As  with  any  modern-day  hunting activity, there will always be ethical issues
attached  to  it.  Elk  hunting is not spared. The debate on this has spawned as
long  as  some form of legislative body has been in place and will definitely go
on as long as there are differing opinions on game hunting.

One  key  issue  is  the  hunting season itself. Avid elk hunters are aware that
seasonal  hunting  gives  the best opportunity for a good hunt, whether for meat
or  for  trophy.  However,  in  recent developments, all-season hunting has been
made  available, meaning hunters are able to choose the time that suits them the
most  and  go hunting at any time of the year. This is the result of game farms,
where  farmers  allocate  hectares of land to breed and raise elk and other game
animals,  for  the sole purpose of allowing hunters to pay and hunt within these
encroachments.

Activists  believe  this has made elk hunting too much of a sport without taking
into  consideration  the  biological  needs of the elk population. This includes
interfering  with  and  manipulating  of the natural breeding and birthing cycle
and  process.  This  in  turn  will  result in less superior elks, more prone to
cross-animal diseases and other genetic implications.

The  other  pertinent  issue  would  be  the  purpose of hunting them. Different
hunters  are  into this activity for different reasons. Apart from the lean meat
that  wild  elks provide, there are hunters who are in it for the endurance-like
challenge,  with end-result of either taking away with them the meat or just the
trophy,  which  ultimately  are  the head and antlers. In some cases, such as in
“research captures”, the elks are tranquilized and only the antlers removed.

The  age of the elks hunted also varies. This aspect may be an issue among some.
The  meat-hunters  will  go  for elks that have just matured into young bulls or
cows  and  occasionally  yearlings  or  calves  are  hunted  as well. For trophy
hunters,  the  more  matured bulls provide the best yield. Occasionally, hunting
for cows means that the yearlings’dependent  upon  them  will  lose  their  provider,  for nursing and protection.
Weakened  calves  or  death  among  the  still-nursing, abandoned calves will be
almost eminent.

Another  issue  raised  by many is the method of hunting or killing of the elks.
While  it  is  well known that primitive weaponry is no longer used, it is often
debated  whether  modern-day  weaponry  such as rifles and tranquilizer guns are
more  humane. Reality is, a hunt means stalking and immobilizing it, or ideally,
killing  the  elk  the  fastest possible way. However, in many cases, injury not
resulting  in  instantaneous  death of the hunted elk does occur. In many cases,
the  use  of  high-powered  rifles  results  in  a  direct  hit of vital organs.
However,  the  elk  is  either still able to move about, resulting in the hunter
having  to  hunt  for a wounded, suffering elk. In some instances, where terrain
and  weather  may  hamper  the hunter, it may take hours or worse, days before a
wounded  elk  is  found.  By then it would probably have died a fairly agonizing
death.

Other  concerns  raised  by  certain  parties  are the ecological impact of such
activity.  This  includes the trail of human litter, where irresponsible hunters
may  leave  behind  gear  or  rubbish  brought  along  into the wilderness while
hunting.