Elk hunts to begin soon in national park, refuge
From Staff Reports, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
October 9, 2009
The annual elk hunts in Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge will begin Saturday.
Grand Teton is mandated by federal law to conduct an elk reduction program, when necessary, for the conservation of the elk population in Jackson Hole. Because the elk herd has more than its management objective of 11,000 animals, the hunting program is warranted, officials say.
The elk reduction program allows Wyoming-licensed hunters who apply for and receive permits to hunt in certain areas of the park. A park permit temporarily deputizes the hunters as park rangers, giving them the authority to take one elk.
The park hunt ends Dec. 6.
Permits are for either cow/calf elk or for any elk. A map showing specific park locations open to hunters is available at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose.
As a part of the special-use permit — and as an added safety measure — each participant is alerted to the presence of grizzly bears throughout the authorized hunting zones.
In addition, hunters are required to carry bear pepper spray. Hunters are also advised not to leave a carcass unattended and to remove their harvested elk as soon as possible. Each fall, park rangers strictly monitor and patrol the elk reduction areas within the park to ensure compliance with rules and regulations associated with this wildlife management program.
The National Elk Refuge holds both a north unit and south unit limited-range weapons hunt to reduce herd numbers to population objectives.
This year, the elk hunting season spans nine weeks, concluding on the evening of Dec. 13. People using the Flat Creek or Elk Refuge roads inside the National Elk Refuge should be aware they may be within or adjacent to hunting areas.
Refuge officials encourage anyone accessing the National Elk Refuge to be familiar with the hunting areas and any special regulations that may apply. Several additional roads and parking areas are opened during the hunting season but only to people with a valid hunting permit specific to that area.
Maps of the hunting areas can be obtained online at www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge/ or at several Jackson locations, including the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center.
