Been elk here in Wisconsin now for quit few years. I'm often in the area where the elk are. But until last fall I had not seen only one cross the road out ahead of me.
This morning my son and one my buddies where headed to my place to put the dock in. Decided to back road threw an area where my sister had trail cams for the snap shot WI program. She had lots of elk on the camera in this area.
So anyways I decided to cut down the road and it paid off. Two bull elk just starting to sprout new racks right in road ditch. One had just come up out of the ditch which was full of water. The other was still up to it's belly in water. Time I got my phone up to take couple pics they were in the road. And if course the sun had to be right where is washing out the pictures. But they are indeed my first up close wild WI elk.
Pretty cool to see for real not in a pen or park.






Mac

Very cool- is it miserably hot up nort also?

This is just east of Black River Falls actually near lake Wazee. Guess forgot to mention that. So not way north by the Clam Lake herd.
And yes it was sticky hot there this morning. Fresh crop of the little black knats that bite and get in your face.

Mac

A nice Pa, bull last weekend

Was actually 3 bulls together

I've seen a few up here in the Clam Lake heard several times over the years.

And yes. it is hot and sticky up here. But 65 is bordering on too hot for me..............

You can often see them on county O outside Milston. Also down North Settlement road.

Cool. Yeah, they seem to like Wazee.
I've only seen 1, but it was actually west of BRF, which wasn't supposed to be part of their territory. They seem to prefer Millston. I thought more would get seen out by City Point, but have yet to hear of a sighting on that end of the county.

I bet we'll be hunting these someday.

I don't know if I will see a hunting season for them? Like to think my son will have a chance to. It is interesting that the majority of elk seem to stay South of hwy 54. I do know people who have seen the west of the black river and North of 94. But that hasn't been any numbers that Im aware of. The one I seen last fall was north of hwy 54 and actually out towards Pray on old hwy 54. I have seen track while running the quad trail from Hatfield to Pray. But I have not seen any animals yet except that one last fall.
They do seem to be holding their own I guess. My sister has had several calves on camera over the years.

Mac

How bad are wolf numbers where the elk are?

Danny great wolf food source is what we have in WI. Numbers of wolves continue to climb and expand. One of the huge advantages PA and Kentucky have or us.

They have been screwing around with this elk thing for 20 years and still don't have a huntable herd.

Danny
Im sure the wild life people know the actual wolf numbers in those areas. I my self think that could be part of why the elk haven't moved more north of the hwy 54 I spoke of. I'm pretty sure wolf numbers increase substantially once north of that hwy. Some of the original reestablished wolf packs are just north. It may even be part of the reason the original holding and release area for elk was south of that line.
I don't doubt that the elk have moved closer to people and the farm land to stay clear of the wolves.

Mac

I don't really care if they ever have a huntable size population, If they have enough to sustain themselves thats good enough. Slowly expanding territory would be a bonus.

Bringing back native flora and fauna of the state in it self is a worthy goal of the DNR. Any harvest is just a bonus and should not be the primary goal.

Put that money spent on elk and marten and put It some where that will benefit the average citizen. Elk and marten don't fit In that category

I don't think your "average" citizen could tell a elk from a white tail, or even knows what a martin is.
The average citizen in WI doesn't trap or hunt.

If you tell your average citizen that elk were once plentiful, have been eliminated by man, and would you like to see them reestablished in the state they would say "sure". The same for Marten.
Ask the same people should we reestablish Elk so that maybe a couple hundred people in the state can shoot them they will say no. Change shoot to trap for the Marten and they'll say no again.

Department of Natural Resources, its in the name, its about the Natural Resources of the state, just not hunting/trapping/fishing these resources. Its to benefit all citizens of the state not just the ones that take from the resources.

If It were NOT for the hunters and trappers Niether would have been "re-intraduced.

I don't know If the WTA Is still donating money to the marten study. But I once stood up In a general WTA meeting and opposed our funding this study.

But having hunters finance the restoration of flora and fauna , is the primary goal.

Department of Natural Resources, its in the name, its about the Natural Resources of the state, just not hunting/trapping/fishing these resources. Its to benefit all citizens of the state not just the ones that take from the resources.

I and my family have given way more than we have ever taken from the resources. If all citizens funded some of it we would have more.