Minnesota DNR looking into how county handled killing of an elk

Hallock, Minn. — On Jan. 31, 2025, the Kittson County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident after he allegedly shot and killed an elk that was grazing on his property, according to a sheriff’s report.

According to Kittson County Sheriff Matthew Vig’s report dated April 25, as several elk were walking past the residence of Carl Christopherson, Christopherson allegedly grabbed his .223 rifle, opened his kitchen window, and shot one of the elk in the head.

According to the report, after killing it, Christopherson spoke with Vig, and Vig informed him he could take possession of the elk and process it to prevent the venison from going to waste.

On Feb. 3, 2025, Vig met with Christopherson again and gave him a possession tag for the venison, according to Vig’s report of the incident.

Vig did not charge Christopherson with a crime related to the kill, which was not permitted by the state DNR.

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Vig stated in the report that Christopherson had been having continual issues with an elk herd grazing on his property for several years. Earlier in January, he’d met with Christopherson, during which Christopherson expressed frustration about an elk herd he estimates is 50-strong.

Christopherson stated that the herd eats his bales, beet pulp, and seeded crops, resulting in him now growing alfalfa several miles away from the elk instead of near his home.

Vig’s report states: “I informed Carl that he should have the right to protect his property from animals. I told Carl that shooting an elk may be an option to protect his property from damages.”

Leading up to this incident, Christopherson would allegedly chase elk from his property and set up cattle panels around his beet pulp and hay bales. According to Vig’s report, Christopherson said the elk would often return later the same day or the following day after he’d chased them off his property.

According to the DNR’s 2025 elk survey, the three herds in northwestern Minnesota totaled about 233. The Grygla herd, located primarily in Marshall County, is the smallest of the three with 24 elk.

The Kittson Central herd totals around 75 elk, while the Caribou-Vita herd, which travels across the Canadian border, totals about 134.

Joe Albert, communications coordinator for the DNR’s Enforcement Division, said that in any instance of roadkill or incidental kill of a species such as elk or wolves, sheriff’s departments are supposed to report the activities to the DNR.

“The expectation is that there would be a reaching out to the (area’s) conservation officer,” Albert said, speaking in general terms regarding an incidental kill.

Upon learning about this situation recently, the DNR has begun an investigation into it and is withholding comment about the specifics of the case.

“We’ve seen it, and we are investigating it, and that’s kind of about all we can say at this point,” Albert said.