PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Transplanted elk that leave the wooded mountains of eastern Kentucky in search of greener pastures will be fair game for deer hunters beginning next year.

        Jonathan Day, head of the state's elk restoration project, said concerns about the large animals damaging crops in agricultural areas prompted the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission to take the tougher stand on roaming elk.

        “When we set out to re-establish elk, we agreed that we would do it in certain counties where it was most feasible,” Mr. Day said. “We, of course, would love to see the elk live and be just about everywhere, but that's not always possible given human constraints.”

        A mature bull elk can weigh as much as 800 pounds and have antlers that measure 4 to 6 feet in length. Their larger size makes them more damaging than deer on cropland.

        Wildlife managers began reintroducing elk to Kentucky in 1997 — in 14 counties in the state's Appalachian region. The population now stands around 2,000 elk, most of which were shipped from Utah, Arizona, Oregon, North Dakota and Kansas. The goal is to have about 7,500 elk in the mountain region.

        Mr. Day said elk will remain protected in the 14 eastern Kentucky counties where they have been released, plus a 10-county buffer zone made up of Lawrence, Elliott, Morgan, Wolfe, Lee, Owsley, Jackson, Laurel, Whitley and McCreary counties.

        West of that zone, deer hunters will be permitted to shoot both bulls and cows during bow and gun seasons for deer.

        “If you see them, you can shoot them — but that will not take effect until the 2003-2004 hunting season,” Mr. Day said. “If we let them wander outside the zone and become established, there is no limit on how far they could go.”

        Stephanie Boyles, a wildlife biologist with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said game managers should be encouraging farmers to coexist with the elk, rather than giving them licenses to kill.

        “There are scare devices that can be used to keep away without having to kill these animals,” Ms. Boyles said. “The Department of Fish and Wildlife knew this was going to occur. They knew the grievances the farmers had, and they reintroduced the elk anyway. It was irresponsible for the elk and the farmers.”

        Wildlife managers in Virginia have been allowing deer hunters to shoot trespassing Kentucky elk for the past two years. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said the decision was based in part on fears that the large animals might carry disease across the state border and that the animals could damage crops.

        Kentucky elk also have ventured into West Virginia and Tennessee. Two elk out of the first group of animals brought into Kentucky took up residence on a golf course in Tazewell, Tenn., leaving hoof prints on manicured greens.

        Mr. Day said shooting elk outside the restoration area will not negatively affect the restocking program.

        “This just eliminates those rogue elk that have wandered off and are not going to come back,” he said.

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