Elk hoof disease causes lame elk because of misshapen or missing hooves.
Test results of diseased hooves sent to five diagnostic laboratories since 2013 point to infectious treponeme bacteria, which have been linked to digital dermatitis in domestic sheep and cattle. A 16-member technical panel of veterinarians and researchers, formed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to review test results from affected elk, has supported those findings.
Below is a map from the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, indicating where elk with hoof disease have been reported.
Generally, one or two herbicide applications are made during the first few years of a 40 year rotation cycle. Depending on the product being used, a few ounces to a few quarts of herbicide are applied per acre. The herbicide is mixed with water prior to application to ensure even coverage.
Timber is not harvested near streams or in wetlands so these areas are never sprayed. If there is surface water present at the time of an application, existing rules require a buffer zone around it.
The above cycle illustrates several points: