"...The Idaho domestic elk quagmire exists not because of elk farmers, not because of Idaho citizens, not because of hunters but because of a few that control the puppet strings that want the money making elk business back in their hands. In that mix you put people who are wolves in sheep’s clothing, pretending to be defenders of hunters when in actuality they oppose hunting and you have the recipe for a serious political mess." -Tom Remmington, US Hunting Today

People need to know that this issue is just not isolated to elk hunting ranches; the other side intends to eventually eliminate the entire elk industry here in Idaho.  We need to educate the public on people like us, small businesses that are now being jeopardized due to this whole hunting ranch issue.  A local Senator was on the local radio one morning discussing what a small impact even the elk meat producers have on Idaho's economy. We sell our products all throughout the Northwest including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.  I don't see that as a small impact, not when almost every restaurant which serves elk in Boise is serving our Idaho elk. He needs to speak with our local restaurants and chefs who regularly buy our elk meat and depend on us ranchers to supply them with locally raised Idaho elk. $30,000,000+ annually to our state’s economy is not small.  And how about the hundreds of people who have been buying our elk meat at our local Farmer's Markets, online, or their local specialty stores? Our Velvet Antler Market?  And the BLM firefighters which we donate our elk jerky to? The soldiers in Iraq we have sent elk jerky to? Does it mean just because he views our businesses as "small" that the little people in Idaho aren't important?  Every one of our businesses Big or Small, make Idaho the great state it is. Every Idahoan's contributions are just as equally important.

 The MEDIA

All this business in Eastern Idaho (see our section on News Articles) lately has dominated the media, yet we are forgetting that there are 77 other elk ranches in Idaho that do provide a valuable service to Idaho and it's many communities.  And these 77 other ranches do follow the rules and regulations. Is it fair for the public and lawmakers to judge an entire group of people, based upon one person's actions?  In our world we have a diverse population of people of many different races, religion, etc. I would think that we wouldn't want to use this same process by judging an entire race/religion by one's actions, would we?

ISDA

The Idaho Elk Breeders along with the Idaho Department of AG, have a strict group of rules and regulations that our ranchers must abide by. However, we feel that it is vitally important that we empower them with more authority which will enable them to more effectively deal with situations such as these (Eastern Idaho) in the future. The Government/Public needs to know that this incident in Eastern Idaho is fairly isolated; being that this sort of non-compliance issue is not a common problem amongst our ranches. And in turn, should not be a reflection on our industry as a whole.

REVENUE

          This debate is simply about F&G and the inability for them to control the private hunting ranch operations in Idaho. One word, REVENUE. Don't most of these issues all come down to money, it seems?  The F&G would like the public to believe that this elk escape issue is a common occurrence, however anyone can claim anything.  Following the Eastern Idaho, there were many false reports of domesticated elk being loose. One report was true, and the owner of the ranch authorized the Dept of Ag to destroy the animal. He did not want to risk the chance of that animal contracting a disease or illness in the wild, and furthermore infecting his health certified animals upon his return. 

The other 2 cases were wild elk that F&G ear tagged as part of their monitoring program. Let's debate facts vs. facts, not allow the F&G to create irrational fears amongst our communities.  Whether or not the F&G has a right to receive monies from private elk hunting ranches/tags creates a gray area.  These are not “Captive Wildlife,” they are privately owned domesticated livestock rose on privately owned property. Thus it makes it nearly impossible to see how/why it would be appropriate for F&G to gain financially on this method of hunting.

ETHICS OF ELK HUNTING RANCHES

Averaging 2000 acres, Idaho’s elk hunting ranches offer hunting opportunities for disabled persons/children, elderly hunters, and out of state hunters who wish to receive a guaranteed hunt. Many hunters also opt for this option due to the decreased population of wild elk due to wolves, disease, etc. Although some might not opt to Harvest an animal in this manner, we feel that it is important for others to have this right if they choose to do so. As a part of our commitment to ensure that all private elk harvesting operations are operating in an ethical fashion, we propose the following:

-All hunting ranches continue to require regular inspections from the    ISDA, in order to ensure that they are maintaining proper fencing, feed, etc. 

      -The ISDA should have the authority to reprimand, restrict or revoke these privileges should they find the operator to be in violation of the set forth rules and regulations.

DEBATE OVER WHETHER F&G OR ISDA SHOULD REGULATE?

Our domesticated elk are privately owned livestock rose on privately owned property.  Our animals are classified as domesticated livestock such as cattle are. Cattle can carry diseases as can elk, thus this is why both animals are heavily monitored by the ISDA in order to ensure that our animals are healthy.  F&G was designed to monitor wild animals not domesticated livestock. 

DISEASES IN ELK

            All domesticated elk are tested for CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) at slaughter. There has never been a positive CWD result in any domesticated Idaho elk herd. Only 1% of wild elk were tested for CWD in 2005.  Up until last year, our domesticated elk required TB testing every 24 months. Due to the non-existence of TB in our private herds, the ISDA moved the requirements up to every 36 months.  Our elk are also tested for Brucellosis, and any animal coming into Idaho from an outside state, requires this testing also. We are only allowed to purchase an out-of-state animal from at least a 5 year CWD certified herd. The only way a ranch can receive it’s 5 year CWD certification, is to have turned in every single brain on every animal (over 16 months of age) which has died or been slaughtered on their ranch.  If we do not have a brain sample on (1) adult animal, we will lose our CWD status.  If the F&G is concerned with disease, we feel they should adopt a program such as ours, in order to test every single wild animal. If we work together, we should be able to help eradicate disease in the wild, as we have done in our own private herds.

EAR TAGS 

            Contrary to what has been said in the media in regards to our animals requiring BLAZE ORANGE ear tags, this is just not true. Per the ISDA (Dept of AG), our animals are required to have two (2) forms of identification, usually one metal tag (From TB testing)  and/or a two-part colored ear tag which must be visible from 150 feet away, not the reported 150 yards away. There is nothing stated in our regulations requiring the ear tag to be a specific color.  Many of us Elk Ranchers choose to have a different color each year in order to more easily distinguish the animal's age from a distance.

GENETIC PURITY

Domesticated elk are tested for genetic purity to ensure that they are not hybrids, i.e. cross-bred with New Zealand Red Deer. Wild elk are not.  In the 1920's & 50’s, Yellowstone Park was overcrowded with elk, USFWS sold some of the elk to the public, thus helping start the domesticated elk industry.  NOTE: When the IDFG regulated our elk ranching industry in the 90's, they did not restrict the raising/importation of red deer into Idaho.