It was 1997 when Kentucky’s elk restoration program officially kicked off and when it comes to wildlife conservation success stories, Kentucky’s elk are tough to beat.
Originally transporting just over 1,500 elk between 1997 and 2002 from western states such as Arizona, Kansas, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah, the state’s herd is now at an all-time high in terms of health and population numbers.
In an announcement this week from The Wildlife Society, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has earned the organization’s annual Wildlife Restoration Award. Set to be presented at their annual conference in Nashville next month, the award recognizes outstanding projects supported by Wildlife Restoration funds, also known as Pittman-Robertson funds, and associated non federal matching funds.
“Kentucky now has the largest elk herd and the most elk hunting permits available east of the Rocky Mountains,” the agency said.
While there was some concern surrounding disease when the importation of the state’s elk originally began, those concerns have since subsided with the department proving that their elk management plan was one built for the future of elk in Kentucky.
“The total economic impact to the state from elk hunting is estimated at more than $3.5 million each year, largely benefiting the economically challenged Appalachian region,” the agency said.
