In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by biologist Pat Stent for a conversation about the alarming trend in the number of illegal bull elk being killed by hunters in Southeast BC’s East Kootenay Zone of Region 4. To set the stage the guys discuss the geography and ecology of the Kootenay as it relates to what elk need, the history of the 6-point bull elk season, the Raedeke Report, current elk population dynamics, recent bull harvest trends, and what the upward trend in illegal bulls represents from the perspectives of future elk conservation and elk hunting opportunities. The single biggest issue biologists grapple with the illegal bull kills is trying to understand exactly what the causes are that are driving hunters to make mistakes and what to do if the trend continues to escalate.
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