Elk meetings set

The DNR is asking sportsmen for their thoughts on the state’s elk management plan and the possible of expansion of the Clam Lake herd – and the creation of a new elk herd in Jackson County – with transplant animals from Kentucky.

The DNR has scheduled five public comment sessions for early October. The meeting dates and locations are:

• Oct. 1, Hayward – Hayward High School auditorium, 10320 Greenwood Lane;
• Oct. 2, Phillips – Price County Courthouse, county board room, 126 Cherry Street;
• Oct. 3, Ladysmith – Ladysmith High School auditorium, 1700 Edgewood Ave. East (Hwy. 8);
• Oct. 4, Black River Falls – Lunda Theater, middle school auditorium, 1202 Pierce Street;
• Oct. 8, Pewaukee – Wildwood Lodge, N14 W24121 Tower Place.

All of the meetings all run from 7-9 p.m.

Elk numbers in the Clam Lake herd continue to slowly drop. As of May 15, the herd consisted of just 150 elk, comprised of the main herd near Clam Lake and a second smaller herd near Butternut. Last year at this time, the herd was at about 180 animals.

Kentucky began its reintroduction effort the same year as Wisconsin – 1995. Wiscnosin started with 25 elk trapped and moved here from Michigan’s Pigeon River State Forest in the Lower Peninsula. Kentucky started with 1,500 elk.

That state’s herd now numbers more than 10,000 head, and the state is willing to allow Wisconsin to trap and move Kentucky elk to the Badger State.

More information on the elk herd and management plan is available on the DNR website. The public will have an opportunity to submit feedback on the elk plan revisions that will be presented at the meetings.