Background on California’s Elk Three subspecies in CA Tule Elk is endemic

Legislative action in goal of 2,000 tule elk, above which the Commission may authorize take. See FGCode 3951 Relocate elk to suitable areas where possible. Manage each tule elk herd to reduce property and environmental damage Management Plan for the Conservation of Tule Elk (Tule Elk Interagency Task Force) has been, and continues to be, a success for Tule elk conservation Specific to Tule Elk

Example model run in Elk Draft EDa Est. carrying capacity

As a result of the Commission, Department, and others efforts for over 108 years since hunting licenses were 1 st required, regulations were starting to be enforced, and active management and relocation began to occur: Great wildlife conservation and management success story for tule elk in California Eliminated nearly all confined herds (now free-ranging); limited opportunity for more relocation Widespread in California’s Coastal Ranges & Owens Valley Extremely popular game animal Increasingly seen and enjoyed by the public for wildlife viewing Continuing to increase (as evidenced by increased problems from landowners)

Roosevelt Elk- Similar story to tule elk in terms of decline and then rebuilding through management efforts and regulation of harvest to attempt to manage growth of the population Elk concentrate on bottomlands/pastures in NW part of state = increasing conflict with landowners Population concentration too high in these areas, and there is limited access for hunting opportunity, but great viewing opportunity along the Hwy 101 corridor

Proposed Solutions: Complete statewide management plan Draft Statewide framework plan nearly done Specific EMU- Elk Management Unit drafts nearly done Proposed regulations consistent with final plan because both are necessarily guided by existing legislative mandate. Redefine boundaries/add zones for effective use of hunting to address elk/landowner conflict; provide hunting opportunity Increase tag quotas where elk problems are increasing Incentive-based to increase landowner support Of elk on their property (SHARE or PLM) Reduce need/pressure to issue depredation permits

Example- New Zones San Emigdio (Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties) Camp Roberts (Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties)

Example -Zone Splits - Northwestern Now - Del Norte and Humboldt (minor boundary modification to follow roads)

Overall boundaries modified – Expanded to the west

Example- Zone Modification - Grizzly Island Expanded boundary

Proposal Would Result in: Additional Hunt Periods and Types Del Norte and Humboldt (5 periods) Marble Mountain North and South (3 periods and muzzleloader/archery period) Siskiyou (3 periods and muzzleloader/archery period) San Luis Reservoir (3 periods) Grizzly Island (13 periods) Lake Pillsbury (3 Periods)

Proposal also modifies: Multi-Zone Fund Raising Tag Modify season dates so it is consistent across all zones Tag is valid in Del Norte, Humboldt, Marble Mountain North, Marble Mountain South, Siskiyou, Northeastern, and La Panza. Tag will be valid for 90 days beginning in mid-August