Washington Hunter
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Published November 05, 2006
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Idaho governor refuses to apologize for ordering emergency hunt of escaped elk
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A spokesman for Gov. Jim Risch says Risch will not apologize for ordering an emergency hunt in September for elk that escaped from a private hunting preserve even though the elk that were killed have tested negative for disease.
Risch signed an executive order Sept. 7 ordering the destruction of an estimated 160 domesticated elk that escaped in August from the Chief Joseph private hunting preserve operated by Rex Rammell near Ashton. Risch said the elk could spread disease and pollute the gene pool of wild elk in eastern Idaho.
Tests on 36 of the escaped elk killed have come back negative for chronic wasting disease, brucellosis, tuberculosis and red deer hybrid genes, said Wayne Hoffman, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture.
“I knew they were negative — we tested them,” Rammell told the Post Register. “The only way they’d come up with a positive result was if they planted one. I think a few people owe the elk industry and me some apologies — Fish and Game, Governor Risch and some local guys.”
Brad Hoaglun, Risch’s spokesman, said an apology is not forthcoming.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “We hoped that there was nothing there, but it was a situation where we had to check and have these animals tested. Certainly, this is good news.”
Besides the elk that were killed, tests on 61 live elk at the hunting preserve did not show any signs of brucellosis or tuberculosis.
“We’ve been keeping our fingers crossed that the test results would come back negative,” said Steve Schmidt of the Department of Fish and Game. “If they come back positive, we’d have a real situation on our hands.”
Rammell said he plans to sue the state over the emergency hunt, which he said put him out of business. Hunters at the preserve paid upward of $5,000 to hunt trophy domestic elk.
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Idaho governor refuses to apologize for ordering emergency hunt of escaped elk
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A spokesman for Gov. Jim Risch says Risch will not apologize for ordering an emergency hunt in September for elk that escaped from a private hunting preserve even though the elk that were killed have tested negative for disease.
Risch signed an executive order Sept. 7 ordering the destruction of an estimated 160 domesticated elk that escaped in August from the Chief Joseph private hunting preserve operated by Rex Rammell near Ashton. Risch said the elk could spread disease and pollute the gene pool of wild elk in eastern Idaho.
Tests on 36 of the escaped elk killed have come back negative for chronic wasting disease, brucellosis, tuberculosis and red deer hybrid genes, said Wayne Hoffman, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture.
“I knew they were negative — we tested them,” Rammell told the Post Register. “The only way they’d come up with a positive result was if they planted one. I think a few people owe the elk industry and me some apologies — Fish and Game, Governor Risch and some local guys.”
Brad Hoaglun, Risch’s spokesman, said an apology is not forthcoming.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “We hoped that there was nothing there, but it was a situation where we had to check and have these animals tested. Certainly, this is good news.”
Besides the elk that were killed, tests on 61 live elk at the hunting preserve did not show any signs of brucellosis or tuberculosis.
“We’ve been keeping our fingers crossed that the test results would come back negative,” said Steve Schmidt of the Department of Fish and Game. “If they come back positive, we’d have a real situation on our hands.”
Rammell said he plans to sue the state over the emergency hunt, which he said put him out of business. Hunters at the preserve paid upward of $5,000 to hunt trophy domestic elk.
