Missouri Elk Hunting May Begin in 2016
OutdoorHub Reporters 07.10.13
Missouri wildlife officials have set 2016 as the tentative date for the state’s inaugural elk hunting season. The Associated Press reports that officials are expected to issue 30-40 permits once the current herd of about 100 animals doubles in size, which is projected to happen in roughly three years.
The establishment of a hunting season is the long-awaited end goal for many of the state’s hunters and conservationists who have supported the state’s restoration efforts. Elk had once been abundant in the state but the population declined rapidly after European settlement. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the species was all but extinct in the state as early as 1865.
After renewed interest in restoring native species, a feasibility study was performed in 2000. The MDC identified a large range of public land as a possible restoration zone, taking pointers from similar programs in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Arkansas. It is hoped that the newly introduced elk will bring tourists, hunters, and revenue to the state.
“States that have restored elk, such as Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Arkansas, learned that elk quickly became a key tourist attraction,” said MDC Deputy Director Tom Draper. “Establishing an elk herd in this limited area in southern Missouri would likely result in considerable public interest and a subsequent boost to tourism and hunting.”
A cooperative effort between the MDC and the wildlife agencies of Kentucky and Virginia brought the number of elk in Missouri up to the level it stands at now.
“Missourians are tied to the land and the wildlife,” said Draper. “We have an opportunity here to restore a native species that can coexist with other wildlife and land uses.
Along with the support of private landowners and conservationists, the MDC is funding the project with aid from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Big Game Hunters Foundation, Bass Pro Shops, and the Nature Conservancy.
