yeah, there is problems with hoof rot in the area our group has had 3 cow tags in the last 5 yrs for the boisfort jan. hunt and we have seen alot of gimpy elk, but what we have learned is if you get up out of the valley, the elk seem to not have any problems with the hoof rot. i think most of the elk in the valley are pretty much resident elk not going too far from the farmers fields. we are excited to try this permit unit because the area is away from the farmers fields a bit. I have been told from the game department that the meat should be fine but, if you shoot something that seems to have any problems with the meat you can contact the game department and they can check out the animal and if they find the animal to be in poor condition they will issue a new tag. With the permit season being so short, i would doubt you would be issued a new tag in time to finish your hunt. Two years ago when we were hunting the boisfort permit unit we had 18 elk about 80 yards away and all but two of them were limping 1 cow 1 spike, we talked it over and decided we didnt want to shoot a limper and let them pass. We saw that same herd in the same field 4 times after that, it seemed like the limping elk didnt want to leave the fields, i think they just were staying where it was easy going for the herd and where there was a good food source. Ive thought about the hoof rot scenerio since then and i dont think i'll pass on a shot again.
