Elk shootings mar early season

Just recently, an East Tennessee hunter was fined $1,240 for shooting an elk accidentally on the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area.

The hunter says he thought the elk was a deer when he shot it. He turned himself into wildlife authorities. The hunter also lost his hunting privileges for one year.

Another Rocky Mountain elk released as part of a Tennessee Wildlife restoration project, was shot and killed in Morgan County, Tenn., on Nov. 21.

In this particular case, wildlife officers say no charges will be filed. The elk was killed by a Morgan County farmer who said the animal was harassing his cattle and damaging fences.

The farmer had called TWRA to report the problem elk. Wildlife authorities had met with the man, and were planning to try to tranquilize and relocate the animal. However, before the effort could be organized, the elk returned and the farmer killed it.

Dan Hicks, a TWRA Information Officer said elk were chasing a cow that ran through one of his fences. Hicks said he was told the farmer fired over the elk's head to try and scare it off. It wouldn't leave so the farmer fired three shots from a .222 caliber rifle and killed the 5X5 bull elk.

"I've never heard of an elk chasing cattle," commented Hicks. "I always envisioned elk getting into soybeans or corn, but never this."

Tennessee law (TCA 70-4-116) allows farmers to kill animals that have strayed from the release zone, and are damaging crops or causing other problems.

The elk was wearing a ear tag and transmitter to allow biologists to track its movements.