I feel bad for the Elk because without the supplemental feeding, I fear there will be enough natural food for the elk to eat to survive the winter. Combine this with the way "we" utilize the lands surrounding these feed grounds (Cattle graze them off all summer, housing being built, fences, ect ect.) and its really not in their favor. These elk have become creatures of habit relying on this feed for the last 100 years.
Not a good situation. Either way, I dont have any say in it but it is a double edged sword for sure.
They used to have turkey feeding programs all over the mountains of PA back in the day (60,s 70's, 80's) when they had their big stocking programs. I remember seeing the corn feeders when I was young. They are almost all gone now just some remnants here and there of the old feeders. They ended the feeding program. Turkeys eventually stopped relying on them and moved to their natural patterns. But this isnt really comparing animals to animals.