The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-01-07
Tells Need For
Elk Reduction i'm
Yellowstone Areo
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in the winter of 1890 about so
per cent of the $4,000 animals in
the herd succumbed to starvation
and hunting. The so-called winter
range was in a continuously depict
ed state and was widely cited as
classic example of overuse.
The great drought of the early
1905 forced a realization that the
northern elk herd was destined for
another great collapse. In 1884 the
Department of the Interior decided
that immediate steps should be taxi
en- to prevent the loss of many ami
mails by starvation on the drought
stricken range. The program had
the full concurrence of a large num-
Der of conservation organizations,
including the Federal Elk Commits
sion, Americon Game Association,
Izaak Walton League, Montana and
Wyoming Game and Fish Commits
sions, Game Conservation Society,
American Humane Association. Ma
tional Association of Audubon So
cieties. National Parks Association,
Geological Society of America,
American Society of Mammalogists,
American Bison Society, the Per-
manent Wild Life Protection Fund,
and the Emergency Conservation
Committee. With the cooperation
of the Montana Fish and Game
Commission, it was agreed to take
5000 elk each winter until the herd
could be stabilized at about 5000
head. This objective was to be ap-
preached as closely as possible by
(1) trapping and shipping live ami
mails to other ranges where FEAST
BILE; I'd hunting outside of and adj
iacent to the park, and (3) shoot
ing the remaining surplus by park
authorities and distributing the meat
to Indians.
Since adoption of this plan in
1934-35, the results have been as
follows: In eight winters, a total
of 1882 elk were removed from
this herd Exclusive of deaths due
TO natural causes). Of this number,
14.067 were killed by hunting out
side of the park, 1870 were live
trapped and shipped to restocking
projects and ZOOS, GIT were official
ly shot in the park for food for
Indians, and 268 were removed by
other means. It became evident that
the hunting kill had not been large
enough to effect an actual reduc-
ton, it had not even prevented a
substantial increase. The total Of
fetal kill for food for Indians was
relatively small Annual offers OF
meat to the Montana relief agency
have been declined Despite the av-
erage elimination of about 2,l00 elk
per year, the herd is now estimated
to number almost as many animals
as in 1884. The reduction pro-
gram to date has merely removed
the annual increase, and has not
solved the problem of over-produc-
ton.
The herd now numbers about 3D.
600 animals, according to National
Park Service estimates. Studies by
the Yellowstone National Park staff
over a 10-year period indicate that
the depleted range is capable OF
supporting only about 1000 elk IN
addition to the bighorns, bison, deer
and antelope also using it. Some
increase in volume of forage has
been noted Any improvement,
however, has been due to unusually
favorable weather rather than to a
reduction in the potential load on
the range Range recovery has
been only partial and is now threat
ened by large surplus Of elk.
1t would be illogical to allow this
herd to increase in size, thereby
further imperiling the range, and
the bighorns and other animals US
ing the same range. AT the same
time, the elk herd would build up
to such a point that, with a severe
winter, hundreds, if not thousands,
would perish from starvation. Re-
cent reports from Yellowstone in
dictate that winter set in earlier
than usual this year and that the
winter range is now covered with
LAYERS of crusted snow through
which it is impossible for the elk
to dig for food Thus the herd as
a whole is faced with the immediate
threat of starvation.
1t is more logical to protect the
range for the animals it can sup
port and take the surplus which
can be used yearly than to lose the
greater portion of that surplus al
later GATE. with Improvement "
the range, the herd can then in
crease safely. The National Park
Service, therefore, has decided up
on an effective reduction of tht
elk herd in order to bring it within
the carrying capacity of the range
during the next several years. It !:
desirable that public hunting out
side of the park accomplish as much
reduction as possible but restric-
tons on ammunition and trave
may render this method even les:
effective than previously. As in ths
past elk are available for stock
ing ranges where forage is avail
able, provided consent Of the land
owners and the state game authorl
ty is obtained. From experience
- ic doi1htnd Ia AT Eanu