Want an elk for the freezer?

[Oak]

Research has shown that the elk herd in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Estes Valley is larger, less migratory and more concentrated than it would be under natural conditions. As a result, willow and aspen stands are declining, depriving other wildlife of the important habitat they need. To address the impact from elk, Rocky Mountain National Park is implementing an Elk and Vegetation Management Plan. The plan relies on a variety of conservation tools including fencing, elk redistribution, vegetation restoration and culling of female elk. Hunting is not allowed in the park, as per federal regulation.

This winter and in future winters, the carcasses of culled elk that test “not-detected” for CWD infection will be made available to the public through a lottery drawing. Members of the public interested in entering the lottery for an elk carcass from this winter’s efforts can do so by emailing their name, address and valid phone number to [email protected] or send the same information to: Colorado Division of Wildlife, Attn: RMNP Elk Lottery, 6060 Broadway, Denver, 80216.All lottery entries must be received by 5 p.m. on January 14th.

Each culled elk carcass from the National Park will be tested for chronic wasting disease. Those carcasses in which chronic wasting disease is not-detected will be distributed to the public for consumption via the lottery drawing. Carcasses in which chronic wasting disease is detected will be used in an ongoing study investigating transmissibility of the disease to mountain lions.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease found in deer, elk and moose. It belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases. The disease attacks the brains of infected deer, elk and moose, causing the animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lack of coordination and eventually die. Find out more about chronic wasting disease.

Testing for chronic wasting disease will be conducted by Colorado State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Testing is done for screening only and does not assure the absolute safety of meat for human consumption. No test process can assure complete accuracy and “not detected” results do not exclude the possibility of early-stage chronic wasting disease existing in an animal.

Persons who submit their names to receive an elk carcass will be ranked on a list by a random lottery. When called, a lottery winner will have 24 hours to pick up their elk carcass from a location in northern Fort Collins. If a lottery winner does not claim their carcass within 24 hours, their name will cycle to the bottom of the list and the next person will be called. All elk will be field dressed, skinned and stored whole in a refrigerated facility. Carcass recipients must sign a waiver stating they have read about chronic wasting disease and understand that their animal was tested for the disease. As per state law, carcasses cannot be sold or traded.

Individuals who are members of the National Park’s volunteer team can register in the lottery but they cannot receive a carcass from their culling efforts. Future lottery lists will be created as needed. For more information visit the Rocky Mountain National Park - Elk & Vegetation Management Plan. For more information about the elk carcass lottery call (970) 217-3485.

 

[brymoore]

Oak - I believe that RMNP was included in the current wilderness bill. If the bill passes, does RMNP loose it's NP status? I thought you might know the answer.

 

[Oak]

Wilderness is designated in the NP system just like any other federal land. So the designation of 250k acres in RMNP just puts restrictions on development of those lands like any other wilderness designation. It won't change the status of RMNP as whole.

 

[Tom]

Oak, if we win, do we need to split it with you? It would be a first for me, "I got it with my Dell Optiplex 655 using 1.98 GHz!"

 

[Oak]

Oak, if we win, do we need to split it with you?

Hell no. Take it all, please. I can kill enough for myself.

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

Hell no. Take it all, please. I can kill enough for myself.

in the ass