Notorious 2006 elk escape, then-Gov. Risch's kill order subject of Idaho Supreme Court hearing

A continuing dispute over then-Gov. Jim Risch's 2006 order for state wildlife agents to shoot elk rancher Rex Rammell's escaped animals has now reached the Idaho Supreme Court, where justices Wednesday heard arguments contending the state can't just shoot somebody's private property without a good reason. The escaped elk and Risch's subsequent efforts to kill them caused a furor in 2006, precipitating efforts in the next Legislature to more strictly regulate ranches such as Rammell's offering high-priced hunts for prized bucks behind high fences. Rammell tried to capitalize on the attention to bolster his political fortunes, including a failed 2008 run against Risch for U.S. Senate. The Spokesman-Review reports justices Wednesday appeared skeptical of Rammell's arguments that Risch's shoot-to-kill order was illegal. Questioning Rammell's attorney, Justice Jim Jones suggested Idaho law allows state wildlife managers to carry out emergency hunts when animals are on the loose for more than seven days. "Doesn't Fish and Game have the authority to issue emergency depredation hunts when situations arise?" Jones asked. Rammell's lawyer, Patrick Furey, countered that Risch's order came unaccompanied by any evidence that roughly 160 elk that fled through a broken fence at Rammell's ranch were diseased or posed a threat to Idaho's wild elk herds near the border of Yellowstone National Park, located some 10 miles away...more