RE: Trophy Hunting Good?!
November 19, 2017 at 5:23 am
(This post was last modified: November 19, 2017 at 5:32 am by The Grand Nudger.)
There wouldn't be any elk where I'm at if they weren't managed as game. They were hunted and driven out by the 1880s.
The state reestablished a herd 20 years ago, releasing seven elk. They released about 1.5k more over the next few years.....the program was so successful, and the elk took to their range so well, that there are an estimated 10k now, and no more releases will be necessary. It's the largest herd of free ranging elk anywhere outside of Montana, and we have more elk than any state east of the miss. Nine out of ten calves survive to adulthood. About 40k people enter the tag lottery a year, $10 bucks a pop (much more for out of staters). 94 cents of every dollar goes to herd and habitat management...and the program doesn't receive any cash from the state general fund. It's bankrolled, in addition to the tags, by hunting and fishing permits, and boat registrations. There is federal funding in the form of grants...and that comes from a surcharge on guns and ammo and entrance fees to state parks (some of which are part of the elks range). Of those 40k people, 1k permits are awarded.
We're their only predator. As much as I'd love to see wolves reestablished here..it will never happen. Too many cattle, too many thoroughbred horses. A few years ago somebody popped a grey wolf, right in the elk area, and they haven't been seen here for about as long as the elk were gone. As far a anyone can tell it's the first wolf to be seen in the state in over a century and probably the last. Now, the elk are at the maximum sustainable pop for their range, already...and because they're doing very well the only way to keep their numbers right will be to award more permits, and hopefully that will get more people into the lottery...and then we can purchase more land for more elk. The rivers and streams and lakes in range are managed as well, for the health of the elk..primarily. Side effect is great fishing and a little bit of duck hunting....or, you know, just walking around in the woods.
Ultimately, the ethics of trophy hunting turn on what any applicable fees are being used for. It was mentioned half in jest above that one day, all that would be left were cats and dogs. That's really not that far fetched. There isn't exactly alot of wildlife left anywhere human beings are. Only whats useful to us, or what can survive on our waste stream...but if that future dystopia ever comes about all that will be left in kentucky are dogs and cats.......and elk.
(I've done the whole sticks an stones thing, btw, Pool..traps too...the latter is illegal, the former is alot of fun. I'd go so far as to say that it's more fun to make the gear in both cases than it is to use it. If it were legal to hunt with an atlatl in Kentucky I'd be all in on an elk tag for it - but it's not legal at all...for anything. I used to spear hunt boar in Florida, fish too.)
The state reestablished a herd 20 years ago, releasing seven elk. They released about 1.5k more over the next few years.....the program was so successful, and the elk took to their range so well, that there are an estimated 10k now, and no more releases will be necessary. It's the largest herd of free ranging elk anywhere outside of Montana, and we have more elk than any state east of the miss. Nine out of ten calves survive to adulthood. About 40k people enter the tag lottery a year, $10 bucks a pop (much more for out of staters). 94 cents of every dollar goes to herd and habitat management...and the program doesn't receive any cash from the state general fund. It's bankrolled, in addition to the tags, by hunting and fishing permits, and boat registrations. There is federal funding in the form of grants...and that comes from a surcharge on guns and ammo and entrance fees to state parks (some of which are part of the elks range). Of those 40k people, 1k permits are awarded.
We're their only predator. As much as I'd love to see wolves reestablished here..it will never happen. Too many cattle, too many thoroughbred horses. A few years ago somebody popped a grey wolf, right in the elk area, and they haven't been seen here for about as long as the elk were gone. As far a anyone can tell it's the first wolf to be seen in the state in over a century and probably the last. Now, the elk are at the maximum sustainable pop for their range, already...and because they're doing very well the only way to keep their numbers right will be to award more permits, and hopefully that will get more people into the lottery...and then we can purchase more land for more elk. The rivers and streams and lakes in range are managed as well, for the health of the elk..primarily. Side effect is great fishing and a little bit of duck hunting....or, you know, just walking around in the woods.
Ultimately, the ethics of trophy hunting turn on what any applicable fees are being used for. It was mentioned half in jest above that one day, all that would be left were cats and dogs. That's really not that far fetched. There isn't exactly alot of wildlife left anywhere human beings are. Only whats useful to us, or what can survive on our waste stream...but if that future dystopia ever comes about all that will be left in kentucky are dogs and cats.......and elk.
(I've done the whole sticks an stones thing, btw, Pool..traps too...the latter is illegal, the former is alot of fun. I'd go so far as to say that it's more fun to make the gear in both cases than it is to use it. If it were legal to hunt with an atlatl in Kentucky I'd be all in on an elk tag for it - but it's not legal at all...for anything. I used to spear hunt boar in Florida, fish too.)
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
