Kentucky taking comments on draft version of elk plan

(AP) The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is reviewing proposed guidelines for management of the state’s elk herd and wants the public’s ideas and opinions.

The draft is available here, and people may contribute feedback by email until Feb. 5.

Elk were initially released into the southeastern Kentucky mountains in 1997. Fish and Wildlife said in a news release that once the herd became established, the agency’s focus shifted from restoring a free-ranging elk population to managing what is now the largest population of elk east of the Rocky Mountains.

Jenkins and department biologists have been developing the long-range plan using data from past Kentucky elk research projects and input from interested parties.