Post by Greenedog on Sept 30, 2008 19:45:45 GMT -5
Kentucky Excelling in Elk
Tennessee to hunt first elk in 2009 by Richard Simms
posted September 20, 2008
Kentucky's elk herd now numbers more than 10,000 animals.
GATLINBURG, Tenn. - It's easy to see that David Ledford is passionate about elk. Speaking to a crowd of outdoor writers at this week's Southeastern Outdoor Press Association Conference in Gatlinburg, he seemed to almost tremble with excitement. He admits that he has found his niche with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Ledford is the director of the RMEF Appalachian Initiative ... an effort to restore this most majestic species to its former range. It is an effort that has met with immense success, especially in Kentucky.
Tennessee came into the elk restoration effort a few years late and progress has been slow. Ledford says there are about 250 elk living in the northern portion of the Cumberland Plateau, mostly in and around the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area.
In Kentucky however, Ledford says the elk herd has reached more than 10,000 animals. The elk has become the defacto official symbol of Eastern Kentucky, an area once laid barren by strip mining.
Ledford says however they have learned that elk thrive is the open pastures and spotty forest that is classic of reclaimed strip mines.
"The scope and scale of coal mining in Kentucky is huge," said Ledford. "You just can't imagine."
When those mines are properly reclaimed according to government standards, the elk love it. Ledford shared a map of reclaimed strip mines overlayed with the readings from elk that are outfitted with satellite transmitters. In basically 90 percent of the cases, the elk were living in and around reclaimed strip mines.
Kentucky began stocking elk in 1997 and relocated a total of 1,557 elk from then until 2002. Ledford said the massive effort was driven by a couple of wildlife commissioners who insisted that, "if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right."
They apparently have as cities and towns all across Eastern Kentucky are seeing a huge increase in elk interest, along with a huge influx of money from tourists and hunters.
Knott County, Kentucky now has a billboard proclaiming itself as "The Elk Capital of the East."
A Budweiser billboard in the area boasts a beautiful picture of an elk at a stream and the text reads, "Not all of our watering holes have pool tables."
"These elk are having an impact on the culture of Southeast Kentucky," said Ledford. "The place where Loretta Lynn sang about being a coal miner's daughter. Now the elk has become the symbol of this region of Kentucky."
Ledford regularly hosts tours in his efforts to promote the effort. Ledford has also made a concerted effort to work in concert with the coal mining business community... a community best known for its ability to destroy wildlife habitat. Ledford however says that more and more, the major coal companies are anxious to restore the environment, and they welcome guidance and assistance for outside groups other than government regulators.
"I'm convinced that only an NGO (non-governing organization) can accomplish a true beneficial partnership situation," said Ledford.
He says RMEF has worked in cooperation with numerous reclamation efforts, providing special seed mixtures and technical guidance more beneficial to the elk. He says it is paying huge dividends for the elk, and for the coal companies.
"If a good reclamation plan makes more money for the coal company, fine... I don't care," he said. "If our help keeps the enforcement agencies from having to do as much work or accomplish goals, fine... I don't care. We just want to get the job done and get more habitat on the ground."
Hunting is an integral element in Kentucky's elk restoration.
In 2008 400 hunters were selected in the special drawing for elk hunting permits. Ledford said about 10 percent were non-residents. 25 permits were reserved for landowners who provide at least 5,000 acres of public access land.... mostly the coal companies.
Among regular hunters, he said a total of 34,000 people applied for the elk hunting permits, paying $10 each for the chance to be drawn. That's $340,000 that goes directly into Kentucky's elk management program.
The first year KY wildlife officials and RMEF advertised a special elk checking station in a Walmart parking lot in Hazard, Ky. Hundreds of people, and media, including a National Geographic photographer, gathered for what became a huge public event.
Ledford's voice quavered a little as he also told the story of disabled coal miner who killed the once-state record elk on an area near his home where he had strip mined for 25 years.
Ledford says besides humans, black bears have proven to a primary predator on elk, especially calves. He says however, that's not a bad thing.
"We're the only country in the world that has been able to return the top carnivore and the top herbivore to its natural habitat," he said with excitement.
It is doubtful Tennessee will ever rival Kentucky's success where there are about 4 million acres of potential elk habitat. Ledford says there are hopes the Kentucky herd might reach 20,000 animals.
In Tennessee the RMEF has been instrumental... contributing money to land acquisition & habitat improvement but it is too early to know where the Volunteer State elk restoration effort will lead. TWRA hit a massive roadblock when fear and controversy erupted over chronic wasting disease.
However the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency expects to hold a special drawing to issue five bull elk permits to hunters in 2009.
With tens of thousands of applicants expected, it will be a hunter's equivalent of hitting the lottery.
But it is a start.. and Ledford hopes there is no where to go but up.
