REXBURG – Idaho Gov. Jim Risch on Friday invited some private hunters to take aim at elk that escaped from a hunting ranch north of Tetonia, and the ranch owner warned hunters his supporters would try to step in front of their guns.

Citing disease concerns, Risch also announced a quarantine on the Chief Joseph hunting ranch, where between 70 and 160 elk escaped through a hole in the fence last month about eight miles southwest of Yellowstone National Park. State hunters failed to kill all the animals this week.

Officials in Idaho, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone have expressed concerns that the elk might carry diseases such as brucellosis or chronic wasting disease. But more worrisome, they say, is the chance that the animals might be hybrids that could breed with native elk.

“We are now taking the next step in harvesting these domestic elk that have escaped,” Risch said in a statement. “Help is needed from sportsmen and private landowners to harvest these elk, and we greatly appreciate their assistance.”

At his home in Rexburg, Idaho, the owner of the elk, Rex Rammell, said he would continue efforts to recapture the animals. Rammell also warned hunters that his family and friends would try to prevent hunters from taking what he called “private property.”

“They are going to annihilate my property,” Rammell said. “We’re going to step between [the elk] and your rifle. The government didn’t give you permission to shoot my family or my friends.”

Rammell maintains that his elk are genetically pure and disease free. On Friday, he called any sportsmen who take part in the depredation hunt “vultures.”

“I’ve been working this elk herd for 12 years, and I’m not going to give them up,” he said. “Everybody who knows me knows I’m a fighter. I will fight until the last elk is accounted for.”

Rammell also announced that he would run for office to try to fight what he says is the government’s efforts to take away property rights.

“I’m going to start campaigning the day after the last elk is accounted for,” he said.

Each depredation hunt will take place during seven days starting Sept. 19, with the last hunt ending Oct. 14. Idaho Fish and Game will randomly select hunters possessing Teton Zone elk tags to take part in the operations.

State employees started hunting the elk Sept. 9 and have managed to kill 15 animals. On Wednesday, Rammell said he would take legal action, but state officials said private sportsmen who take part in the hunt would not be held legally responsible in any future lawsuits.