idahohikker
WKR
- Joined
- May 10, 2017
- Messages
- 2,160
Interesting. Sounds reasonable that predation pressure would move elk away from wilderness areas and toward private land.
Looking at state-wide numbers, it appears that the last ~5 years have been quite good in Idaho. 2014-2018 harvests all exceeded 20,000 elk. 2018 had 22k. That's better than the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.. and most of the 1980s, where harvest virtually never exceeded 20k. Of course, maybe fewer people were hunting back then, so I'm not sure that the comparison means anything. In any case, apparently the heyday was the 1990s, where harvests were frequently in excess of 25,000. Which is higher than last few years, but not *a lot* higher.
(Historical numbers from here: https://www.wafwa.org/Documents and Settings/37/Site Documents/Working Groups/Elk Workshops/1984 Edmonton Alberta Elk Workshop/1984 Edmonton Alberta Elk Workshop/Idaho Elk Population Status-Depredation Problems.pdf)
Of course, even if things are good for the state as a whole, certain areas might be a lot worse off, which would fit what others are saying here. That would make sense if the game have shifted locations and habits due to predation.
You have very little idea what you’re talking about. Best not to engage with you or you will spout on forever. Move along, man.