State’s updated elk management plan open for public comment through Jan. 23
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is now accepting public input on an update to the state’s elk management plan through Saturday, Jan. 23.
The management plan outlines objectives and strategies to guide elk management in the state through 2030. Review the proposed plan and view a summary presentation at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/ elk.
Those who wish to provide comment may do so by emailing elkplan@wisconsin.gov or by mail to Wisconsin DNR, Attn: Scott Roepke, 910 Highway 54E, Black River Falls, WI 54615.
DNR staff will present the plan to the public at two virtual open house sessions held virtually on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and on Monday, Jan. 11 from 6-8 p.m.
“The restoration of elk to Wisconsin is a tremendous conservation success story,” said Scott Roepke, DNR wildlife biologist. “We’re looking forward to implementing the approaches identified in this draft update to the elk management plan with the input and support of the public. The management plan emphasizes a sciencebased approach to managing our state’s elk population and will also address diverse issues from tourism potential to agricultural damage.”
Key changes in the proposed updates include:
_ Renaming the state’s two elk management zones to the Northern Elk Management Zone and Central Elk Management Zone from their current names of Clam Lake and Black River management zones.
_ Expanding the Central Elk Management Zone from 252 square miles to 367 square miles.
_ Reducing the Central Elk Management Zone’s population goal from 390 elk to 300 to reduce conflict potential.
_ Dividing the Northern Elk Management Zone to seven units and the Central Elk Management Zone to six units. The rest of the state would be considered Zone X in anticipation of possible hunting opportunities if the herds expand their range.
_ The elk hunting season would start on the Saturday nearest Oct. 15 and run straight through the Sunday nearest Dec. 15. Any weapon could be used, the once in a lifetime tag would remain and quotas would be established in each unit or units could be combined to produce quotas.
_ Conflict management and chronic wasting dis- ease measures are included.
The final draft of the plan is expected to be completed in mid-February and an administrative rules public meeting is planned for late February. It’s hoped the final draft will receive Natural Resources Board approval in April. The changes to the hunting season would go effect in the fall of 2022.
Once widespread here and across North America, elk were eliminated from Wisconsin in the 1880s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. More than 130 years later, they once again live in Wisconsin’s central and northern forest regions. From a population of 25 elk reintroduced in 1995, and with the help of a second reintroduction effort that started in 2015, the state’s total elk population is quickly approaching 400 animals providing significant viewing and hunting interest in the state.
