Commission Approves Proposal to Kill Escaped Elk

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has authorized the Department of Fish and Game to open a depredation hunt, should it become necessary, to shoot domestic elk that escaped last month from an eastern Idaho shooter-bull operation. No depredation hunt will be in effect unless the department director and the Upper Snake River regional supervisor determine it necessary. The commissioners met Friday afternoon, September 8, in a telephone conference call. They approved a department proposal to send seven, three-member teams of Fish and Game and Department of Agriculture employees into the field starting Saturday morning, September 9. The teams will include two shooters and one spotter, with help from aerial spotters in a helicopter and fixed-wing airplane. Sometime before August 14, an estimated 75 or more animals escaped from a commercial domestic elk farm operated by Rex Rammell about eight miles from the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. "They will be fairly well distributed by this time," Department Director Steve Huffaker told commissioners in his summary comments. Thursday Idaho Gov. James Risch issued an emergency executive order authorizing the immediate destruction of the escaped domestic animals. Friday's commission action came in response to the governor's order. Fish and Game is working with the Department of Agriculture, which regulates and oversees domestic cervidae operations such as Rammell's. The seven teams in the field will be helped by other teams, including veterinarians from both agencies, who will sample the killed animals for disease and genetics. Others will help salvage the meat. The department is reluctant to shut down the already open archery-only hunt in the area, and that is one reason for the agency teams to hunt the domestic animals initially for the sake of public safety. If it becomes necessary, Huffaker may exercise his authority to open a depredation hunt on or before October 1. Such a hunt would authorize hunters with valid Teton A and B elk tags, as well as controlled hunt permits for hunt number 2122, along with private property owners in the area, to participate. Other hunters may sign up with the Idaho Falls Fish and Game regional office at 208-525-7290. Hunters on the list may be called if additional help is needed. Hunters who shoot a domestic elk, marked with a metal ear tag, three-eights of an inch wide and 1 1/2 inches long, do not need to tag it. Huffaker asked hunters to avoid adding to the problem by heading for eastern Idaho with hopes of shooting an elk.