Species: Elk

Elk (Wapiti)

Elk, or Wapiti, as they were called by Native Americans were once native to nearly every state in the nation.  Obviously, their habitat has been altered over the last three hundred years to the point that some of our subspecies have become extinct.

The most populous of our elk species is the Rocky Mountain Elk.  They are found in all Rocky Mountain states, and are the stock from which transplants have been made to the Eastern states where new populations are thriving.

Roosevelt elk would be our second most plentiful species.  These elk (that some call Rosies) occupy the dense rain forest of the Pacific coast states.  They carry massive body size and would the largest statured of the elk species, though the Rocky Mountain elk would be the largest antlered.

Manitoba elk are found in the prairies of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and northeast North Dakota.  These elk are very close in size to the Rocky Mountain elk, yet have more atypical features to their antlers.

Tule elk are relegated to small areas of the Central Valley of California.  Of all our remaining subspecies, the Tule elk is at greatest risk.  Tule elk would be the smallest of all the elk species, both in terms of body size and antler development.

Eastern elk once occupied most of the country east of the Mississippi River.  They became extinct in the 1800’s, due to commercial market shooters and lack of seasons and protections.

Merriams elk inhabited the elk country of Arizona and New Mexico.  Records show these to have been the largest of our elk sbuspecies.  And like many animals, the late 1800’s was the last known time they still roamed our mountains.

Arguably, the most romantic hunt for the On Your Own hunter is chasing bugling bull elk in the Rocky Mountains.  No doubt, that is a great hunt.  As elk numbers grow, hunting is no longer limited to the Rockies, and most hunting occurs at times outside the bugling activity of the rut.

Fortunately for the On Your Own hunter, you can hunt elk every year, if you so desire.  Whether you draw a tag in one of the states conducting limited entry drawings, or purchase one of the over-the-counter tags in the western states, you can be hunting elk every year.

Archery hunting is the easiest opportunity to draw.  And, given most archery season occur in peak of the rut, the experience of archery hunting elk is hard to beat.  Some limited opportunities exist for muzzleloader or rifle hunting during the rut, but those are very limited opportunities, with lottery-type odds.

Hunting tactics for elk are as varied as the terrain and conditions in which you find them.  Bugling and calling is an effective rut season tactic.  Spot and stalk will be the most common approach to late-season rifle hunts.  Hunting waterholes and blinds are effective in the heat of the pre-rut.  And, still hunting the dark timber of the Rockies and the Northwest is very effective when the biggest bulls find sanctuary from hunting pressure in the deadfall jungles of these forests.

Elk are the second largest members of the deer family (Cervidae) behind moose, the largest. Males will weigh between 600 to over 1000 pounds (270-450 kg), while females weigh between 450 to 650 pounds (200-320 kg). They will stand up to 5 feet (1.5 m)at the shoulder.

The chart above shows the highest quality and the easiest states to draw a tag.  Don’t let that be your only guide.  Tags in Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon can be quite easy to obtain.  Colorado and Idaho, with their over-the-counter and first-come-first-served approach, are by far the easiest states for the On Your Own hunter to plan his hunt.

As much as Arizona and Utah have dominated recent record book entries for trophy elk, Nevada and New Mexico have great trophy elk.  Montana and Wyoming are producing great trophies for those who will get off the beaten path, and given the ease of drawing tags in those states, may be the best mix of quality and opportunity.  Where ever you go, any elk hunt is a great hunt, and any elk is a trophy.

In 1984, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was formed and has since grown to over 100,000 members, all in the name of elk and the habitat they need.  RMEF is considered the greatest advocate for elk and their habitat, with the millions of volunteer dollars and volunteer hours being employed for the benefit of all elk, and elk hunters.  I hope you would take the time to learn more about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and consider becoming a member.

Montana public land bull.

Nevada public land bull