Liberalized Hunting Season Proves Success of Elk Project

When Kentucky wildlife officials released a handful of elk in the eastern mountains in 1997 to kick off an ambitious, long-term restoration project, its success was anything but certain. At the time only two states east of the Mississippi River had established free-ranging elk herds: Pennsylvania had a few hundred elk and Michigan about 3,000.
But John Phillips was thinking big. Then the deer program coordinator and large-animal specialist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, he became the agency's elk specialist by default and was one of the architects of the restoration program that has soared beyond anyone's expectations.
During the early years a couple thousand elk were transported from several Western states to Eastern Kentucky. They quickly adapted to the rich habitat, and the herd has grown to about 9,000.
As a result, the Fish and Wildlife Commission recently voted to increase the number of elk tags offered for the 2009-10 hunting season to 1,000, including 250 bull tags. This year 400 tags were available. Ten were offered in 2001, the first year of legal hunting.
Phillips foresaw the day when 1,000 permits would be available. He just didn't see it happening so quickly.
"No, I didn't see (the herd) doing this well this soon," said Phillips, who is now retired from the state agency and serves as executive director of Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry. "It is just growing much faster then we thought it would. I thought the commission would be able to offer that many tags. I just thought it would take longer."
Elk tags are allotted in a drawing. The nonrefundable application fee is $10 for residents and nonresidents. Hunter who are drawn are required to buy an elk tag ($30 resident, $365 nonresident).
Nearly 34,000 hunters entered the lottery in 2008. Phillips was one of them. Like most who applied, he's still waiting.
"I hope I'm drawn next year," he said.

The commission also approved a special youth elk hunt for Sept. 26-28 at the Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area. Five either-sex elk permits will be available to hunters 15 and younger. Application dates will be April 1-30, and the $10 fee will apply.
Youth hunters also can apply for the regular elk lottery. The deadline is April 30. Apply at http://www.fw.ky.gov/ or where licenses are sold.

Winter Wildlife

Wildlife adds significantly to the thrill of winter recreation. Winter sports lead to remote areas where sportsmen are often gifted with prime views of seldom-seen birds and animals.
Unfortunately, sports enthusiasts can harm or even kill the animals they observe, simply by their interest. Coming closer to an animal to see it better usually causes an animal to run. This, in turn, uses up valuable energy and fat in the season when food is scarce and the animal needs to rest to survive. Fat is needed for metabolic fuel and to sustain body temperature in extreme cold. Unnecessary movement caused by escape from a predator in wintertime, or the fear generated by a human disturbance, speeds the loss of fat reserves and decreases the chances of an animal's survival.
Remember: Be sensitive to the needs of animals.

Stop and go around them or wait for them to move. Avoid close contact with wildlife.

Minimize noise.
Help animals conserve their food supply.

Avoid damaging brush, trees and grass.

Little nutritional food is available in the dormancy of winter.
Respect wildlife's privacy.

Stay on established routes or trails.

View birds and animals from a distance.