Free Range Elk in Texas?

[Bobcat]

Reading the Edwards county thread brought up the question. How successful are free-range elk in Texas? Not talking about the natural population out in the extreme west of Texas, but the introduced, escaped and now naturally breeding elk. Texas is former range and habitat is still suitable in many areas so have they been successful in breeding and establishing wld populations away from the herd in west Texas?

Would "free-range" elk be considered exotics even though they are historically native to the habitat?
Or would "free-range" elk be considered an uncommon native game species that is protected until a huntable population exists?
By the way, I understand why none of this would apply to stocked elk within a highfence enclosure.

[Jaspro]

Where besides West Texas are there escaped elk with numbers enough to constitute a herd? Most places I know of that you hear about seeing an escaped elk it is just one or two passerbye's.

[Mike Murphey]

There are elk in the mountains in far West Texas but I don't beleive there is a huntable heard, except every few years or so it is on a drawing basis and very small numbers.....

[Bobcat]

"One or two passer-bys" and "not a huntable herd"

I agree. Not many and not a huntable free-range population, but they appear to be breeding and the species is a natural part of the habitat returned by accident.

[Shiner]

I am pretty sure that You can hunt the Texas elk with only landowner permission. We had an elk killed here in Kendall Co a few months ago that had gotton loose. gamewardens were envolved with no problems

[JW]

I read on TP&W once that Elk EAST of the Pecos were considered to be Exotics and west were considered Native. Don't know if that still stands or not...

[Humper]

Check out the RMEF Texas web site for some good info. Better yet, join the RMEF

The North Texas RMEF Chapter's annual banquet is this Saturday at the Embassy Suites in Grapevine (next to bass pro). I've got tickets if anyone is interested.

Here is a link to a good article about elk in Texas.

http://www.rmef.org/NewsandMedia/NewsReleases/2008/TXpacs.htm

[Koons]

I know there are hunt able population out west. The outfitter I work for has gotten a landowner tag the past two years. I have been told that it depends on where you are. That some elk are considered like cattle if they escape the owner has the right to recapture them and if you shoot them you could be heading to court

[Jaspro]

All elk in Texas are considered exotics. There is a very huntable herd in the glass mountains area of west texas. In fact a guy killed a monster of one out there a few years ago but couldn't enter it in the books because elk is an exotic in Texas.

[Bobcat]

Ragin, I could understand that position discounting historic populations and basing on current populations. Makes sense.

Humper, thanks for the link.

I was reading about historic populations a while back and noticed that pronghorn, elk and of course bison extended into north central Texas counties as late as the mid 1800s.

Then seeing those elk (that appeared to have been breeding in the wild) on a low fence ranch it just got me to thinking what the possibility might be of recovery to atleast a small huntable population that ranges throughout suitable habitat east of the Pecos in historic habitat.

Jaspro, thanks for posting that. I'm suprised that elk are exotics since they are native. Guess that is because of the extent of stocking. Wondered if they might have been under the same "classicification" as a black bear, cougar or other uncommon native species. Protected until the point they become a nuisance or threat.

[Humper]

Then seeing those elk (that appeared to have been breeding in the wild) on a low fence ranch it just got me to thinking what the possibility might be of recovery to atleast a small huntable population that ranges throughout suitable habitat east of the Pecos in historic habitat.

I really doubt it as long as Texas continues to classify elk as exotics and you can shoot them year round

[Bobcat]

Exactly.

If they are breeding successfully (even small numbers) then wouldn't be interesting what the potential might be. Especially in areas of the state where large tracts of land are controlled by one group or individual that would allow for a core habitat and reduced hunting pressure. Like the panhandle south into central Texas towards the Rio maybe even along the large drainages like the Red, basically near east of the Pecos.

[cosmiccowboy]

All elk in Texas including the west Texas herd in the Glass Mountains are now considered exotics and not regulated. Back when they were permitted I saw several giant 6X6 bulls on a friends ranch north of Marathon.

[Dogman]

Several years ago, elk were protected in the Texas panhandle. The state actually started the herd in the 1950’s after a bull showed up. They transplanted some cows and got it started. In the late 90’s the elk were tearing up the corn fields and one farmer shot a few and let them lay. He got a huge fine so several farmers got together and was going to sue the state. The state decided to take the protection off the elk. When that happened, it was open season on them. I killed a 5x4 during this time. The damage these animals cause in an irrigated corn field is very significant. It’s not what they eat, but what they lay over. About 20 percent of a 160 acre corn field was wasted where I killed my bull. Irrigation motors were knocked off the stands and sprinklers damaged. We don’t want an established herd up here. There are still a few around. Saw one a couple of years ago in the sand hills in the western Texas panhandle while hunting deer. Could have shot him but decided to let him alone. We hated them when they were here but it also left a little hollow feeling now that they are gone.
Dogman

[Bobcat]

That explains alot as to when and why the exotic status was applied.

So the native population is kept at the lowest sustainable population possible and that prevents eastward expansion and economic damage.