Elk in GA

Big7

The Oracle
Good!

That will save me about 5k on the Colorado trip!!
 

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
We have had a couple of elk from KY show up here in NC. One got ran over on the highway north of Asheville a few years ago-it was right after the first elk had been turned loose in NC, and everyone thought it was one of those until they determined that it was a wanderer from KY. The ones here in our little herd tend to roam around a good bit.
 
elk

Ga.DNR or WRD considered introducing elk,at one time,but decided not to do it.Too much competition for food.Elk and buffalo were once native in Ga.Transplanting is not working everywhere.A Tenn.TWRA game warden told me that in his area,the lawbreakers have killed most of them,and he doesn`t expect a season,EVER.
 

Inspector

Banned
All suitable areas (mountains) are too populated with folks.

I keep forgetting there aren't any people in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc. Also, forgot there aren't any cars in those places to run into an elk, nor are there any whitetails to cause disease problems with. :rofl::rofl:
 

rugerfan

Senior Member
I am originally from Pennsylvania, it took along time for the game commision to allow elk hunting, but the elk hunting there in PA, is all done by drawing.

This past season there were I think 59 tags drawn.

13 Bulls Tags
23 Spike Bull Tags
23 Cow Tags

I am not sure if all the tags were filled or not.

Back a few years ago, a 17 year old kid shot a 900 pound 8 x 8 Bull in deer season. Said that he thought it was a big buck. Game Warden didn't buy it, he is never ever allowed to hunt in the State of Pennsylvania again, and he had to pay a 5000 dollar fine.

I think it would be interesting to at least see them in the woods here.
 
Last edited:

NCHillbilly

Administrator
Staff member
Ga.DNR or WRD considered introducing elk,at one time,but decided not to do it.Too much competition for food.Elk and buffalo were once native in Ga.Transplanting is not working everywhere.A Tenn.TWRA game warden told me that in his area,the lawbreakers have killed most of them,and he doesn`t expect a season,EVER.

That's funny, because Tennessee already had an elk hunt last October, some nice bulls killed, too. The main problem we've had with our NC herd is predation on calves by bears and coyotes.
 

jwea89

Senior Member
saw a herd of cow elk one time when passin dixieland, i couldnt believe it at first so i turned around and there was a huge bull sittin right in the tree line where that powerline break is. see deer almost every time i drvie by it and they got some huge deer in there
 

Ohoopee Tusker

Senior Member
A few years back I was hunting a new property, when one morning I hear an elk call. I was like oh, an elk. Then I was like what the heck am I hearing!? Turns out the high fence property next to it had elk.
 

Scoutman

Senior Member
Yes I believe our population density is too high, not enough remote areas left.Everyone loves georgia peaches!
 

FX Jenkins

Senior Member
Cohutta is about it

Yep, but they would have to clear out some more meadows for food plots...but once these were established, I'd say it would benefit the whitetail population, as it would create more forage ...bear and hogs would have to really be kept in check though. You'd still have quite a few complaints from the bordering family farmers though as they would eventually spread out into the greater Chattahoochee NF.
 

Juan De

Senior Member
I herd there was a darwing in tennesse for elk tags, might have to give that a shot this year, would def save money by not having to go out west.
 

schreck_1

Senior Member
remoteness and number of people has nothing to do with the elk's ability to survive; it only affects people's ability to tolerate the elk. Some of the Mtn towns in PA have an economy completely centered on elk tourism. No joke. they also have people who's farm consists of a 3 acre pumpkin patch that shoot elk for crop damage every year. there are also real farmers who sustain damage that is very harmful to their livelyhood. There is good and bad things about reintroducing such a large animal.
 
Elk in Tenn

I`m not a compulsive or any other type liar.The area in Tenn.I`m referring to is the Cumberland Plateau in the Crossville area.TWO radio collars from elk were tracked to a pond,where the poachers had discarded them.My info came from a retired TWRA officer.He was not referring to another area,I presume,only the Catoosa WMA and area around it.This area is vastly different from middle Tenn,in regard to deer and turkey.Shorter seasons,lower bag limits.Maybe more poachers?
 

ben300win

Senior Member
Technically Elk are not protected in GA just like in West Virgina. If you are hunting in West Virgina and see an elk during deer season you can shoot it. It will count against your deer tags, but you can shoot it. The Elk Foundation is trying to pass a law that would make that Illegal in West Virgina and Here as well. I am all for reintroducing elk in GA, but I see that it makes sense that there would be lots of PEOPLE/ANIMAL conflict. I am a Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a Comittee member for the Notheast Georgia chapter of the Elk Foundation. The big thing out west is that they measure land in square miles and we measure land in square feet around here. Too much population to sustain the elk herd.
 

Nicodemus

The Recluse
Staff member
According to the archaeological record, if elk ever were in Georgia in historical times, they were in the very northwest corner of the state. This is based on a few remains found in middens. As for the bison that were here, they were plains bison, not wood bison. Wood bison were only native to northern Canada and Alaska.
 
Top