http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/do/jul03/jul1103b.htm

The above is a link, to a proposed elk transfer from the St. Helens, area to the North Cascades (Nooksack area).

In a decade the elk Population has dropped from 1700 animals to 300 animals. The cost of the transfer is to be shared by the state and treaty tribes.

Final day for public input is July 31.

That herd is destined to be wiped out why bother re-populating? The poachers, indians,and un-ethical archers aren't going anywhere.

I don't know why they continue to try to re-populate that herd. The WDFW has done it a few times, only to have them hunted back to their original levels, prior to the transplant. I'm not sure who to point the finger at, but there have been a numbers of different user groups responsible. It might be nice to see a closure in the transplant area for a number of years. It would be nice to see some of those St. Helens elk help to restore a smaller herd, rather than to have another large die-off.

I will volunteer for the dart and transfer operation, though. The last dart and collar operation I was in on was quite an eye opener, and I learned a lot of new country.

I agree with you about not using public funds for this elk transfer. The herd is being wiped out by poaching, and land encroachment. I say poaching, because no user group is supposed to be hunting this herd. (not even the tribes)
Until the state or tribes show that this area can even support existing numbers. I don't think there should be any money wasted on this transfer.
Washington doesn't have enough enforcement to police this area, so essentially you are just wasting money, and viable healthy elk to poachers.