Tennessee to hunt first elk in 2009 by Richard Simms
posted September 20, 2008
Kentucky's elk herd now numbers more than 10,000 animals.
GATLINBURG, Tenn. - It's easy to see that David Ledford is passionate about elk. Speaking to a crowd of outdoor writers at this week's Southeastern Outdoor Press Association Conference in Gatlinburg, he seemed to almost tremble with excitement. He admits that he has found his niche with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Ledford is the director of the RMEF Appalachian Initiative ... an effort to restore this most majestic species to its former range. It is an effort that has met with immense success, especially in Kentucky.
Tennessee came into the elk restoration effort a few years late and progress has been slow. Ledford says there are about 250 elk living in the northern portion of the Cumberland Plateau, mostly in and around the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area.
In Kentucky however, Ledford says the elk herd has reached more than 10,000 animals. The elk has become the defacto official symbol of Eastern Kentucky, an area once laid barren by strip mining.
Ledford says however they have learned that elk thrive is the open pastures and spotty forest that is classic of reclaimed strip mines.
"The scope and scale of coal mining in Kentucky is huge," said Ledford. "You just can't imagine."
When those mines are properly reclaimed according to government standards, the elk love it. Ledford shared a map of reclaimed strip mines overlayed with the readings from elk that are outfitted with satellite transmitters. In basically 90 percent of the cases, the elk were living in and around reclaimed strip mines.
Kentucky began stocking elk in 1997 and relocated a total of 1,557 elk from then until 2002. Ledford said the massive effort was driven by a couple of wildlife commissioners who insisted that, "if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right."
They apparently have as cities and towns all across Eastern Kentucky are seeing a huge increase in elk interest, along with a huge influx of money from tourists and hunters.
Knott County, Kentucky now has a billboard proclaiming itself as "The Elk Capital of the East."
A Budweiser billboard in the area boasts a beautiful picture of an elk at a stream and the text reads, "Not all of our watering holes have pool tables."
"These elk are having an impact on the culture of Southeast Kentucky," said Ledford. "The place where Loretta Lynn sang about being a coal miner's daughter. Now the elk has become the symbol of this region of Kentucky."
Ledford regularly hosts tours in his efforts to promote the effort. Ledford has also made a concerted effort to work in concert with the coal mining business community... a community best known for its ability to destroy wildlife habitat. Ledford however says that more and more, the major coal companies are anxious to restore the environment, and they welcome guidance and assistance for outside groups other than government regulators.
"I'm convinced that only an NGO (non-governing organization) can accomplish a true beneficial partnership situation," said Ledford.
He says RMEF has worked in cooperation with numerous reclamation efforts, providing special seed mixtures and technical guidance more beneficial to the elk. He says it is paying huge dividends for the elk, and for the coal companies.
"If a good reclamation plan makes more money for the coal company, fine... I don't care," he said. "If our help keeps the enforcement agencies from having to do as much work or accomplish goals, fine... I don't care. We just want to get the job done and get more habitat on the ground."
Hunting is an integral element in Kentucky's elk restoration.
In 2008 400 hunters were selected in the special drawing for elk hunting permits. Ledford said about 10 percent were non-residents. 25 permits were reserved for landowners who provide at least 5,000 acres of public access land.... mostly the coal companies.
Among regular hunters, he said a total of 34,000 people applied for the elk hunting permits, paying $10 each for the chance to be drawn. That's $340,000 that goes directly into Kentucky's elk management program.
The first year KY wildlife officials and RMEF advertised a special elk checking station in a Walmart parking lot in Hazard, Ky. Hundreds of people, and media, including a National Geographic photographer, gathered for what became a huge public event.
Ledford's voice quavered a little as he also told the story of disabled coal miner who killed the once-state record elk on an area near his home where he had strip mined for 25 years.
Ledford says besides humans, black bears have proven to a primary predator on elk, especially calves. He says however, that's not a bad thing.
"We're the only country in the world that has been able to return the top carnivore and the top herbivore to its natural habitat," he said with excitement.
It is doubtful Tennessee will ever rival Kentucky's success where there are about 4 million acres of potential elk habitat. Ledford says there are hopes the Kentucky herd might reach 20,000 animals.
In Tennessee the RMEF has been instrumental... contributing money to land acquisition & habitat improvement but it is too early to know where the Volunteer State elk restoration effort will lead. TWRA hit a massive roadblock when fear and controversy erupted over chronic wasting disease.
However the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency expects to hold a special drawing to issue five bull elk permits to hunters in 2009.
With tens of thousands of applicants expected, it will be a hunter's equivalent of hitting the lottery.
But it is a start.. and Ledford hopes there is no where to go but up.
Just another night at work for me and Monty will be back here again bright and early. 
