Missouri hunters where did this Elk come from?

[JohnhenrySTL]

https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxn...-after-shooting-elk-mistook-for-buck.amp.html

I understand we have a growing Elk population in the southern Missouri Ozarks.
I found this story interesting that this Elk was killed near Columbia in central Mo. I wonder where it came from.

I don’t think the girl deserves any more than a minor punishment.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

We have a decent elk herd in northern Arkansas (around 800 head now).

I didn't realize Missouri had introduced them as well.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

Yeah it about 5 years ago. I think about a hundred were released. I read an article that implied when the herd reached 200 there may be a season.

 

[.308 Norma]

http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/HowWeConserve/ElkRestoration.aspx
From this, it looks like elk were reintroduced in Missouri in 2011.

 

[.308 Norma]

Thanks for the "like" JohnhenrySTL.
Our youngest daughter is a wheel with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and she keeps us pretty well posted about what they're doing to restore elk populations and habitat, and where they're doing it. The RMEF is having some successes in places I would have never guessed.

 

[95XL883]

As I understand it, it isn't known where that particular herd originated. Missouri has a herd about 200 miles away in the southeast portion of the state. There is apparently a herd on private property west of Columbia but I get the impression they are not free ranging. There is a small herd in Smithville, Missouri (north of KC) but again it is not free-ranging.

If the article is right, she shot it north of I-70 in the center of the state (Interesting that the main article is from the Springfield MO paper in the SW portion of the state.)

I wish I could remember where I read it but I think there is a herd in SW KS.

Regardless of where it came from, it is a good thing. I just wish the over the counter elk tag in KS was a lot cheaper than $300 for a bull and $150 for a cow. (I've got some ground a mile from the MO line so I keep hoping the herds keep expanding. I'd love to see one in my area even if I don't have a tag.)

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

The Elk being from a herd makes sense to me. I doubted it would have travelled 200 miles and over 70. I certainly think she shouldn’t being getting in trouble through Mo conservation if she shot a escaped Elk.

 

[jmr40]

There are no elk in GA, but no laws against shooting one either. It has been several years ago, but a truck pulling a stock trailer with elk being transported was involved in an accident on I-75. The elk escaped, during deer season. All were recovered except one small cow that was shot by a hunter thinking it was the biggest doe he had ever seen. No laws broken, no charges filed.

 

[627PCFan]

From what I understand MO's hunting law states unless its specified as fair game its not and that's why shes in trouble. Either way it seems odd that should wouldn't know the difference between an Elk and Deer. She shouldn't get the meat but she shouldn't get in trouble either.

 

[22250Rem]

I guess an inexperienced 14 yr. old hunter might just be unable to handle what was probably a very severe case of buck fever and probably had no first hand experience dealing with it. Buck fever has been known to affect some hunters in many strange ways.

 

[entropy]

It happened in Minnesota many years ago to a 15 year old boy; I could see it happening. Just imagine the scene; Kid gets on the walkie or whatever and says "Hey guys, I got the biggest deer ever! Its's gonna take ALL of us to pull it out!" They get there and the facepalms start......

 

[.455_Hunter]

Fort Riley in Kansas has hosted an Elk herd for 30 years. They are always expanding territory.

 

[HB]

It probably escaped from a game farm. Just like CWD...

Knowing MDC she'll probably get a ticket for something. I got an "official warning" this year for not taking my deer to be CWD tested the day it was killed. Despite me calling it in at 7:04pm and the testing site closing at 8:00p, 29 miles away during bad weather.