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Elk Harvest Stays At 10 After NRB Rejects Lower Number

Wisconsin DNR

Rejecting a call to lower the number of elk designated to be harvested this year, the state Natural Resources Board Wednesday voted 5-2 to keep the elk take at 10 animals.

The DNR and Conservation Congress had lobbied to lower the number. Agency section chief Bob Nack said an advisory committee requested lowering the take to 6. The take is evening split between the state and Chippewa tribes.

300 animals are projected in the northern herd and 100 in the central herd.

He says they wanted to protect some of the older bulls often sought by hunters and wildlife viewers and keep a better ratio of males to females...

"One of our concerns is, a ten-bull quota, continue aggressively harvesting our bulls, is that in the future we're going to have a younger herd of bulls..."

But other board members said the reduction isn't necessary. Vice-Chair Gregory Kazmierski, said lowering the quota wouldn't help public perception...

"There's a growing segment of the public that believes this bull, this elk,project has been a waste of time and money. I disagree with that, I love to have elk in Wisconsin but we also expect a return on our investment..."

Nack said the herd could withstand keeping the harvest at 10. The Flambeau River State Forest, partly in Price county, is part of the northern elk range.

DNR Secretary Preston Cole asked the board members voting against the proposal to attend some of the advisory meetings to help be fully informed on the issue.

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