Yakima elk love the high life

The Yakima elk herd’s reduction from roughly 13,500 animals to 9,500 has been accomplished over the past few years, requiring fewer antlerless permits to be issued this year. But herd has a good ratio of big bulls and decent numbers of spikes, and the zone for hunters to focus their efforts when the seasons open has not changed.

“About 90 percent of the elk will be in the greener areas above 4,000 feet toward the Cascades Crest until deep snow drives them down,” said Jeff Bernatowicz, state biologist in Yakima.

Two years ago we had bad snow storms and a lot of hunters had trouble getting out of the high country where the elk were. Last year, we had a storm that dropped only about 4 inches of snow — not enough snow to push elk to lower elevations— but a lot of hunters who remembered the previous year panicked and bailed out.”

His advice this year: Bring chains, return, and go high.

The Colockum herd near Ellensburg continues to struggle.