I'm sure none migrated from the North or south.

I hunted them north of SD last year.... At .3k-10k I would say they have value

As a matter of fact I do. I also do not have any problem with the removal of Aoudad from the park or other state areas and private lands with landowner permission, however I really believe it could have been handled differently and the same goes for the future.

It would not supprtise me if the dieoff happening with the pronghorn in that region is not related to the aoudad. Have no idea really just would not supprise me if that is the case.

Do you know anything about the killing of elk by the state? I remember when elk were a protected species with a season and permit structure much like the current pronghorn season.

There is one single land owner out there that have sheep country in diablos that feel there is value in those elk. All the others do not. 3k elk tags landowners do not want to mess with. The very few 10k elk will probably be shot by landowners, or friends / family. Herd will not be sustainable, will never get all landowners on same page. Best to continue with existing policy.

we do???

So we are to believe that one land owner released elk on one ranch recently while there are elk in free ranging in 5 identified mountian ranges in west Texas. I doubt those all came from a recent release by one landowner. Aren't there a few elk in the Glass Mountians and the Guadalupes? Are we to believe those are from the same said release?

The Landowneer whose place I hunted on this year seems to like having them around.

I am talking strictly Diablo Mountains. The Diablos hold sheep mega-population in state. Diablos, Beach, and Baylor mountains. Anything happened to this sheep herd, sheep reintroduction to other parts of state would not happen.

I know of at least 3 other mountain ranges other than ones listed above that hold elk. Most if not all landowners in these areas like the elk. That same feeling is not shared in Diablos though.

And no, I never said or implied that all the elk in TX came from one landowner in Diablos.

LAst part sounds like TP&W operates in regard to the deer herd.

Most of our problems that we think are attributed to animals can be traced back and when all is said and done most of the problems are caused by MAN in one form or fashion. I never saw elk commandeer a truck and trailer and force someone to drive them to Texas, same holds true with all animals that man manages.

Think we can get some donkey's on the CDP?

I think they are actually. I have been there first hand and have witnessed the erradication of the aoudad, I agree with it to some extent but they could have done a draw hunt instead of paying guys in helicopters $600 or more an hour to do it.

No!!! We have wild horses on our ranch in Van Horn and cant do a darn thing about them. Too expensive to catch them and they are destructive, just like donkeys.

I kind of agree, but I wouldn't want John Q Public out there shooting aoudad when there are desert bighorn there. I can see it now, "Oops, I thought it was aoudad".

Ok instead of shooting elk onsite at SD why not have a draw hunt...bet there would be at least 5k applicants at $10 a peice...again we are talking about state owned land not private land.

As far as the prices check around.... 4k-20k for a week a year is lots of cash especially when land values and cattle stocking rates are so low..but under the same reasoning the pronghorns would fall under the same mind set.

I know several people who elk hunt out there and are on waiting lists, so a blank state[u][/u]ment of landowners have no use for them is a little far left.

This is one I would agree with.

I can confidently say that not one landowner that shares a boundary with TPWD in Sierra Diablos has anything positive about the elk.

From water, grazing, disease, deer management aspect, and basically having them forced onto property owners that did not want them.

As far as value of the elk hunting, if these land owners thought there was a sustainable market with hunting these elk, they would be acting upon it. Hunting that area is some of the most expensive in the state for wildlife.

It would be impossible to re introduce the original Texas Elk. The Elk in Texas was the Merriam Elk and has been extinct since the early 1900s.

Correct the same sub species that was in New Mexico and Oklahoma

Both Texas, NM and Oklahoma now have the Rockies mountain species via introduction.

Your right I didn't hunt within 8- 15 miles from there last year for elk nor did any other THF member...nor was a 300 plus elk shot by a forum member on the same ranch..and they where free

Does this ranch share a boundary with TPWD?
And congrats on killing elk. If you head this way again this year I wish you continued luck. Kill as many as possible. I know of several of 330-350 bulls thumped. My high school nephew has taken a liking to them.

That's cool... Would like the bighorn to be by auctioned tags and gov tags with no actual drawings unless there was a 200k fine for shooting less than a full curl ram.

And they were free for a reason i am assuming? Hence no value? Not trying to argue, just giving you another point of view.

No they where not free.. I was kidding...wish they would of been.

Don't think I don't know where your coming from..I do I have more antelope then I know what to do with..hate them with a passion...but I also get very very limited tags. So no way for me to really make money off hunting them, there for the ag losses can't be recouped. Tx elk are different it a premium price..no tag, no applications, no restrictions.

But back to what I mentioned earlier.. on state owned land why not have a drawhunt after all its tax payers paying for the park any ways. I do think the TBS is to powerful ...100k plus for a big horn's govenors tag...Wouldn't it be nice for a governor elk tag or even a draw for elk..

Oklahoma raises over 70k a year on their elk draw, why can't we?

Agree with that, but too much time and money have been spent by TPWD, TBS, and private landowners to have elk not tested (to my knowledge) and released in most important sheep population in the state. They hammer the guzzards, grazing, and hamper mule deer management, as well as disease. Disease and guzzards being primary issues.

The elk are a problem when they run in sheep country. Other than that not really an opinion either way on them.

As far as WMA it is not a very big area, and is majority sheep habitat. There is a place for elk, just not there (in my opinion) and these hunts could generate much needed revenue for the state.

In that area specifically, too much risk, very little if any reward.

There is a nice herd in Eagle mountains and landowners trying to get them started in Quitmqn mts as well. More and more elk popping up year after year. Population in Diablos is down.

All of this is just my opinion and what I know about the area.

I have 6 at my house for yotes with all my goats and they will STOMP you or some thing that they don't know I went out one night and they RUN me over the fence until I yeald at them