Elk in Kelowna

[mike31154]

I was fortunate to get an LEH Elk on the island 2020. I often thought I saw Elk droppings during some of my deer hunts in regions closer to home in the Okanagan. The herd in the article has been around for a while according to the rancher. It's good to know they're doing well at the moment, but interesting that it's the 1st time they've ventured so low near civilization in numbers.

Taken mid November 2020 on the island. One of two young satellite bulls shadowing a herd of cows. One of my hunting buddies that lives on the island has been putting in for Elk LEH 30 years unsuccessfully & I got lucky on the 2nd try.

[Bugle M In]

^^^^^Hey, congrats on that one.

[cameron0518]

My wife showed me the pic of them last night and I said that it won't take long before there will be some poaching going on. I guess it already has. Such a shame.

[Bugle M In]

Won’t that market dry up with the new regulations proposal involving animal
parts? If they cannot prove where the antlers came from they should be illegal to sell.

That should have been considered a long time ago, if it hadn't been already.
I have come across 2 MD, my hunting partner 1 MD, all were young bucks, all 3 had just their individual antlers sawed off,
not with the skull plate, so you can make a pretty accurate assumption what was the intent of killing those 3 bucks.

And don't forget, I think an FN was charged for selling game meat, but charges were later dismissed or there was an actual
ruling that allowed him to do so (I cant recall).

Doesn't matter who is doing it, only that some are, and I doubt rules will stop them.
Only getting caught will and only if charges can be laid and stuck with a sentence.
There is a lot of money in it sadly.

[mike31154]

Won’t that market dry up with the new regulations proposal involving animal
parts? If they cannot prove where the antlers came from they should be illegal to sell.

Shed hunters? Fairly certain there's more than 1 member here that goes looking for sheds. Totally legal. I suppose it's not that difficult to tell how fresh a rack is but how does a CO determine if a rack is a shed, poached or legally harvested unless they're on the scene or stop a hunter in the field? There are elk farms in Alberta that breed them for meat. There's a restaurant in Golden that serves Elk burger.

[35rem]

I think the reason so many small dogs have teeth pulled is because they don't chew on anything.

Actually, chewing on antlers is one of the reasons why dogs need teeth pulled:

https://animaldentalspecialist.com/fractured-teeth/#

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/he...ers-safe-dogs/

https://yourpetdentist.com/2013/11/2...s-to-your-dog/

[HighCountryBC]

That herd has been around for a lot longer than most people realize. They're regulars down on the golf course in the winter. For years we had permission to shoot coyotes on the Tower Ranch property and would encounter them all time. They are resident elk that don't go far when September rolls around.

[huntingfamily]

Actually, chewing on antlers is one of the reasons why dogs need teeth pulled:

https://animaldentalspecialist.com/fractured-teeth/#

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/he...ers-safe-dogs/

https://yourpetdentist.com/2013/11/2...s-to-your-dog/

Exactly. I've heard of quite a few dogs that have broken teeth from chewing on antlers.

[Dirty]

Shed hunters? Fairly certain there's more than 1 member here that goes looking for sheds. Totally legal. I suppose it's not that difficult to tell how fresh a rack is but how does a CO determine if a rack is a shed, poached or legally harvested unless they're on the scene or stop a hunter in the field? There are elk farms in Alberta that breed them for meat. There's a restaurant in Golden that serves Elk burger.

I was referring to the fact that the antlers can come from out of province and with the current state of disease transmission in ungulates I suspect they will be banned I the future much like deer piss.

[358mag]

My wife showed me the pic of them last night and I said that it won't take long before there will be some poaching going on. I guess it already has. Such a shame.

Region 8 has had issues for a long time with elk " Poaching"