Hunter Claims Elk Herded onto Private Property to protect their Right to Life

During the September 14, 2026 meeting of the Del Norte County Fish and Game Advisory Commission, a Sacramento-area hunter raised a troubling allegation concerning elk hunting in Del Norte County. The meeting was held at 5:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, with Chairman Rob Miller presid- ing. During the meeting, Mike Raptakis, a Sacramento res- ident who said he possessed an elk tag to hunt in Del Norte County, reported wit- nessing what he described as Alexandre Family Farm trucks and an ATV being used to herd elk onto the farm’s private property, pre- venting hunters from having an opportunity to fill their tags. Raptakis told commission- ers that he had taken videos of the alleged activity and was willing to provide the recordings as evidence so the matter could be investi- gated and, if substantiated, stopped. Chairman Miller respond- ed that similar concerns had been reported in the past and indicated that he would look into the matter. The Commission’s Septem- ber 14 agenda specifically in- cluded both “Private Lands” and an “Elk Update” among its scheduled business. The allegation raises an important question for local hunters: Are elk being inten- tionally moved from areas accessible to licensed hunt- ers onto private property? At this point, Raptakis’ statements remain allega- tions. The reported videos and any subsequent inves- tigation will be important in determining exactly what occurred. For hunters who spend sig- nificant money and time ob- taining tags and preparing for an elk hunt, the answer deserves careful examina- tion.