Ojibwe plan to kill elk alarms Wis. DNR

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are expressing “deep concern” about plans by Ojibwe bands to kill a single elk for ceremonial purposes.

The DNR sent a letter to a tribal organization Tuesday. The agency wrote that plans to kill an elk this year would be a “setback” in relations between the state and the tribes over elk management.

About 185 elk live in the Clam Lake area of Ashland County. Currently Wisconsin has no hunting season for elk, although one could start as early as next year if the elk population exceeds 200.

A spokeswoman for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that tribal citizens had not had a chance to read the DNR letter, and could not comment.

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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com