Idaho Fish and Game Wants to Relocate and Kill About 100 Elk Near Emmett

Idaho Fish and Game is proposing a plan to deal with a problem elk herd living on private land west of Emmett. Agricultural damage in the area was over $1 million last year.

The plan to remove the herd would happen in the spring and summer of 2026 and would focus on elk that aren't migrating.

These Elk Aren’t Just Passing Through

Elk herds typically migrate, but this particular herd has taken up permanent residency on private property owned by five landowners. Conditions are good. Food is plentiful. And the herd has grown to around 350 elk over the last five years. Fish and Game trapped several elk and fitted them with GPS collars to confirm they’re sticking around all year.

The Plan: Move Some, Remove the Rest

Fish and Game plans to relocate about 40 elk to other units where elk numbers are low. The remaining 60 or so will be lethally removed using USDA Wildlife Services.
The kills would be harvested by a licensed meat processor, and the meat would be distributed to regional food banks.

Why Not Just Relocate All of Them?

Fish and Game says large relocation efforts can be risky for the animals, and elk tend to learn fast and start avoiding traps. So, it’s pretty much impossible to remove them all at once.

Why Not Just Let Hunters Take Care of It?

That’s already been part of the effort. Fish and Game says Unit 32 holds general-season elk hunts. Landowners have allowed managed public hunting, including additional opportunities through Landowner Permission Hunts.

Fish and Game says hunters harvested about 150 elk on these properties last year, but calf production has been high, and harvesting alone hasn’t been enough to stop the elk from damaging agriculture on the land.

You can find more information about this plan in a posted release on the Idaho Fish and Game website.