Seems the state’s Conservation Department is cutting back on its fish and people, but soon will try to add an animal that hasn’t run loose around here in more than a century.
The 700-pound-plus elk. Brace yourself.
Perhaps you heard the announcement last week. The Conservation Commission, the four-person panel that oversees the MDC, has asked that a plan, with citizen input, be drawn up to put the animal back in the wild. As in no fences, free to graze wherever the mood strikes ‘em.
I wouldn’t be too worried quite yet about hitting one of these brutes on Woods Chapel Road. They’ll probably turn ‘em loose initially around Peck Ranch Conservation Area in southeast Missouri.
But in any case, I still wouldn’t get too comfortable on any Eastern Jackson County road considering the high density of white tail already out there. The deer weigh 600 pounds less, but can still be deadly.
And who knows, it may never actually happen in view of the fact that the MDC has been talking about elk restoration for more than a decade.
“If everything worked out here, yes, there is a strong possibility we could be hunting elk,” said Chris Cole, the regional wildlife supervisor in the Kansas City area in the late 1990s, during a TV interview. “In the western states it generates a lot of revenue in hunting.”
The Department, with funding from the Rocky Mountain Elk Association, did a feasibility study 10 years ago, but there were some red flags that shot up which pretty much put the proposal on hold. Like the threat of chronic wasting disease. Like suitable habitat. Like farmer concerns.
Like public safety.
Concerns, apparently, until now. There are new-century solutions, says the MDC.
The elk is native to Missouri. Hunting, though, pretty much killed it off in the state by the late 19th century. Oh, a wild elk will wander into our area occasionally, as was the case in a much ballyhooed news event 20 years ago. And, of course, there are captive herds around. Johnny Morris, of Bass Pro fame, had a private, fenced collection on the border of Missouri and Arkansa s near his Dogwood Canyon resort. Businessman Jim Robinson of Clinton once raised elk for their antlers and, of course, the Jackson Country Parks and Recreation Department has kept penned elk near Missouri Town in Fleming Park for years.
So why, though, is the MDC now going ahead with releasing one of North America’s biggest mammals into the wild? Well, foremost, because the four unpaid, citizen commissioners told the agency to do it after “inquiries from the Rocky Mountain Elk Association, on-going citizen and media inquiries.” That said, the official explanation is this:
• “It is a wonderful opportunity to advance conservation by utilizing landscape management to potentially restore a native species.”
• “…significant improvements in habitat for elk on public land around Peck Ranch in the past 10 years.”
• “…a better understanding along with testing options for chronic wasting disease…”
And, oh yes, hunting. OK, now we’re getting to the heart of the matter aren’t we? As if deer wasn’t enough of a Cash Cow?
“Commission Chairman Chip McGeehan said that Arkansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin all have successfully restored limited elk populations,” reads the MDC release. “He said these restoration programs have provided significant economic benefits through ecotourism and hunting, without adverse affects on agriculture or wildlife.”
This kinda reminds me of the recent, rumored reshuffling of the major NCAA athletic conferences. Gee, maybe this is a push to get Missouri in the highly touted Elk Conference?
And, in fact, it was Big 10-leaning Governor Jay Nixon who was one of the first to put his stamp of approval on the new elk proposal. Like McGeehan, he said restoring elk could help tourism and hunting.
Really? You mean, we’ll be able to drive five hours to the Peck Ranch and see the wild herds… and they won’t scatter into the timber when released? And how long will it take to create a hunting population… in our lifetime?
How will hunters from all across the state be selected to hunt the limited number of elk in only Shannon, Carter and Reynolds Counties… providing the elk don’t roam too far?
And, just for reference, how many people from Cincinnati came to gawk at the Fleming Park elk last year?
Also, the MDC decided this week that it will no longer provide fish stocking to private ponds although all applications received through July 15 will be honored. No more applications will be available.
As it is with most state agencies, belt tightening is a necessity these days at the MDC... and just three weeks after the Conservation Department saw one of its largest retirement groups ever walk out the door. For “greener pastures” so to speak.
And, maybe, some of those pastures will be filled with elk.
