MISSOULA, Mont.–Elk and elk hunting opportunities are abundant in much of North America, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is offering a sneak peek at upcoming seasons in its annual roundup of hunt forecasts for 28 states and provinces, now posted at www.rmef.org.

“Generally speaking, elk populations are in great shape and hunters have much to look forward to across the West, as well as in several Midwestern and Eastern states,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation. “A mild winter, much needed spring and summer moisture and our habitat conservation successes all factor into our optimism for the upcoming hunting season.”

This summer, RMEF passed the 5.8 million acre mark for habitat conserved or enhanced for elk and other wildlife.

Allen added, however, that wolves continue to be a growing concern in regions where the predators share habitat with elk and other big game herds.

In some areas, elk calf survival rates are now insufficient to sustain herds for the future. The urgent need to control wolf populations is a localized wildlife management crisis now compounded by a recent court decision to return wolves to full federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. RMEF has asked Congress to intervene and grant management authority to the states.

Here’s a condensed look at elk data from state and provincial wildlife conservation agencies. To see these forecasts in their entirety, with links to respective elk regulations or other Web pages, visit www.rmef.org. For even more coverage, see the Sept./Oct. 2010 edition of the RMEF member magazine, Bugle. To join, call 800-CALL ELK. Read more…

MISSOULA, Mont.–The board of directors of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has voted to restore a wild elk herd in part of the state, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has responded by pledging support for the effort. Possibilities could include RMEF funding assistance, technical expertise and/or volunteer labor.

The state’s restoration plan calls for relocating 75 elk into Buchanan County in southwest Virginia. Releases could begin by 2012. Biologists are hoping for a sustainable elk population and a limited elk-hunting season within four years. County officials are expecting significant economic and tourism benefits similar to those in neighboring Kentucky, which launched its own restoration program over a decade ago and now boasts the largest elk herd east of the Rockies.

At an agency meeting on Aug. 17, RMEF volunteers and staff spoke passionately in favor of elk restoration, although several other organizations were opposed. The board voted unanimously to restore elk into Buchanan County, which strongly supported the concept.

“Hats off to the citizens of Virginia, and especially those of Buchanan County, who understand there is no higher calling in conservation than restoring a native game species to sustainable, hunt-able, balanced populations. For everyone who doesn’t understand it today, I believe you’ll be convinced over time that this was the right decision, the right thing to do, the right way to go about it,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

To be a part of this historic conservation effort in Virginia, join and support RMEF. Visit www.rmef.org and click “Attend an Event” to find fundraisers planned across the state. For additional information, call 800-CALL ELK or contact Chris Croy, RMEF regional director for Virginia, at 704-551-6223 or ccroy@rmef.org.

Montana Decoy has a new HD Line of High Definition (HD) photo realistic decoys!

Feeding poses have been proven effective during any phase of the hunting season and teh all new Miss September Elk decoy combines this potent pose with HD photography.

“A herd bull might try to add a lone cow to his harem during the rut or it might be a confidence decoy in the late season after the rut has passed,” said Jerry McPherson, owner of Montana Decoys. “Either way, using a realistic decoy can mean the difference between success and failure.”

With a simple twist-and-stake set up is the new Miss September and all Montana Decoys. The light weight construction means it can go with you no matter if you’re hunting near the road or backpacking in the wilderness.

Miss September stands 41 inches tall set up and weighs in at a mere 42oz. Meaning it will go unnoticed in your elk pack until you need it.

Order yours here!

Don’t forget there FREE SHIPPING for the month of August!

Beginning August 15, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will conduct an antlerless elk game damage hunt in Hunting District 380 in the Boulder Valley.    The season was initiated to address elk damage that has become a regular occurrence in the area over several years.

The game damage hunt will include four one-week hunt periods, and the season will conclude prior to the opening of the general rifle season.   The hunt is for antlerless elk only. Read more…

Some early elk hunts open August 1, most of them antlerless “green-field” hunts.

The early “green-field” hunts in seven elk management zones – Palouse, Weiser, Lemhi, Beaverhead, Pioneer, Snake River and Owyhee-South Hills zones – are meant to help landowners reduce crop damage.

Early archery hunts also start August 1 in the Snake River elk zone, and controlled green-field hunts also open in the Dworshak and Hells Canyon zones.

The green-field hunts are open only outside the National Forest Boundary and within one mile of cultivated fields. They help reduce depredation problems and control populations causing crop damage by harvesting or discouraging animals in specific areas or portions of units. Read more…

GUNNISON, Colo. — Hunters are reminded that over-the-counter with caps licenses for elk and bear will be available starting at 9 a.m., July 13 at Colorado Division of Wildlife offices,  License Agent businesses, and by phone or on-line.

