Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Three words I never wanted to hear together...Elk + Food + Plot

I was watching a hunting show the other day. With the elk regaining much of their territory in the east, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later, but when it did, I about hurled. Guys were talking about their elk hunt, can't remember the state, but it was back east, and the one guy said something to the effect of "couldn't get my food plot in this year, but next year the elk will be diggin' it".

Oh my god, I wanted to puke. Definately 3 words I never wanted to hear in the same sentance. Guess it won't be long before people are shooting them over grain piles out of their recliners in their wooden shack stands. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I sure hope elk hunting doesn't go that way. It's just too great a creature to go out like that. Elk are supposed to be EARNED, not shot off of food plots or grain piles.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I've always thought of elk as the premier western game. To watch them hunted in the east with eastern methods, well, something just don't sit right about that.

It just makes me sick to see that portrayed as hunting. If there is room for someone to plant a food plot, then there isn't enough room for elk! Go cover some ground and earn it. Are TV shows going to be fuel to the fire for the anti's? Sounds like this one is right on track.

Makes me wanna hurl as well. First whitetail deer now elk. Definately sounds like these folks have no respect for wildlife. Big business, here we come! Might as well domesticate them, o yeah we have cervid farms already. Watch the CWD spread now!!!

Its not my idea of hunting but cant give a chit how some dude back east kills critters.

Jamie

Elk used to roam across most of North America. They are now mostly located in the west with quite a few successful re-introductions. My big concern is (anti's notwithstanding) that if elk are going to be attracted to food plots, then there is liable to be unusual congregations of elk in an area. Instead of the herd moving around, they will stay put, thus increasing the chance of diseases such as CWD taking hold. Look at the deer and elk farming indusrty, they have major problems with CWD. Here in Alberta, we have CWD taking hold in our wild deer. I live very close to the affected area. There are cervid farms around here. I wonder???????

I would rather see them in a food plot planted for them (not for hunting) than in a farmer's corn. There have been quite a few issues in PA with elk and farmer's. Elk can eat a lot of corn!!!

Those elk love the potatoe farms in PA. Down inthe SAn Luis valley of CO, there are a lot of seed potatoe farms, elk move in at night and wipe out thousand of dollars on few hours. Thes epeople that wnat food plots don't relaiz ethat elkar egrazers, deer are browsers. When an elk sets about to eat, it goes to town. Won't be much differnt than those Texas corn feeders they use down there to spryy corn out a tregular intervals. But don' tworry. onc ethos eherds build up and satrt working over farm lands and mingling intowns, a big hue an dcry wil go out to get rid of them. Folks up in Estes Park CO are seeing the folly of thier ways now.

While it sounds rather sick, it may keep food plot hunters out of our hills, which I have absolutely no problem with... I guess I tend to find an upside in everything.
-P

Ever see a herd of elk in a hay field? During bad winters, the Colorado DOW spends hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to ranchers for damage to their hay supplies.
The problem isn't getting elk into their 'food plots', it's keeping them out! Lotsa elk get shot, on private land, in the proximity of haystacks.

KenL has some very good points, and maybe saddlesore did to, but I had to quit reading it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

In our some parts of our high-desert country, elk get pushed out of the mountains by hunters, then they head across the desert to congregate at big alfalfa fields on some of the ranches.

So I guess some of those ranchers could be accused of running "food plots" for elk............ <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

AD

Don't ever hunt the west. I cannot count how many elk I have heard of getting smoked coming out of the hay fields in the morning. That is probably how most elk are killed on private land.

No, Sir but I'd sure as hell like to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



BCR

Its true alot of elk are shot leaving feilds. Here in Oregon. But in My opinion, Its really not elk hunting.
Elk are the monarch of the mountain, majestic , watchful, elusive! Sense of sight and smell better than our own, and a lose cartridge in a pocket sends them into the next canyon on legs of thurouhbreds!
It doesnt suprise me some would have you beleive elk hunting in sitting in a building which resembles a outhouse, shooting game at outragous distances over bait is elk hunting. Heck while your elk hunting, maybe a hog, or bear or deer or who knows what will come in and you will instantly be ------- hunting! Just have to make the shot.( Please see long range hunting for details of how to do this. )
Has this all came about because of TV? Do these guys hunting look like Nascar drivers with all there product endorsements?
What does the general public think of our new image? NOt the bunny hugging crying Idiot, But the average Joe and Betty. Do you think they are impressed with our "traditions". Come to think of it , Is it just coincidence these blinds look like outhouses?
In closing, Disreagard all I have said, wouldnt want to examine hunting and our members and openly question methods and reasons for hunting, As to evolve and preserve our traditions and rights of hunting, lest I be accused of splitting the ranks to be conqured by the evil Anti's!
Heres a thought maybe this "business" of hunting is "hunting" our selves right out of business. ??

I fervently agree. I'm not as concerned about alfalfa fields though...

Casey

I'm not sure what some of you fellas are expecting........if you are going to have some elk east of the great plains they are many times gonna be located near cultivated fields , and they are gonna help themselves to the crops and get whacked at times doing so........does it really make any difference if it was alfalfa , corn , or a "food" plot ?

The way I understand it is, a field was planted by the farmer to grow a product for the consumer, the product is harvested, the field is then plowed under and the cycle starts over. It is also normally a large tract of land. A food plot is much smaller and is planted for the sole reason of baiting the animal in. It is an other example of the commercialization of hunting. Who can get the biggest set of antlers with the minimum amount of work. Yes I agree that elk feed in western farm/ranch lands and are hunted around them but, the hay or corn etc was planted for the sole benefit of the consumer (2 legged) or to feed the ranchers herd.