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Post by Gungnir on Aug 22, 2011 16:23:38 GMT -5
Have to watch how this goes.....
Maryland to study elk reintroduction Monday - 8/22/2011, 3:51pm ET ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland is home to Elkton and Elkridge, but elk haven't roamed the state since the 1700s.
However, that could soon change. The Department of Natural Resources says it is forming a partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation to study reintroduction of the species to western Maryland.
The study will take at least a year and look at the biological, social and economic feasibility of elk reintroduction. The assessment will include contacting farmers and others who might be affected, as well as studying potential elk habitat.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President and CEO David Allen says there is no higher calling in conservation than restoring a species to an area where it had once been, but citizens must support the effort.
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Aug 22, 2011 16:31:01 GMT -5
Sounds cool to me! ;D
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Post by hunter on Aug 22, 2011 18:03:11 GMT -5
It would be awesome to see Elk in MD again and The Virginia DNR is also working on reintrouduction of Elk into the George Washington and Shennandoah National Forests.
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Post by davep on Aug 22, 2011 19:17:00 GMT -5
MD has little suitable habitat, and it's fairly fragmented at that. I suspect crop damage and auto insurance (esp. I 68 and I 70) are gonna come up as issues. Hitting a deer is bad enough, but an elk: you knock his pins out and it's rolling right over the hood and into your LAP!
Best case, it'll be worse than bear. After 50 years, we'll all apply for the 2 tags they issue, and then they'll shut it down soon as the first one is killed.
That said, I'd LOVE for it to happen here! Bugling ringing thru the hills!
Kentucky has succeded beyond anyone's expectations. BUt they have an incredible amount of reclaimed strip mines, etc there
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Aug 23, 2011 8:12:13 GMT -5
The auto & crop damage thing is what I thought of too. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure a herd of elk could do some serious damage to a field in a short time.
But I'm with you guys, it sure would be cool to go up there & hear bugles!
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Post by osprey on Aug 23, 2011 10:42:53 GMT -5
Plenty of habitat up there for them, only real concern I foresee is how private landowners feel about it. After the bears it may be a hard sell.
But I'd love to see it! Already making plans, when they'd finally have a hunt guess I'll have to go up there and fill tag #0000001 for elk, too! ;D
But why can't we get some on the SHORE?!
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Post by Gungnir on Aug 23, 2011 15:50:54 GMT -5
Well I was replying...then the quake hit and knocked out the computers.
Anyhow, this would be very cool to see happen! Elk running around Deep Creek lake...awesome!
But it'll be a looooonnnnng time before they start issuing tags!
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