Elk in Texas - Why hasn't TPWD Made them a game animal or protected?

[Bulldawg87]

I think it's odd that in the draw hunts thhey even mention or restrict the number of elk that can be shot, when in theory the State is basically saying it's not supposed to be here...same with other exotics on draw hunts / public lands.

Seems unless the State wants to manage them, they would be fair game.

[Clark]

Well, they certainly ain't gonna let me hunt the Wildflower Center.

I was wondering why the south Mopac toll road extension has an Elk crossing sign posted.

[Texans42]

A lot of the way that TPWD manages things has to do with tradition. This is how we have always done it, and if it ain't broke don't fix it. For instance, many of the fairly odd doe harvest laws in East Texas are remnants from when county commissioners set the county's deer harvest laws. TPWD generally doesn't change them unless citizens of the county start asking for change.

So, from that perspective, it seems like they would put elk tags on your license like deer tags. But, there are not the abundance of elk like there are deer, so this wouldn't work.

I would think that the best way to create opportunity and make money would be for some number of the tags to go to landowners (like New Mexico). The landowner applies and receives say 5 tags. He can sell those tags to anyone he wants. When he sells that tag, the hunter has to buy a carcass tag from the state.

They could also set up a Big Time Texas raffle hunt with a private land owner.

Hunter opportunity would be limited unless they start reintroducing elk to some of the state public lands areas.

Already have the ability to work with private landowners for draw hunts, already extra on a few draws.

It’s going to cost more money to survey for LO tags then what tag revenue would bring in.

System isn’t broke and is working, don’t muck it up TPWD!!

[Shane]

I agree. Next thing people will want Axis to be Texas Game animals

That would be crazy too! The axis are doing just fine. TPWD isn't needed there either.

[El General]

Already have the ability to work with private landowners for draw hunts, already extra on a few draws.

It’s going to cost more money to survey for LO tags then what tag revenue would bring in.

System isn’t broke and is working, don’t muck it up TPWD!!

As I mentioned above, I don't believe TPWD regulation of elk would lead to increased hunter opportunity unless they were mandated by the legislature to recover elk in habitats that can support them and the legislature provided funding.

[El General]

https://pitchstonewaters.com/are-elk-native-to-texas-yes/

Pretty good article and explanation on why Merriam's elk as a subspecies and the only species in Texas is not sound science.

[Sackett]

I agree. Next thing people will want Axis to be Texas Game animals

Not relative. Axis, are indeed, an "Exotic" species brought here as such. Elk historically, are a native animal to Texas.

[saintsfan]

I'd love to see some running wild in Menard County

They are.

[BuckySWT]

Interesting.

Makes sense. I swear I’ve heard an elk bugle way far off before

[Jspradley]

https://pitchstonewaters.com/are-elk...-to-texas-yes/

Pretty good article and explanation on why Merriam's elk as a subspecies and the only species in Texas is not sound science.

"The classification changed during the 75th Legislative Session when legislators passed without debate a special-interest action, declaring elk an exotic animal."

I find that REALLY hard to believe that special interests would get their way over anything scientific...

[J Wales]

Although I typically advocate little government regulation, I'm all for elk being regulated as game animals by TPWD. I understand that the population of free ranging elk in west Texas is growing due to the managment practices of private landowners. However, for the population to continue growing to the east (the Hill Country and beyond), I believe there is going to have to be a period of time when hunting elk in the counties east of a certain line is prohibited until the population is established in those counties.

I have been going to the Sacramento Mountains (Mayhill/Cloudcroft area) of New Mexico all of my life, and my family for years before that. Elk were reintroduced to that area about 40 years ago (I'm not sure on the exact date). About 35 years ago, we saw the first group of elk my family had ever seen there. Now, it is one of the best elk areas in New Mexico...but hunting was strictly regulated for years to get it to this point.

Without the regulation, I'm afraid every elk spotted in the counties that don't currently have an established population will be shot on sight.

[wtx223]

Thousands of elk in west Texas already and making them a game animal will not increase hunting opportunities on private or public land in any significant manner.

[Jspradley]

Thousands of elk in west Texas already and making them a game animal will not increase hunting opportunities on private or public land in any significant manner.

Managing native critters isn't always about increasing hunting opportunities. Sometimes it has to be about restricting them, even if temporarily

[Mexico]

I wish they would change their status to Native, maybe only West of the Pecos. Also the argument that they are a subspecies is invalid. Many of our Whitetails in Texas were reintroduced just as elk were.

[Texans42]

Although I typically advocate little government regulation, I'm all for elk being regulated as game animals by TPWD. I understand that the population of free ranging elk in west Texas is growing due to the managment practices of private landowners. However, for the population to continue growing to the east (the Hill Country and beyond), I believe there is going to have to be a period of time when hunting elk in the counties east of a certain line is prohibited until the population is established in those counties.

I have been going to the Sacramento Mountains (Mayhill/Cloudcroft area) of New Mexico all of my life, and my family for years before that. Elk were reintroduced to that area about 40 years ago (I'm not sure on the exact date). About 35 years ago, we saw the first group of elk my family had ever seen there. Now, it is one of the best elk areas in New Mexico...but hunting was strictly regulated for years to get it to this point.

Without the regulation, I'm afraid every elk spotted in the counties that don't currently have an established population will be shot on sight.

Unit 34 has over a million acres of public land.

So basically we would want to force ALL land owners’ hands in management, not just in west Texas but panhandle, hill country and even stx, etc.

I personally can tell you what a herd of cow elk can do +-$160k corn circle, not including what a bull will do to the 70k sprinkler.

As it is now a farmer/landowner can choose to sell a few Hunts to cover cost or thin or chase them out immediately. You start regulating on an expansion model and it will cost the state massive litigation money that will be settled with extreme crop depredation tags, because any tolerance will be gone. As a game animal pushing/driving them out of your corn would be considered harassment also.


Elk populations are expanding where they should as it stands, the system is working