The number of elk taken on a depredation hunt will not be known until the successful hunters return their harvest report, according to a spokeswoman at Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Coeur d’ Alene.

Greg Johnson, senior conservation officer with Fish and Game in Boundary County, said 15 elk permits were sold for the two-week hunt that closed Feb. 28.

Johnson said residents in the immediate area were notified about the hunt.

“The land owner has nursery trees and elk are destroying these trees,” Johnson said. “We are bound by Idaho law to take some kind of action. We have a responsibility to help land owners when they have the problem and this is just one of the tools we have that involves killing the least amount of animals.”

According to Johnson the elk can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage to nursery trees. Property owners can go after the state for damages if the government does not step up and help.

There are options for Fish and Game including building a fence, which was not an option in this case. Fish and Game can increase the general elk hunt, which is not something it would consider since the problem is in an isolated area.

Because the problem is in an isolated area, the Fish and Game made it a short hunt and targeted in one small area. Often times elk will relocate once they are hunted, according to Johnson.

There was some concern some elk were pregnant. Johnson said that elk are pregnant in October when the season opens as well, however not as pregnant so it isn’t as noticeable.

“It happens anyway even during regular elk season the elk are already pregnant,” said Johnson.