Smith: As Wisconsin's elk herds continue to grow, more hunting is on the horizon

Wisconsin's wild elk herds continued to grow in 2023, setting a modern record high with an estimated 515 animals in the state, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

It's likely the first time since the Civil War period the Badger State has had more than 500 elk.

The growth in the elk population is likely to bring another milestone this year: the first elk hunting season in the state's central herd.

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At its Dec. 12 meeting, the DNR's Elk Study Committee unanimously recommended a limited hunting season for bull elk be held this fall in the central herd. The animals are mostly found in Jackson County.

"We're in a good place right now with elk in the central herd," said Christina Kizewski, DNR wildlife biologist in Jackson County. "It's been considered for a couple years now and this time the committee felt it was right to move toward a hunt in the area."

The recommendation will be considered Jan. 16 by the DNR's Wildlife Leadership Team, Kizewski said. If the team approves the idea, it would then advance and quotas and other details would be established.

It's likely only two to four bull tags would be issued. The bull-only format is designed to protect cows and promote additional increases in the herd.

The DNR estimated the central herd had 160 elk last summer, with 67 cows, 59 bulls and 34 calves, and was growing at healthy rate, according to the DNR. The central herd has a population goal of 390.

Hunting has occurred since 2018 in the state's other elk herd in northern Wisconsin. This year eight tags were offered, four each to state-licensed and tribal hunters. Seven elk have been registered so far, four to state-licensed hunters and three to tribal hunters. The tribal season concludes Sunday.

Reintroduction of elk to Wisconsin began in 1995

Elk were native to Wisconsin but wiped out in the 1880s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss.

The Badger State started an experimental elk reintroduction project in 1995 when 25 animals were transferred from Michigan to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake.

The project was initially run by UW-Stevens Point researchers and transferred to the DNR in 1999.

To further increase the herd size and its genetic diversity, about 150 additional elk were transferred from Kentucky to Wisconsin between 2015 and 2019. Some of those transfers created the central herd in 2015, with most of the animals in the Black River State Forest in Jackson County.

Both herds have grown since reintroduction. The 2023 statewide population estimate is 10% higher than the same time last year.

The DNR estimated the northern herd had 355 elk last summer, 186 cows, 82 bulls and 87 calves. Most of the herd is found in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake.

The agency documented 31 mortalities to the northern herd in 2023: 16 were attributed to predation by wolves; seven to human hunters (four state licensed and three tribal); two to vehicle collisions; two to poor condition or emaciation (one was likely winter impacts and one likely liver flukes); two unknown; one to bear predation; and one to corn acidosis (feeding).

The losses to vehicle collisions were the first in nearly two years in northern Wisconsin. A series of warning signs and flashing lights has been installed on highways frequented by the northern elk herd.

To assist with its management of the animals, the DNR captured and processed 52 elk in the Moose Lake, Clam Lake and Flambeau River State Forest Areas. Animals tagged and collared included 18 calves (11 female, seven male), seven bulls (five spikes, one raghorn, and one mature), according to the agency.

In addition, 18 elk were relocated from near Ladysmith to Moose Lake.

Among the central herd, the DNR estimated 33 calves were born last spring.

Calf survival to 1 year of age remains high (80% to 90%) for the central herd based on calf collaring efforts in the spring as well as during winter captures, according to the DNR.

Last spring the DNR ramped up its calf searching efforts, including volunteers from the public, and captured and collared 21 calves (14 bulls and seven cows).

Vehicle collisions account for most elk deaths in Wisconsin's central herd

To date, four of the 21 calves have been lost to various sources of mortality (81% survival). The agency plans to continue the work in 2024.

The DNR documented 18 mortalities to adult elk in the central herd in 2023. Ten were due to collisions with vehicles, two to predation, two to unknown causes, one to disease or ill health and one to illegal shooting.

The illegal shooting occurred during the nine-day gun deer season in November. The adult cow was wearing a collar and had ear tags. It was found due to the mortality signal given off by the collar.

The DNR is investigating the illegal shooting and is looking for tips. Call (800) 847-9367 with any information that may be helpful in the case.

The DNR continues to try to find more effective measures to reduce the road-kill losses. The agency has been working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on a fencing project on a stretch of I-94 between Millston and Warrens. The work would increase the height of fencing in specific areas to deter elk from crossing the interstate and one-way gates and possibly a "wildlife jumpoff ramp," Kizewski said.

In addition the DNR is partnering with HoChunk Nation to put up larger, lighted billboards alerting motorists of elk in the area of Highway 54 east of Black River Falls.

The central herd also lost an adult bull this year to a vehicle collision in northern Illinois. Elk #357, likely the first wild elk in Illinois in more than 150 years, was killed Dec. 13 on a busy highway.

Elk hunts create revenue for management in Wisconsin

The possibility of an elk hunt in the central herd will likely also bring additional funds to the state's elk management efforts.

Seven dollars from every $10 application fee, as well as proceeds from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation raffle held from 2018-22, are earmarked for elk management and research in Wisconsin. Donations are also accepted.

In 2022, 25,742 applicants entered the state drawing for elk permits, raising $190,251 for elk management efforts, according to DNR figures.

Since 2018 through purchases of elk application fees and licenses as well as donations, hunters have generated a total of $1,041,951 for elk research, monitoring and management efforts in Wisconsin, according to the DNR.

The agency received about 21,300 applications for the 2023 elk hunt in the northern herd.

Habitat work funded by the revenue in 2023 included wildlife opening management, lure crop field abatement techniques, prescribed burns unit access, oak tree improvements and hunter access improvement, according to the DNR.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin elk herds continue to grow; central hunt possible in 2024