Managing Conflicts with Elk

Conflicts with elk are a concern across many agricultural areas in Montana. Economically, elk are the biggest wildlife impact on private land agricultural operations in the watershed. The Blackfoot Challenge Wildlife Committee has recently attempted to address the issue of conflicts between elk and private landowners.

To help address this issue, the Blackfoot Challenge hires a Seasonal Elk Hunt Coordinator in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. This individual responds to hunter requests for elk hunting opportunities and schedules hunts on participating ranches during the elk hunt shoulder seasons in the Blackfoot.

This program reduces the amount of time landowners spend fielding hunting access requests, increases elk harvest and distribution on private lands, and perhaps most importantly, increases the communication and understanding between the two parties. 

Shoot us a note to connect with our Elk Hunt Coordinator.

Photo by Randy Smith.