Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting high fence freak shot in Idaho

Not for me, though I also won't judge. There's lots of operations like this in Idaho and most every other state. It is their money and as long as they don't try to enter it into B&C or otherwise lie about the situation, I have no objection to it.

I worked on an elk ranch like this one fall when in college. It was fun, but pathetic. I came across no "hunter" that wasn't 100% cognizant of what they were getting themselves into. Most of them fully acknowledged it was nothing but a money transaction. They were OK with it and so was I.

I agree. What some guys will do to get a set of antlers on the wall.

Umm…no thank you. Whatever makes the dude happy I guess, but no thank you for me. Congrats to him, I spose. 🙄

A rather hideous "trophy" if you ask me.

Not the bull that gets me up in the morning.

Me neither.

I’m guessing this is Rulon Jones Idaho place?

Most high fence hunters I’ve met did not fully understand what the situation was.

High fence hunting is not legal in many Rocky Mountain states and many/most other states in the west last I knew. Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico are notable exceptions.

Yes.

Yep, Rulon Jones……

Then our experience differers with that.

I do think you are right about the high fence operations in the west though, now that I think about it. I believe operations such as this are illegal in Montana and maybe Wyoming too, but those states have similar bison hunts, so it kind of gets blurry. Not totally sure, to be honest. I believe in some states private elk herds are considered livestock and thus operations such as this are not considered "hunting", so that is one loophole I guess.

Are you guys aware that the connection between Elk Farms and the introduction of CWD into the wild ungulate populations has been made?

That's why I am against it, CWD has had dramatic effects on our Mule Deer Populations in Alberta and Saskatchewan! As in REALLY BAD EFFECTS!

You’re right in that where wildlife ends and livestock begins can be a blurry line.

Bison were generally considered livestock at one time, so that line is even blurrier…..

In Colorado critters like domestic deer and elk cannot be hunted and killed for a fee. Now if Rulon wanted to let us shoot his bulls for free……

How many of you are aware Rulon Jones was an All Pro defensive lineman for the Orange Crush back in the day?

In Idaho, privately owned animals are considered as livestock. They're regulated by the state Dept of Agriculture, not by the Fish & Game, so the dept of Ag sets any rules. The owners can butcher or sell them in any manner they want as long as it's humane. They're required to have all privately owned animals ear tagged for identification.
Maybe 15 years ago, a high fence farm a few miles from Yellowstone had a bear tear down a fence and about 100 to 150 elk got loose. The owner wasn't having much luck rounding them up and didn't report it for weeks. To prevent them from mixing with wild elk, the governor (currently US senator Jim Risch), ordered a carte blanche on any elk wearing an ear tag. They could be shot on sight by anyone, not just hunters. I don't think all that many got shot and I have no idea how many were finally captured. I think quite a few mixed with the wild herd.

As for ethics, they're livestock. In Idaho, we like our freedom and here we have the freedom to raise and slaughter livestock as we wish. I have no interest in 'hunting' them, but I support the right to do so. It's a business, just like selling cattle or pigs for slaughter. If someone with a lot of money is willing to pay to shoot a cow in a pasture, that's their business.

Amen.

Also a lot of the domestic elk have red deer genetics (which may partly explain some of the freak antlers) and just like livestock, some will ALWAYS escape at some point.

High fence hunting is unethical. Importantly, how hunters are perceived by the general public is important for our continued privilege to hunt.

In Colorado domestic wildlife like elk are regulated by the state Dept of Ag. Previously they were regulated by Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

Technically it was the captive mule deer herd at CSU in Ft Collins Colorado that gave us the blight of CWD.

Idaho's Dept of Ag requires all cervids being imported to be tested for CWD and brucellosis.

CWD has decimated our MD populations for several reasons. Where I hunted 20 years ago I would see 150+ Mulies every day, now if I see 15 its a good day.

By law we have to now take every deer in to the Gov to have it tested and if its CWD positive, into the garbage the meat goes!

Humans F everything up!

I know you're referring to the canned operations like in the OP, but I am curious about what you consider "high fence".

I wonder why cwd decimates mule deer but not elk...weird stuff.