Washington Hunter
Well-known member
4/20/2007
Escapes, disease and fair-chase ethics worry coalition
POCATELLO (AP) - The president of an Idaho-based wildlife management and conservation group says he's talking with other organizations in the state about the possibility of a voter initiative to ban elk-hunting ranches.
Kent Marlor, president of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, said the failure of the Legislature this year to regulate elk ranches has led to the discussion of the voter initiative within the Idaho Sportsmen's Caucus Advisory Council.
The council is made up of some 30 organizations, most of which deal with hunting and fishing issues. He said they are concerned about such things as domestic elk escaping from the ranches, the possible spread of disease and fair-chase ethics.
"(Lawmakers) didn't even have one bill that made it anywhere near close to passage," Marlor told The Associated Press recently.
Last session, some elk ranchers blocked a plan endorsed by the Idaho Elk Breeders Association that would have licensed elk farms, saying it was a violation of their property rights. More rigorous Democrat-backed plans also failed, such as one to outlaw shooter bull ranches where wealthy hunters shoot bulls behind high fences.
The Elk Breeders Association did not immediately return a call from the AP.
The elk breeding industry is regulated by the state Department of Agriculture.
"When I have to be frank about this, I don't think the Department of Agriculture has the ability financially or staff-wise to take care of the problems," Marlor said.
To place an initiative on the ballot, some 46,000 signatures would be needed. Marlor estimates more would be needed after signatures from people who aren't registered to vote are excluded.
"We'd have to go out and collect about 60,000 signatures," Marlor told the Idaho State Journal. "You just can't do something like this half way. These things are not cheap."
If the groups decide to go ahead, they would have until April 30, 2008, to collect the signatures.
Idaho has 78 ranches that raise elk for meat and antler velvet. Seventeen also allow fenced hunts for trophy bulls.
Last August in Eastern Idaho, as many as 160 elk escaped from the Chief Joseph private hunting preserve that sold trophy bull expeditions behind high fences for $6,000.
Then-Gov. Jim Risch ordered an emergency hunt for fear the runaways could spread disease to wild elk and damage Idaho's $300 million big-game hunting economy.
Forty-three were killed, some were recaptured and others remain on the loose.
"There aren't sufficient mechanisms to take care of the problems that come with these ranches with respect to escape of these animals," Marlor said.
Escapes, disease and fair-chase ethics worry coalition
POCATELLO (AP) - The president of an Idaho-based wildlife management and conservation group says he's talking with other organizations in the state about the possibility of a voter initiative to ban elk-hunting ranches.
Kent Marlor, president of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, said the failure of the Legislature this year to regulate elk ranches has led to the discussion of the voter initiative within the Idaho Sportsmen's Caucus Advisory Council.
The council is made up of some 30 organizations, most of which deal with hunting and fishing issues. He said they are concerned about such things as domestic elk escaping from the ranches, the possible spread of disease and fair-chase ethics.
"(Lawmakers) didn't even have one bill that made it anywhere near close to passage," Marlor told The Associated Press recently.
Last session, some elk ranchers blocked a plan endorsed by the Idaho Elk Breeders Association that would have licensed elk farms, saying it was a violation of their property rights. More rigorous Democrat-backed plans also failed, such as one to outlaw shooter bull ranches where wealthy hunters shoot bulls behind high fences.
The Elk Breeders Association did not immediately return a call from the AP.
The elk breeding industry is regulated by the state Department of Agriculture.
"When I have to be frank about this, I don't think the Department of Agriculture has the ability financially or staff-wise to take care of the problems," Marlor said.
To place an initiative on the ballot, some 46,000 signatures would be needed. Marlor estimates more would be needed after signatures from people who aren't registered to vote are excluded.
"We'd have to go out and collect about 60,000 signatures," Marlor told the Idaho State Journal. "You just can't do something like this half way. These things are not cheap."
If the groups decide to go ahead, they would have until April 30, 2008, to collect the signatures.
Idaho has 78 ranches that raise elk for meat and antler velvet. Seventeen also allow fenced hunts for trophy bulls.
Last August in Eastern Idaho, as many as 160 elk escaped from the Chief Joseph private hunting preserve that sold trophy bull expeditions behind high fences for $6,000.
Then-Gov. Jim Risch ordered an emergency hunt for fear the runaways could spread disease to wild elk and damage Idaho's $300 million big-game hunting economy.
Forty-three were killed, some were recaptured and others remain on the loose.
"There aren't sufficient mechanisms to take care of the problems that come with these ranches with respect to escape of these animals," Marlor said.
