Hanford Elk Herd

 

Jason Fidorra, WDFW District 4 Wildlife Biologist, showed a slide during his fall hunting forecast at our September general meeting that surprised (shocked!) some attendees.  Based on aerial and ground surveys during fall 2024, WDFW estimates that there were 2,460 elk in the Rattlesnake Hills (Hanford) sub-herd of the Yakima elk herd.  The biggest portion of the sub-herd is often found on the Arid Lands Ecology (ALE) portion of the Hanford Reach National Monument (HRNM) which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) but several hundred are also often found near the Columbia River in central Hanford.

 

A two day workshop titled “Elk Summit” was held in Prosser on April 5 and 6, 2004.  There were nearly 80 participants in the workshop including state and federal agency representatives, local landowners, tribal members, environmental group members, and hunting group members which included six RRGC members.  The workshop was facilitated by the CBSG Conservation Council from Minnesota.  Concerns expressed by attendees were damage being caused to crops on nearby farm land by elk raiding off of Hanford, damage to the sensitive ALE shrub-steppe ecosystem, and elk strikes by vehicles on State Route 240 that passes through Hanford.        

 

The estimated population of the Rattlesnake Hills elk sub-herd at that time was 850 elk.  The elk population had been reduced to that number by trapping and relocation of captured elk to other parts of Washington.  The WDFW Herd Management Plan objective for the sub-herd was 350 or fewer elk in 2004 and remains unchanged.  The proposed solution to control unlimited population growth was to introduce public hunting to Hanford.  All parties agreed, with the exception of the federal Department of Energy (DOE).  Now, more than 20 years after the plan to allow hunting was proposed, the herd is three times bigger than in 2004, is seven time bigger than the management objective, and public hunting still is not allowed.  Tribal ceremonial harvest is allowed on Hanford and depredation tags are given to adjacent landowners to help them limit crop damage and to reduce damage claims but WDFW estimates that fewer than 200 elk are harvested each year.  Current harvest is insufficient to reduce the size of the herd.  Adding this year’s calf production, the 2025 fall elk count could increase to 2,600 or more animals.

 

Over the past few weeks, Mike Estes has talked with WDFW and USFWS staff about the Hanford elk issue.  Both agencies favor introducing public hunting as a management tool for the Rattlesnake Hills sub-herd.  The stick in the mud is still DOE.  Although USFWS manages the HRNM, DOE remains the federal government property owner and must be reckoned with.  The RRGC Board of Directors has authorized Mike to prepare a letter to Congressman Dan Newhouse requesting his support to help bring DOE to the table to discuss allowing public hunting on the federal properties south and west of State Route 240 as a means to help control unlimited growth of the elk herd.         

 

Limits Game Farm

 

The following message was received from Dave Piovesan, owner of Limits Game Farm near Mesa.  Dave can be contacted by phone at 509-265-4578 or by email at limitsgamefarm@gmail.com, or on the web at http://www.limitsgamefarm.com.

 

Summer is waning and fall is rapidly approaching, that means it is time to dust off the shotgun and wake up the dog. Limits Game Farm is ready to serve you starting September 6th, and 7 days a week then on. In September our hunts are restricted to early morning only because of the heat. Our September special is available thru the entire month. The special is 3 hens for $120.00.  I hope to see all of you in the coming season, but wherever you hunt, be safe. 

 

Wild Game Dinner “Want List”

 

Please set aside a portion of your fish and game harvest to share for the 2026 Wild Game Dinner that will be held on March 21 in Building 4 at the Benton County Fairgrounds.  WGD Chair Marilyn Steele has developed a “Want List’ for the 2026 dinner that she will update as donations are received.  The list was first published in the July newsletter and will be updated in upcoming monthly newsletters.  Meats include:

 

Duck – 25 to 30 pounds for poppers, tacos, pepperoni.

Pheasant – 20 pounds for jambalaya or another main dish.

Venison – neck for mincemeat, 10-15 pounds of roasts, 10 pounds of meat for grinding into sausage.

Elk – 20 pounds of roasts and 10 pounds for grinding into sausage.

Bear – 13 pounds of meat for stew/chili or 10 pounds for grinding into sausage.

Cougar – 6 to 13 pounds of meat for grinding for meatballs, tacos, or a main dish.

Bobcat – 6 to 13 pounds of meat for grinding (same as Cougar).

Goose – 13 whole plucked geese for roasting and possibly 10 pounds for jerky.

Walleye –15 pounds for chowder or 13 pounds for tacos.

Catfish – 13 pounds for tacos and/or 20 pounds for a main dish.           

Salmon – 10 pounds for smoking plus 20 pounds for the main meal.

Chukar – 100 to150 birds for soup and a main dish.

 

If and when you can commit to a donation just text Marilyn at 509-392-2128 or send an email to momhoops46@gmail.com.  The list will be trimmed as donations are received.  Other items that we expect to need that we have purchased in the past are 30 to 40 pounds of roasting potatoes, 15 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes for chowder, 15 pounds of yellow onions, and individually wrapped butter pats.  If you have a cost effective source for these items, please contact Marilyn.  If you have ideas to share or want to get involved for the 2026 dinner, please call or text Marilyn.  If you have a prize to donate or would like to help with prize solicitation, please call or text John Prather at 509-521-1593.

 

 

Photo of the Month

 

There was only one contest entry this month so Mike Estes was the winner by default.  Mike took this photo at Cold Springs Reservoir in Oregon on May 17.  The photo shows the calm immediately preceding a thunder storm.  Lightning and thunder and rain erupted before Mike and his fishing partner could get to shore.  A little dangerous when fishing from a metal boat.