New for the 2010 season in the Gunnison Basin are elk licenses that are specific for Game Management Unit 54. These licenses are available for purchase over-the-counter but with caps on the number available.  There will be 500 either-sex licenses available on first-come first-served basis. General over-the-counter bull tags are no longer valid in Unit 54 during second season.

Hunters who wish to hunt in this unit during second season are advised to buy their licenses well before the start of the season.   Read more…

If you enjoy hunting deer or elk in Utah, you need to take note ideas are being floated that could dramatically change when the hunts are held in 2011.

You can learn about the possible changes—and let the Division of Wildlife Resources know what you think about its ideas—by logging onto a new webpage.

The page is available at the DWR’s website. The address is go.usa.gov/3v4.

When you arrive at the page, you’ll find information about the proposed changes. You’ll also find a brief questionnaire. Answering the questionnaire will allow biologists to know what you think about the ideas. Read more…

Draw Results:
Colorado Elk draw results are posted. Results are posted on Colorado’s website http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BigGame/DrawResultsAndPrefPoints/. We expect Colorado Deer draw results to be posted later this week.

Idaho Sheep, Moose, and Goat draw results are posted. Results are posted on Idaho’s website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/ch/msg.cfm.

Kansas Deer draw results are posted. Results are posted on Kansas’ website https://www1.ks.wildlifelicense.com/start.php.

Let us know if you drew and we will add you to the Member Draw and send you a list of members that have drawn previously or an outfitter if you are interested in one. Read more…

Photo by dano4

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has released the Bull Elk Lottery results. To find out if you were drawn please log onto KDFWR website.

While the official elk lottery has closed for 2010, hunters can get one more shot at having their name drawn. “Kentucky Afield” television has the story this weekend, May 22 and 23.

One bull elk tag remains to be drawn for fall elk hunting. Through a raffle sponsored by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, proceeds from the specially commissioned tag will fund scholarships and needed improvements to Camp Webb, Camp Wallace and Camp Currie. Read more…

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Nearly 45,500 people from throughout the United States applied for this year’s quota elk hunts in Kentucky. Results will be available to applicants after 5 p.m. May 5 HERE, the Web site of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Kentucky will issue 800 elk permits through its quota hunt lottery this year.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. For more information on the department, visit our Web site at fw.ky.gov.

Contact: Dave Baker (800) 858-1549, ext. 4454

Gunnison, Colo.–Gunnison elk hunters will see significant regulation and license changes for the 2010 big game seasons.  Two groups–archery hunters and second-season rifle hunters–are affected most by changes to license allocation and should plan carefully before arriving to the Gunnison area this fall.

“We want to make sure hunters accustomed to purchasing over-the-counter elk licenses are aware of these changes well before the start of the seasons,” said J Wenum, DOW area wildlife manager for Gunnison.  “We don’t want hunters showing up here realizing they cannot purchase licenses or that licenses have been sold out.”

Beginning this year, archery hunters can no longer purchase over-the-counter licenses for Game Management Units 54, 55 and 551. All Gunnison archery licenses are allocated by the limited drawing only for the 2010 season.  Therefore, bow hunters must participate in the spring drawing and have applications submitted prior to the April 6 deadline to obtain licenses for these Units.

Read more…

DENVER, Colo. – The Colorado Wildlife Commission finalized 2010 big game regulations at its regular meeting Jan. 11.  The Commission approved a variety of changes, some providing expanded opportunities for hunters.

Key revisions include:

Hybrid Draw:
The Colorado Division of Wildlife established a “Hybrid” drawing for select elk and deer licenses for the 2010 hunting seasons.   The purpose of the drawing is to give hunters the additional opportunity to draw a license for some of the state’s premier elk and deer hunting areas.    Hunters with five or more elk or deer preference points that select as their first choice a unit requiring 10 or more resident preference points for that species will be automatically included in the random drawing. Approximately 15 elk and three deer units qualify for the drawing.

Read more…

The application deadline this year is February 1. The February 1 deadline is a departure this year from the normal January 31 deadline since January 31 is on a weekend.

Hunters may apply online at https://gf.state.wy.us/elsapplication/ELSWelcome.aspx.

The Non-resident (Me!) application is available at http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/hunting/NonResident/index.asp.

Good luck in the draw!

The printed regulation booklet for Arizona’s 2010 elk and pronghorn antelope hunting seasons are now in license dealer stores and department offices throughout the state. Hunters that are interested in a tag will need to submit an application through the lottery-draw process.