Tale of West Texas Elk as told to me by a man born and raised in Alpine a a former student.
Elk were first reintroduced in the Davis Mountains by the Long X ranch in the 1940s. The did "ok." Then in or about 1983 TPWD traded Rio Grande Turkeys with Utah for Elk. The Elk were transplanted to the Davis Mountains ( an original habitat in antiquity). The Elk flourished and were planned to be a "game animal" until TPWD "told" the ranchers that they'd have to allow permit holders to hunt on their ranches.
The ranchers balked (as to be expected given their nature) essentially telling TPWD to go Butt a stump. Subsequently a "rider" showed up on a Bill (allegedly not wildlife related) designating Elk as Exotics. Hence, even if I'd wanted to, I couldn't register my 400" Bull I shot out there in the B&C record book ( he'd of made it both ways).
The interesting thing is Elk were just as much a part of native Texas wild game as the Desert Bighorns. But, TPWD ignores that. Hence there is no closed season and no bag limit. They're primarily managed by ranchers ( arguably better than Austin would/could) who've enjoyed a nice windfall from the herd.
One other bull**** move by a San Antonio ( non-resident landowner) was introducing them to the Sierra Diablos. Never any Elk in that range historically, only Mule Deer and Bighorns. The Elk interfere significantly with the Bighorns ( a MUCH bigger payday for the rancher that gets a tag). Most ranchers through Texas Bighorn Assn and privately have put in "guzzlers" for the sheep. You can only imagine what a moderate sized Elk herd would do to your rainwater guzzler (cistern). Needless to say, neither the Elk or the ranch owner are very well liked in the Diablos!
