Elk Hunting in a National Park

[smalls]

I attended a Park Service meeting last night where they were/are considering allowing an elk hunt to occur in Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Granted it would take an act of congress to be allowed, it isn't out of the question that a public hunt would be the preferred management solution of the National Park Service and the ND Game and Fish.

Currently the elk population of the south unit of TRNP is nearing double what the management goal is and growing by 20% every year. There is no natural predators in the park and mortality of the animals is very low. They cannot transport the elk due to CWD concerns (which has never been found in ND). Other solutions would include hiring sharpshooters to kill the elk.

Although I am skeptical it will happen (a public hunting season), I thought I would throw the idea out here to see what you guys thought.

 

[Ten Bears]

Would probably be a good hunt. I'd be for it if it were done properly.

 

[1_pointer]

Their already doing it at Valles Caldera. Hopefully it will set a precedence that will better the management of our national parks.

 

[Ten Bears]

Well then there ya go. THNX 1-P.

 

[Idaho_Smiley]

I know

A couple states that could send a few wolves over there then you would not have to hunt in the park , and after awhile you wont have to hunt in the state . :BLEEP: :MAD |oo |oo |oo hump the WOLVES .

 

[Oak]

1_p, I believe Valles Caldera is a unit of the USFS, not NPS.


There's not a problem with hunting in NP's but getting it through Congress will probably be nearly impossible. They're considering it as an option at Rocky Mountain National Park as well, but wolves will probably get there before hunting is ever approved.

Oak

 

[Ten Bears]

I wouldn't want to export our problems onto others. |oo

 

[Elkhunter]

They have a hunt in Grand Teton National Park every year and have been for years.

 

[smalls]

I knew about the Grand Teton, but that is not a national "park", I believe the name it techinally has is a national "heritage" or something like that. There is also land in Arkansas that is used for duck hunting that is classified the same way. But as it was explained it is not officially a National "Park".

Also, does anyone have a link to the Valles Caldera hunt? I couldn't find any info about it (nor about its official classification). It looked like it was a National Forest, but not a National Park.

 

[Elkhunter]

Everything I can find states it is indeed a National Park. Every hunter that hunts Grand teton National Park is actually considered a deputy ranger to reduce the elk #s in the park, at least that is the way it has been explained to me.

 

[mtmiller]

Regulations
Grand Teton is the only national park where its enabling legislation allows a native wild animal to be killed by state-licensed hunters deputized as rangers. This is provided for under Public Law 787 of the 81st Congress. The provision applies only to elk and to portions of lands added to the original Grand Teton National Park in 1950. The pertinent section of Public Law 787 which relates to the elk is as follows:

Additional information

 

[smalls]

Deputy Ranger Smalls, that's got a nice ring to it! Thanks for the info mt and hunter.

 

[Ten Bears]

SMALLS Your killing me. LMAO

 

[whitedeer]

smalls.....here is your link: http://www.vallescaldera.gov/lottery/index.php

 

[Elkhunter]

Thanks for the info mtmiller.

LOL Deputy smalls.

 

[1_pointer]

Oak- I think you're kinda right. I was under the impression that it was a joint effort with BLM, USFS, and NPS. They will be allowing grazing as well.

 

[smalls]

http://www.nps.gov/legacy/nomenclature.html

Valles Caldera is a National Preserve, which is slightly different than a National Park. Here is the NPS definition.

National Preserve: National preserves are areas having characteristics associated with national parks, but in which Congress has permitted continued public hunting, trapping, oil/gas exploration and extraction. Many existing national preserves, without sport hunting, would qualify for national park designation.

versus

National Park: These are generally large natural places having a wide variety of attributes, at times including significant historic assets. Hunting, mining and consumptive activities are not authorized.