What’s
the Problem with Colockum Elk?
By Jeff
Bernatowicz, District wildlife Biologist
Colockum
Elk Charts
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Archers
were restricted to bull-only hunting within the Colockum herd
(GMU’s 249-335) for the first time in 2004. The elimination
of antlerless harvest was a major change that generated great
interest in the status of Colockum elk. So what is the status
of the herd? From February 2001 to February 2004, the number
of elk on winter range declined from about 4500 to 3500 (Figure
1). The goal for the herd is 4,275–4,725. The reason
for the decline was most likely high antlerless elk harvest
(Figure 2). The Colockum elk herd range has a high road density
and good escape cover is limited. Partly because of this,
Colockum yearling bull elk are harvested at a high rate annually,
and spike harvests appear to be a good index of overall recruitment
(i.e. If 400 yearling bulls are harvested, there were at least
400 yearling cows recruited into the population).
There
is no ideal ratio of antlerless elk to yearling bulls in the
harvest, but when antlerless harvest exceeds yearling bulls
harvested, the population is likely to decline, and it is
likely that’s what happened in the Colockum herd in
recent time. The high antlerless harvest from 2001-03 was
the result of an emphasis on removing damage causing elk.
Permits had been increased around agricultural areas near
Wenatchee, and Advanced Hunters were allowed to legally harvest
antlerless elk from August 1 – February 28 near Cle
Elum and Ellensburg. There has been a need to continue harvesting
elk in damage areas, so the only recourse was to eliminate
general archery harvest of antlerless elk. In 2004, antlerless
harvest was greatly decreased (Figure 2) and the elk population
appears to have responded (Figure 1). If the population continues
to increase, antlerless archery opportunity should become
available in the near future.
In 2002,
the observed bull to cow ratio exceed the objective of 12
bulls per 100 cows and bull permits were issued. Since 2002,
adult bull harvest has increased while both recruitment and
number of bulls has decreased (Figure 3). The current observed
ratio of bulls to cows is well below objective. Confidence
in estimates of the bull component of the population is much
lower than for estimates of the antlerless component. Bulls
are much harder to survey as they are more likely to be in
timbered areas out side the normal winter range, especially
in mild winters. The entire adult bull component of the population
is also relatively small, so if even a few groups are missed,
it can be a significant portion of this segment. However,
given the harvest/recruitment trend, it is not surprising
that the estimate of adult bulls in the Colockum elk population
has decreased. Some adult bulls are being harvested to reduce
agricultural damage and more landowner incentive permits maybe
added in the future. The Draft Colockum herd plan calls for
new survey efforts outside the normal winter range in February
2006 in an attempt better estimate the bulls population. However,
given the available data, few if any bull permits are expected
outside of damage hunts in 2006.
The Question
has to be asked: “Why are so many elk ending up on private
lands and causing damage?” There are many possible reasons,
but one major factor is human activity. Elk are strongly motivated
to seek quality food and security from disturbance. Human
activity has increased on winter range in recent time due
to winter recreation and the increasingly popular activity
of shed antler hunting. Landowners and biologists believe
some elk are moving onto private lands to seek refuge from
people combing the public lands for shed antlers. In other
areas, people have also started feeding elk on private lands
in the winter. In spring, elk being fed move onto neighboring
agricultural fields as they green-up. If disturbance is minimal,
some elk may stay in the area and becoming year-round residents.
Meanwhile, in the uplands where elk use is desired, road densities
are relatively high in many areas (Figure 4), negatively impacting
elk habitat values and seasonal elk use. Recreational use
of these roads is increasing on a year-round basis. A logical
prescription for this problem is to haze or remove elk in
the agricultural areas where they cause damage and reduce
disturbance in areas where elk use is desired. Implementing
such a plan will be difficult and controversial. In areas
where elk have become a problem not all landowners wish to
see the elk leave or are willing to allow public access. In
the uplands, away from agricultural crops, WDFW has little
control over land or access. Public sentiments regarding recreational
access are also highly variable. A complicating factor has
been a “checker board” ownership pattern and changing
landowners. All the above issues are addressed in the draft
Colockum herd plan and should be available for public review
and comment this fall.
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