I have been hunting elk in the 66A area since 1986. The elk herd has decreased substantially since then. Is it true that F&G had several late cow hunts in the 90s harvesting approximately 4,000 head to reduce the elk herd?

First a little information on elk in 66A. Most of the elk that spend the summer and fall in 66A migrate into lower elevations of Unit 69 (Tex Creek Zone) to winter. Some also move into adjacent Wyoming to winter and depending on winter severity small numbers will remain in 66A for the winter. When we look at elk populations in this area we need to assess both the Tex Creek and Diamond Creek zones because of the seasonal movements between them. 

Based on our current data and information 66A likely has greater numbers of elk today than in its entire history. Elk behavior and distribution might be different than experienced in the late 80s and early 90s, but this elk herd is performing very well. When looking at old harvest reports, IDFG cannot find evidence of 4,000 female elk getting harvested. That level of harvest would have exceeded the number of elk available and is nothing more than a rumor.

From 1992 – 2001 average annual antlerless harvest in GMU 66A was 166 elk. In 1998, just over 400 antlerless elk were harvested in this unit which was the highest during that timeframe. For the past several years, total harvest (male and female) in 66A has been in the mid 400’s. IDFG plans to conduct an aerial survey in Diamond Creek (66A & 76) and Tex Creek (66 & 69) during the 2023-2024 winter. Our last survey, in 2018, estimated 4,251 total elk in Diamond Creek and 5,234 elk in Tex Creek. Both of these were significant increases from the 2013 survey.