Chuck Flynn (r) poses with his elk, the first ever taken in Tennessee in modern-day history in Oct. 2009. Pictured with Flyb=nn is TWRA Executive Director Ed Carter.
photo by Richard Simms
Tennessee's elk herd has grown significantly, however it's still not clear whether or not more permits will be allowed for hunting this year.
That's the word from Greg Wathen, Chief of Wildlife for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Wathen provided a preliminary update for the second Tennessee elk hunt to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC). That meeting just wrapped up at Reelfoot Lake Friday morning.
Wathen said they estimate Tennessee's elk hard at 350 to 400 animals. That is up from an estimate of 300 to 350 at the same time last year.
"We had the best herd growth we've seen since they've been on the ground," said Wathen. "There could be some differences in sampling, but the trends are good."
Following Tennessee's highly successfully first elk hunt in October 2009 when five hunters took five bull elk, Wathen said that he hoped they might be able to increase the number of bull elk permits to at least ten (up from the five bull elk permits issued for the first hunt).
Wathen says now however that may not happen.
"We're not sure if we'll come back with that or not," he said. "Some of our field folks are not real comfortable with an increase so we're still going through the thought process on that."
Wathen did share with the TWRC that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) will be provided with one of this year's "Special Take Permits." The law provides for one permit per year to be given to a charitable conservation organization for fund-raising purposes. Wathen said the RMEF was the only group that submitted a proposal before this year's deadline.
Wathen said he was surprised no other groups submitted proposals, however the RMEF has provided tremendous manpower and financial support for the elk restoration programs in Kentucky and Tennessee. Wathen said the 2010 Tennessee Special Bull Elk permit will be sold at auction at a national RMEF conference in March. Last year's special permit was offered up on eBay by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and sold for $17,700.
However many other permits are offered, they will be provided by random computer drawing of applicants later this year. It costs $10, non-refundable, to apply for the elk permit. The money raised goes back into the elk management program. Wathen said the 2010 hunt dates will most likely be Oct. 18-22.
In other action, the TWRC did pass a motion in support of the TWRA reorganization plan presented by Executive Director Ed Carter. It was a unanimous vote in support of the reorganization.