Since 1979, the Vail and Vickers Co., in conjunction with Multiple
Use Managers (www.mumwildlife.com), has managed the hunting of Roosevelt
Elk and Rocky Mountain mule deer on Santa Rosa Island. At over 82 square
miles, Santa Rosa is the second largest of the 8 Channel Islands of the
coast of southern California: slightly smaller than Santa Cruz and
larger than Catalina.
In 1929-30, about 30 elk and 30 mule deer were brought to Santa Rosa
by the Vail family. the elk came from the Olympic Peninsula of
Washington and the mule deer were brought in from the famed Kaibib
Plateau of Arizona. With good feed and protection due to hundreds of
large hills and valleys and no predators, the elk and deer have
flourished for the benefit of hunters and hikers alike.
Each year, the elk and deer populations must be kept in check, and
those fortunate to book this hunt are able to return home with antlers,
capes, meat, and memories. For this video, the on-camera hunters are
Mike Pasaglia Sr. (trophy elk and trophy mule deer), Mike Pasaglia Jr.
(trophy mule deer), Angeliquea Berg (management elk), William "Smitty"
Smith (management elk and management mule deer), and Ken Wilson
(management elk).
