History has been made in Tennessee's rich conservation legacy. After a nine-year effort to restore huntable populations of wild elk to the Volunteer State, three hunters successfully harvested the first animals Monday morning on the Upper Cumberland Wildlife Management Area 50 miles north of Knoxville. The last documented elk taken in Tennessee was in 1865.

Hunt Day Photo Gallery below

Click HERE for the Elk Photo Gallery from the Hatfield Knob Viewing Tower.

Chuck Flynn from Blount County was the hunter who actually scored first, although all three elk taken Monday were on the ground within the first hour of daylight. Late Monday afternoon, Jeff Moses from Cleveland, Tenn. was successful in taking the day's 4th bull elk.

Moses says he has had several sleepless nights, anticipating this historic hunt. Knowing what an honor it would be to take one of the first Tennessee elk in modern history, Jeff wondered the night before the hunt if he would take the first bull elk he sees, or with five days to hunt, will he hold out for a brute.

"I'd really like to wait for a better one," he said. "But I'm not going to make no promises because when it's right there in front of you it's hard to say what you'll do. A good 6x6 will be hard to pass up."

The word is that Jeff indeed took a nice 6x6.

It was for fitting for Flynn to be first however as he carried Elk Permit 001.

"When I got down where I could see him good, and he turned his head, I knew he was good," said Flynn.

Flynn's bull was what is called a 6x7... six points on one side of its antlers and seven on the other. When the word went out, dozens of people converged on the site of Flynn's kill... wildlife officers, biologists, and representatives with several conservation groups that have been involved with the elk restoration effort. It was, to put it bluntly, a circus.

Still flying high on adrenalin, Flynn, a deacon in his church, said, "I think the Lord has watched over me through this whole thing. Everything that's happened I just think He's watched over me and blessed me with it all."

Flynn was only one of five people who received permits out of about 13,000 people who applied for the history-making hunt.

Ronald Woodard from Oak Ridge and Craig Gardner from Cocke County were the other successful hunters Monday morning. The trio was among the four hunters who were selected June 9 in a computer drawing from the 13,000 entries. The fifth and final permit was presented to the high bidder in an auction to benefit the state’s elk restoration program.

Tami Miller from Franklin had yet to take elk, although the hunt continues through Friday.

Steve Bennett is the Elk Restoration Project Leader for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. For over a decade his life has been dedicated to this day.

"This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people," said Bennett. "We started planning for this in 2000, even though we didn't know when this day would come. It is a great day but we've still got a lot of work to do. We're going to continue to grow this elk herd."

Hunt Day Photo Gallery below

Click HERE for the Elk Photo Gallery from the Hatfield Knob Viewing Tower.

The current population is estimated at around 300. Bennett says that he thinks the available habitat in Tennessee can ultimately support up to 2,000 elk. He says they do expect to have another elk hunt next year, but won't make a final decision until after they conduct an official herd census in November. Greg Wathen, TWRA's Chief of Wildlife says he hopes they can perhaps increase the number to at least ten.

Of course that would increase the odds of future hunters being selected, although Wathen says he expects more applicants next year... especially after the press and excitement generated by Monday's success. The fortunate hunters who drew permits this year cannot apply again for ten years.

Samples from all the elk taken on this hunt will be studied at the University of Tennessee Veterinary School to help assess herd health. Concerns over Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) hampered Tennessee's elk restoration efforts as some agricultural experts worried that the disease sometimes carried by elk, could spread to cattle. However CWD has never been detected in elk or deer in Tennessee.

Flynn was accompanied Monday by his friend Frank Whaley, guide Eric Anderson, along with Harold Knight and David Hale of Knight & Hale Game Calls who were videotaping for their TV program. Apparently the excitement of the hunt, and perhaps an audience, rattled Flynn some. He admits he missed his first shot at the bull that was about 100 yards away. The bull started walking and Flynn's second shot went true.

Hunt Day Photo Gallery below

Click HERE for the Elk Photo Gallery from the Hatfield Knob Viewing Tower.

Ed Carter, Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, made his way to Flynn's kill with the crowd.

“I wouldn’t have missed this moment for anything," said Carter. "Our agency personnel and partners have put so much effort into making this possible. I’m so proud that we have a growing population of elk not only for viewing, but one that can provide this opportunity to our hunters.” he said. “The electricity in the air at camp last night was similar to the excitement just prior to kickoff at Neyland Stadium.”

TWRA partnered with other conservation organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Tennessee Wildlife Federation, the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation to reintroduce elk to the state. The effort began with the first elk release held on December 19, 2000.