Big doins here in Eastern Idaho. 160 elk have escaped from an enclosed high fence hunting compound. The governer has issued an order to the fish and game are to shoot all escaped elk they can find. The roads are full of hunters willing to assist fish and game in their duties. The governer has also ordered that private land owners, or people that the land owners allow on the property, can shoot all escaped elk that they find on their land. Except the land owners are not allowing anyone on their land and are not shooting their neighbor's elk.
Some side issues:
1. The elk's owner had over 160 elk on 200 acres of high fenced land.
2. Even though the governer has ordered the fish and game to kill these animals, nothing is being shot at the present time. (that could change later this date)
3. The elk's owner failed to report the escape of the elk for at least one week. (per newspaper)
4. These elk are like cattle with no fear of humans.
5. These elk are not pure Rocky Mountain Elk but are mixed with the Red Stag. (better antlers)
6. Many of these animals will escape an mingle with the wild elk.
7. Most ethical people fear that if they do shoot one of these elk on private land, they will be arrested for killing someone's private property.
I have heard that this is the largest escape of domestic elk in Idaho and that there is a great fear of contaminating the wild herds.
C F