However, said Brad Howard, private lands program coordinator with the commission's Wildlife Management Division in Raleigh, actually opening a hunting season might be years away.
“Right now we’re constantly trying to gather more information on the population size of the elk and on the distribution size and continuing to work with our partners, the National Park Service and the Eastern Band of Cherokee to develop elk habitat on public land,” Howard said.
“There is no imminent action toward establishing a hunting season. I don’t foresee a hunting season in 2017.”
Mountains wildlife biologist Justin McVey said elk mortality has decreased in 2016.
Ten elk died, including seven from depredations (landowners killing elk while they were in the act of damaging their property), one death has an unknown cause, one death was considered natural causes and one was hit by a motor vehicle, McVey said.
