Historical First modern Elk harvested in MO!

[Seth]

Two more bulls (quite a bit larger) were harvested yesterday.

This one was taken on the public land that surrounds the refuge portion of Peck Ranch.


This one was killed on private land in Shannon County so I'm sure it was fairly close to Peck Ranch as well.

 

[Seth]

4 for 5 now! Only the land owner tag has yet to be filled.

[jdmidwest]

Herd back down to 196.  Hope they have a good winter.

[awhuber]

4 hours ago, Seth said:

4 for 5 now! Only the land owner tag has yet to be filled.

May be tough for the land owner depending on where he is in the "restoration zone".  There were 30 eligible landowners for the tag drawing. I am sure some in the zone have never had an elk on their property and they have to hunt there.  I have 120 acres for sale in the zone that have elk visit regularly.

 

[Seth]

2 hours ago, awhuber said:

May be tough for the land owner depending on where he is in the "restoration zone".  There were 30 eligible landowners for the tag drawing. I am sure some in the zone have never had an elk on their property and they have to hunt there.  I have 120 acres for sale in the zone that have elk visit regularly.

 

Bill Clark of Van Buren, 78, is a life-long hunter of deer, turkey, and small game. He has also pursued elk in Colorado and Wyoming in the 1990s. He and his family own 80 acres east of Peck Ranch Conservation Area where they conduct timber-stand improvements on the heavily forested property and also plant clover and native grasses for elk and other wildlife.

Clark says he applied for the elk hunt because he supports MDC’s elk restoration and management efforts, wildlife management in general, and wants to help the herd by thinning a bull. He adds that he frequently sees elk on his property and has noticed an increase in local tourism since elk first arrived in the area in 2011, including an uptick in elk driving tours at Peck Ranch.

 

The feller that drew the land owner tags says he sees elk on his property, but it is only 80 acres so who knows if that's during a different time of the year or what.

[Quillback]

8 hours ago, Seth said:

 

  noticed an increase in local tourism since elk first arrived in the area in 2011, including an uptick in elk driving tours at Peck Ranch.

 

T

I can see it now, bus loads of tourists stopping by to see the elk.  It's becoming a big deal in Arkansas, locals are complaining about cars blocking the roads during the peak of elk-watching season.  

Anyway I see a business opportunity, T-shirt stand near the entrance to Peck, selling these.  (.001% of profits directed towards elk habitat enhancement).

[Devan S.]

8 hours ago, Seth said:

Bill Clark of Van Buren, 78, is a life-long hunter of deer, turkey, and small game. He has also pursued elk in Colorado and Wyoming in the 1990s. He and his family own 80 acres east of Peck Ranch Conservation Area where they conduct timber-stand improvements on the heavily forested property and also plant clover and native grasses for elk and other wildlife.

Clark says he applied for the elk hunt because he supports MDC’s elk restoration and management efforts, wildlife management in general, and wants to help the herd by thinning a bull. He adds that he frequently sees elk on his property and has noticed an increase in local tourism since elk first arrived in the area in 2011, including an uptick in elk driving tours at Peck Ranch.

 

The feller that drew the land owner tags says he sees elk on his property, but it is only 80 acres so who knows if that's during a different time of the year or what.

I think it would interesting to hear from the individuals on how they went about it.

 

Did they shoot the first legal bull they saw? How did they break down the hunt area? Lots of walking or lots of sitting?

I would assume the landowner has a better idea about the elk movements and locations and maybe is waiting for a better opportunity? I doubt some of the random drawing guys had really much information on where to go up until they started hunting.

[jdmidwest]

I spent several days this summer in the area.  Peaked my interest while staying in Ellington one afternoon with the wife on a rainout, big sign say "Elk Viewing Area".  Grabbed a map and did the 2 track tour in the Sequoia thru the Current River Conservation Area off 106 looking for elk.  Found the shooting range, an ole cabin in middle of no where, sinkhole pond?, and a few fences of private areas inside the refuge.  The only wildlife that afternoon was a squirrel and a lone bull dyke hiker.  We hit some trails normally reserved for atv traffic, had to pop out the handheld gps unit for assistance.   Lots of cleared areas and water holes.  Fun to drive around in.

Many trips to the area in what were supposedly good "elk viewing" areas provided a no show.  But I was scouting river accesses and not really wanting to see the elk, but it would have been nice to see my tax dollars at work.  I would not really advise the area just for its elk viewing pleasures.