Game Farmer Hopes To Switch From Elk To Bison Controversy Cost Him The Elk Herd; Wardens Will Be Checking

Controversial game farm operator Welch Brogan says he is officially out of the elk business but now is looking toward putting bison on his property.

After 51 years of operation, Brogan said his Cinnabar Game Farm disposed of its last elk on Friday.

Brogan said Monday he is now in compliance with an order from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to shut down his elk operation by Dec. 29. Brogan began the game farm in 1946.

The state agency decided in 1995 to revoke Brogan’s license, and the Montana Supreme Court rejected his challenges on July.

In place of the elk, Brogan said he might raise bison on the property. Bison farms are regulated by the state Department of Livestock.

The wildlife agency can move to revoke a game farm license with at least two violations.

Brogan was convicted of failing to maintain proper fencing and adding wild elk to his herd.

Many of the elk in the area migrate from Yellowstone National Park.

Brogan said the last two elk were sold to people in Louisiana and Colorado. The others were sent to live on another game farm in Montana, and Brogan still owns those animals.

Karen Zachheim, the agency’s game farm coordinator, said the state has a record of all animals kept at the 480-acre facility and is aware the domestic elk are gone but, “We may have one of the wardens swing by and check.”