Low Elk Harvest in Grand Teton

Moose, WY – It was a slow season for elk hunters in Grand Teton National Park this fall. Preliminary figures show that hunters killed 287 elk this year. That's down from 484 in 2003, 500 in 2002 and 375 in 2001. Grand Teton spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs says the lack of snow this fall is likely the cause. Without snow on the ground, herds probably stayed in their summer ranges. Skaggs says this year's figure could still increase as late reports from hunters come in. But even so, numbers are likely to be down. That was also the case on the National Elk Refuge, where 125 fewer elk were killed this fall when compared to last year.