The Yukon government is introducing a new adaptive elk hunting opportunity.

The move, announced Tuesday, is in recognition of the “ongoing interactions with wild elk and agricultural landowners in the Takhini Valley area, the government said in a statement.

Eight new Wildlife Act permits will be awarded for bull elk with five-point antlers or fewer on either side, in the Takhini hunt code area (EL23).

This will be effective from Sept. 1 to March 31, 2023.

This is in addition to the four existing elk Permit Hunt Authorizations, for a total of 12 elk permits in EL23 for the 2022-23 hunting season.

EL23 comprises Game Management Subzones:

5-47
5-50 (portion)
7-02 (portion)
7-04 (portion)
7-05 (portion)
7-13
7-14 (portion)
7-15
7-18
8-04 (portion)

Four of the Wildlife Act permits will be provided to the Yukon First Nations that have traditional territory overlapping the Takhini and the Braeburn herd ranges.

These include the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Champagne-Aishihik First Nation.

Four of the Wildlife Act permits will be offered to the next drawn hunters in this year’s elk Permit Hunt Authorization (PHA) lottery.

This adaptive management approach is a two-year pilot project to reduce interactions between elk and agricultural landowners. This replaces the previous elk-agricultural conflict hunt.

Next year, a new hunt code unique to this opportunity will be offered during the 2023-24 PHA application period.

“Elk are a sought-after species by many Yukon hunters, and they can also be a source of frustration for some agricultural landowners in the Takhini Valley area,” said Environment Minister Nils Clarke.

“Doubling the number of elk permits available to licensed hunters will help deter elk from encroaching upon farmers’ fields and support a sustainable harvest opportunity for Yukoners.”

This adaptive management approach was recommended by the Elk Agriculture Working Group.

The 2021 winter minimal count for the Takhini elk herd was estimated at 247.

“The Government of Yukon recognizes that the longstanding issue of elk and farm interactions is a challenging concern for Takhini Valley farmers,” said Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker.

“This adaptive hunt is one of the management tools we are implementing to address elk impacts on crops and farm infrastructure.

“It means improved co-ordination, less congestion in the area and it will allow farmers to focus on producing more food for the Yukon.”

Th evaluation of harvest success numbers through the season will inform the allocations and permit regime in future harvest years.