Elk group recommends changes to hunting season

CODY, Wyo. (AP) — A working group is recommending changes to hunting season in hopes of balancing the regional elk herd population in northwestern Wyoming.

Wyoming Game and Fish estimates there are 7,500 elk in the Cody elk herd unit, but the preferred population is 5,600.

The Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/IcrOeZ) reports a working group on Tuesday made suggestions including a more liberal hunting season and more antlerless hunting where the elk population is high. The group suggests limiting hunting near Yellowstone National Park, where the population is struggling.

The recommendations were the result of studying population trends across eight districts.

The working group includes bow hunters, landowners, state biologists and others who have been meeting since June. They have until May 1 to submit their recommendations to Wyoming Game and Fish.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.