has a wait list.
The annual benefit banquet for the Great Smoky Mountain chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, held at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Event Center always draws a good crowd and generates some serious funds, and event organizers anticipate this year’s event will be no different.
“This banquet raises roughly $100,000 a year,” said chapter co-chair Joyce Cooper. “All of our funds that we raise go to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.”

https://www.themountaineer.com/news...cle_78256b84-90e3-11e8-8611-9b88d6371623.html
 

Wncbowhunter

Ten Pointer
My parents went to Cases Cove recently and they have mowed only a couple of fields. Place is getting VERY grown up and next to impossible to see any thing. They only saw 2 deer and went through late in the day at deer time
 

MtnMan

Ten Pointer
My parents went to Cases Cove recently and they have mowed only a couple of fields. Place is getting VERY grown up and next to impossible to see any thing. They only saw 2 deer and went through late in the day at deer time
My brother said the same thing. I guess there's only two deer there now.
 
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