This graph is from Idahos Lolo Zone elk harvest 1989-2008

The IDFG just completed the Lolo Zone aerial elk count recently and the numbers aren’t pretty, but they are just what everybody already knew. Now that we have some scientific data they can do something… maybe. Remember the wolves arrived in only 1995!

From the Idaho Fish and Game:

“We are seeing continued declines of elk numbers in the Lolo Zone,” Crenshaw said. “Data is indicating a 50 percent decline from 2006.”

The total number of elk counted during recently completed aerial surveys dropped from 3,452 four years ago to 1,473 this year. Cow elk dropped from 2,276 to 824 and calves from 669 to 144. Bulls are doing a bit better. They went from 504 to 461. But Crenshaw said bull numbers “…won’t stay at that level if few young elk survive to replace them. With such poor recruitment anticipated we expect them to be affected in the next couple of years as well.”

He said tag sales for the zone could be further capped, but hunters are already abandoning the zone and the restrictions might not be necessary.

“Around half of the resident tags were left unsold last year and about two-thirds of outfitter tags were left unsold. Nonresidents did use all of their tags, but (overall) participation rates have slowed down,” he said. “The question now is what would be the appropriate response.”

See the original article at GotHunts.com