Ethics of Enclosure Hunting

This document has been developed to outline the industry's definition of an acceptable private hunting operation. North American Elk Breeders Association is an agricultural breed association; we sell our commodity of trophy elk to hunting preserves. We strongly suggest that members of our association sell elk only to operations that meet the following guidelines.

  1. THE OPERATIONS SHOULD ASSURE HARVESTING IN ANY AREA BY ANY METHOD WHICH, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF SIZE, TERRAIN, AND VEGETATIVE COVER, PROVIDES AN ANIMAL WITH A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID BEING FOUND OR, HAVING BEEN FOUND, TO EVADE THE HUNTER.
  2. HARVESTING OPERATIONS SHOULD OFFER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED HUNTERS.
  3. TROPHY OPERATIONS SHOULD BE ENCLOSED IN GAME FENCE THAT EXCLUDES WILD ANIMALS FROM THE ENCLOSURE AND RETAINS COMMERCIALLY RAISED ANIMALS WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE. WITHIN THE TROPHY OPERATION, ONLY COMMERCIALLY RAISED ANIMALS WILL BE HARVESTED.
  4. TROPHY ANIMALS PLACED IN A HARVEST OPERATION SHOULD EXHIBIT THEIR NATURAL FLIGHT INSTINCT.
  5. THE ANIMALS SHOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT FOR FORAGE, WATER, AND SHELTER. SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING IS PERMITTED.
  6. EACH HUNT SHOULD INCLUDE A GUIDE TO ENSURE HUMANE HARVESTING.
  7. HARVEST AREA SHOULD BE A SIZE TO ENSURE RECOVERY OF TROPHY ANIMAL.
  8. HUNTER SHOULD POSSESS FAMILIARITY WITH WEAPON OF CHOICE.
  9. IF THE HUNTER DOES NOT WANT THE MEAT FROM THE HARVESTED ANIMAL, IT SHOULD BE USED BY THE HARVEST OPERATION OR DONATED TO A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT WILL DISTRIBUTE IT TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
  10. PROPER POSTMORTEM TESTING MUST BE DONE TO MONITOR HERD HEALTH.

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