Elk hunting

The Missouri House has voted overwhelmingly to raise poaching fines to protect the state's fledgling elk population.

The bill approved Wednesday would allow judges to impose fines of at least $2,500 for attempting to illegally hunt elk. The money would be used to benefit local school districts.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is planning to allow Elk hunting starting in 2016.

The Columbia Missourian reports the plan is contingent on the Elk population growing to at least 200. The conservation department has been working on growing the Elk population since 2010. The Department been bringing elk into Missouri from Kentucky in an effort to reintroduce the population into the state.