Earlier this month the Arizona Game and Fish Commission unanimously
approved an agreement with Kentucky to annually capture 50 Arizona elk for
shipment to Kentucky during the next five years. Kentucky state game
officials have indicated that their request for Arizona elk will be
rescinded for this year because the financial costs of capturing, disease
testing, and moving elk from Arizona would be too high.
Kentucky state game official have asked that they might still obtain
elk from Arizona during subsequent winters, although they expect to move 440
elk this year from Oregon, Utah, or Kansas. The cost of getting elk from
Arizona is higher because our elk must be captured using a helicopter and
net gun, while the ability to bait and capture in other states with more
extreme climates allows for lower capture costs.
Future elk-capture agreements between the two states are still
possible. Kentucky is trying to complete a nine-year project reestablishing
elk in their state. Last year Arizona Game and Fish captured and shipped 29
elk to Kentucky as part of that program. Next year, Kentucky hopes to move
650 elk, an effort that may complete their project 4 years ahead of
schedule.
Arizona Game & Fish
