The National Park Service said 462 elk were killed in what was the second year of a herd reduction plan that began last fall.

Valerie Naylor, superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, said in a statement that 200 volunteers were selected to cull elk between Oct. 18 and Nov. 22.

Last year 406 elk were removed from the park in the 12-week period. This year the reduction started two weeks earlier and ended a month earlier, Naylor said.

Naylor said of the 200 volunteers selected, only 138 completed the five-week assignment.

She said 27 decided not to participate, 20 failed the shooting proficiency test and 15 left early.

Naylor said 20,000 pounds of elk meat was donated to the Sportsmen Against Hunter program through North Dakota Community Action.

She said North Dakota American Indian tribes received 25,000 pounds of meat.

Naylor said every elk killed during the two years of the reduction program was tested for chronic wasting disease and all have come back negative.

Naylor said it is likely that 2012 will be the final year for a large-scale elk reduction and notification will be sent out early next summer with details.

Those interested in volunteering should check the park's website at www.nps.gov/thro for information