Grand Teton Park gears up for annual elk hunt

The unique annual elk hunt in Grand Teton National Park is set a begin this weekend although the scope of the hunt has been scaled back because elk numbers are near the overall population objective.

The elk hunt is allowed in Grand Teton by the park’s enabling 1950 legislation and is meant to help keep the size of the Jackson Elk Herd in check.

This year, 625 hunters were awarded permits authorizing the harvest of a cow elk, starting Saturday. They will have until Dec. 11 to hunt elk in the park.

Park wildlife biologist Sarah Dewey tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide that this year’s hunt aims to take about 200 elk.

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Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com