Im gonna start a task force and kick these dirty NR out of the drawing!You and @BenInMT should start a no NR thread together.
VA Elk Hunt Help!
- Thread starter AvidIndoorsman
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AvidIndoorsman
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Jokes aside the fact that we have these eastern herds is awesome and the primary reason I started this thread.
Huge conservation win, I hope VA residents can work to expand the range and numbers of elk.
The east coast has the capacity to support far more elk than the west, if we could adjust social tolerances I think OTC eastern elk could be a thing.
Wow! I would never thought such was possible though that's without any information to base my understanding of the public/private corridors and elk friendly expanse of land the east coast has available. I sure enjoy the steps RMEF, along with the various private and public entities involved, have taken to expand elk's eastern U.S. range.
AvidIndoorsman
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There is definitely the habitat… tolerance though… but, you need exactly 0% public land to have elk.
Same bs that goes on in the west happens in the east, for instance there are a bunch of high fence elk operations in NY… I wonder if they push back against re-introduction
PA has more deer than MT, WY, and CO combined… the eastern landscape is just more productive.
VAspeedgoat
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You will never ever see over the counter elk tags in the east. Assume you get the support to have that many elk out there......which means major land holders like farmers, timber, and both state/national lands can agree. There are just too many hunters for OTC tags. The only thing that holds eastern guys back right now is the time and cost associated with a western hunt. Now give them a limited resources they can hunt for a couple hours after work and it would be decimated.
I think expanding the range is possible.
I think a potential world record is possible.
Pessimistic post done.
I think expanding the range is possible.
I think a potential world record is possible.
Pessimistic post done.
AvidIndoorsman
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Lol so suddenly the framework for whitetail goes out the window.
You still have mostly private land to contend with, I can buy like 10 deer tags within 4 hours of my house…
Western MA could definitely support elk.
It wouldn’t be an easy hunt, and access would be the limiting factor, western private land issues x10.
All of the elk would pile onto the land of the one person who doesn’t allow hunting.
But I think habitat wise, carrying capacity, not human tolerance we could easily have 1MM elk east of the Mississippi.
AvidIndoorsman
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Here's the thing there are already hundreds if not thousands (cumulatively) of elk in many eastern states.
Vermont (I believe this place closed in 2018)
New York
rockyforkwhitetail.com
New Hampshire
www.vnews.com
Maine
Ohio
ohiotrophydeer.com
It would not surprise me in FL, GA, AL, NC, etc states that allow high fence hunting also have elk populations.
So elk are already on the ground... but like the Wilks bros folks in these states don't actually want elk to be managed as a game animal.
Maybe eastern residents should start pushing back on their states.
Vermont (I believe this place closed in 2018)
Vermont Russian boar, Red Stag, Elk, Buffalo, Fallow Deer, Ram and wild Goat Hunts|Discounted Guided Hunts
Hunting guide and outfitter directory and reviews.
hornandfin.com
New York
Hunting Packages – Rocky Fork Whitetail
Free range hunts on a 120 acre tree nursery available for BOW hunts only. Please call for pricing on our custom 5 day hunting packages. Rocky Fork Whitetails operates on over 283 acres of beautiful Ohio country.
rockyforkwhitetail.com
New Hampshire
NH bill would require licenses for hunting at Corbin Park preserve
CROYDON — Corbin Park, the large private hunting preserve with an individual membership fee that runs into the tens of thousands of dollars, is being targeted by proposed legislation that would require its members to buy a new class of hunting...
www.vnews.com
Maine
Maine Maine Bear Hunting, Deer Hunting,Game Ranch
Maine bear hunting, moose, whitetail deer, and the best game preserve hunting in the northeast with elk, buffalo, russian boar, red Stag, fallow deer.
www.hillsideguideservice.com
Ohio
KG Deer Ranch | Ohio Trophy Whitetail - Guided Deer & Elk Hunts
KG Deer Ranch in Cadiz, Ohio. Guided Trophy Whitetail & Elk Hunts. Lodging & Accommodations included. Servicing hunters out of Pittsburgh & Akron Airports.
ohiotrophydeer.com
It would not surprise me in FL, GA, AL, NC, etc states that allow high fence hunting also have elk populations.
So elk are already on the ground... but like the Wilks bros folks in these states don't actually want elk to be managed as a game animal.
Maybe eastern residents should start pushing back on their states.
Tiredofthebickering
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Elk are already OTC in TN, if they wander around too far lol.
Same in VA. If an elk leaves the EMZ you can use a deer tag on it. And that’s why I think they don’t want them to expand
duck wrangler
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In my part of Va(south central), the farmers would not want them destroying the crops.
If a herd went through a tobacco field, it would be financially devastating to a grower.
Private land access would be difficult, but like what may or may not happen on occasion during whitetail season, hounds would probably get dropped on the edge of private land to push the elk out to huntable land! Dog hunting is strong in this part of the state.
Funny sight would be to see a pack of hounds running an elk across a cutover!
If a herd went through a tobacco field, it would be financially devastating to a grower.
Private land access would be difficult, but like what may or may not happen on occasion during whitetail season, hounds would probably get dropped on the edge of private land to push the elk out to huntable land! Dog hunting is strong in this part of the state.
Funny sight would be to see a pack of hounds running an elk across a cutover!
RobertD
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I agree 100%
RobertD
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NC actually has some wild elk in the western part of the state.
GA is extremely strict on high fence operations, particularly regarding importing game, so we don't have any pen elk. We don't have any wild elk either, aside from the occasional sighting near NC border.
Certain parts of Florida are covered in high fence operations and a ton of them have elk. It's the most ridiculous thing.
Alabama I believe is similar to Georgia but I don't know for sure.
RMEF Committed to Growing Eastern Elk Populations | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Core to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage is returning wild, … Continue reading "RMEF Committed to Growing Eastern Elk Populations"
www.rmef.org
An endeavor that exceeds our lifetime, I hope.
Tiredofthebickering
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Don't forget about FL's sambar deer hunt also! Not elk, but equally weird.
RobertD
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Forget about it? Dawg I apply for itDon't forget about FL's sambar deer hunt also! Not elk, but equally weird.
Tiredofthebickering
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LOL and now I've ruined your odds by exposing it to the HT crowd. My sincerest apologies!Forget about it? Dawg I apply for it
RobertD
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No worries, it's really all over the internet already. I think people talk themselves out of that hunt as often as not.
brownbear932008
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As much as I'd love to see Virginia expand the elk zone I highly doubt it will happen. The ag industry would fight any expansion tooth and nail IMO. Even our counties with tons of national forest have tons of ag and livestock to tend with and farmers for the most part aren't interested in seeing elk on the landscape from my experience and the comments I've heard.
Heck they are already whining and complaining about what we have in 3 counties that are 95% mountainous coal country with almost zero ag.
AvidIndoorsman
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brownbear932008
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Probably worse when it comes to the political powers to be in the farming industry. They absolutely hammer deer and bear all summer on damage permits in corn pastures. I live in a county that borders the EMZ and it's a hard NO with the farmers. Most of the fence work isn't like fencing out West. It really isn't elk friendly. A buddy of mine took a 5 point last year on his small property. The bull had wondered out of the WV. herd.So it's like Montana/CO/ WY
Virginia Hunter Punches His Deer Tag on a Rare Bull Elk. Yes, Legally
Virginia isn't well known as an elk-hunting hotspot, but Richard Bryson took advantage of a state regulation and shot a great bull.
www.outdoorlife.com
