TOPEKA (KSNT) - Kansas wildlife officials are taking steps to curb damage being caused to farmers landowners by rampant elk wandering around the state. Elk are one of the biggest animals you can encounter in the Sunflower State behind bison and some domesticated livestock. Most live at one of three locations in the state: the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Fort Riley or Cimarron National Grassland. Many Kansas hunters seek out elk due to their large size and the racks of antlers bulls can produce. However, wildlife officials are taking action to control the movement of elk through the state by opening up new hunting opportunities following reports of property damage. Matt Peek with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) recently appeared before wildlife commissioners during a meeting in Bonner Springs on Oct. 3. He spoke about the issue before the commission, highlighting that elk are beginning to leave their usual stomping grounds around Fort Riley, causing headaches for some local property owners. Kansas wildlife officials halt sale of lifetime hunting and fishing passes for older adults "The biggest issue we're facing with elk right now is that military training activities have increased significantly and maybe they're using some really aggressive equipment on the bombing range where the elk primarily have stayed and a bunch of these elk have gotten pushed off the fort it seems like," Peek said. "So we've had some damage complaints around Fort Riley that we really haven't had in recent years." Bull elk. (Getty Images) 27 News reached out to Peek recently to learn more about the problem and what steps the KDWP is taking to deal with it. He said the primary response has involved increases in season lengths and permit availability for hunters and landowners. The KDWP has also adjusted the boundaries of the elk hunting units in the state as well to make them more accessible to hunters. "This allows landowners to use legal hunting to address damage and to maintain elk numbers at tolerable levels," Peek said. "Elk hunting demand by hunters is high, and it's easy to find hunters when they can get a permit and access (i.e. landowner permission) to elk. Fort Riley also plants food plot in key areas to try and keep the elk on the Fort and off of private lands during the growing season." Black bear sightings are increasing in Kansas The KDWP has widened the hunting seasons for elk before such as in 2018 when commissioners approved to move the harvest season opener from Sept. 1 to Aug. 1. This move was also taken following landowner complaints regarding elk taking up residence on private property. Peek said there are around 500 elk living in the Sunflower State with the vast majority, about 300, living on or near Fort Riley. Some have been encountered recently far from the fort such as when a driver hit and killed one in September in Wabaunsee County and when one wandered into Wichita in August. Encounters like these are becoming more common as elk move away from Fort Riley, surprising those who are not used to seeing the big animals in Kansas. Map of elk distribution in Kansas. (Photo Courtesy/KDWP) "Several landowners expressed concern about elk numbers after the last growing season," Peek said. "I'm not aware of any active (growing season) damage complaints from this year, but we are looking to stay ahead of this issue as much as possible." Kansas hunters bought more than 200 elk permits during the 2023 season, the most ever sold in the state's history, according to a survey conducted by the KDWP. A total of 60 elk were taken in total during the previous season, up from 40 elk harvested in the 2022 season. For more information on elk hunting in Kansas, click here. If you are a landowner who has suffered damage from elk activity in Kansas, send our station an email using this link or call us at 785-582-5100. Bison for sale at upcoming auction in Kansas, what to know 27 News has reached out to Fort Riley for more information on the situation. For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf