The Status of Elk and Elk Hunting in the United States
Elk are among the most popular big game species for hunting. Populations are being re-established in the eastern and midwestern U.S., whereas populations in the western U.S. face unique management challenges. Our goal for this project is to compile current and historical data associated with elk populations and harvest; licenses and permits; hunter success; and other data to help guide and serve as a hub for management and conservation of elk.
Data collected by state fish and wildlife agencies are dynamic in both space and time, but there are many opportunities for comparisons across states. Further, many states are updating their elk management plans, and our work may help inform those updates. We completed a very in-depth look at management models for Montana, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Wyoming, and we are now working on broader yet comprehensive overviews for all 28 U.S. states that currently have an elk population.
This project is funded by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to directly support their mission, which is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, and our hunting heritage.
Elk are among the most popular big game species for hunting. Populations are being re-established in the eastern and midwestern U.S., whereas populations in the western U.S. face unique management challenges. Our goal for this project is to compile current and historical data associated with elk populations and harvest; licenses and permits; hunter success; and other data to help guide and serve as a hub for management and conservation of elk.
Data collected by state fish and wildlife agencies are dynamic in both space and time, but there are many opportunities for comparisons across states. Further, many states are updating their elk management plans, and our work may help inform those updates. We completed a very in-depth look at management models for Montana, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Wyoming, and we are now working on broader yet comprehensive overviews for all 28 U.S. states that currently have an elk population.
This project is funded by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to directly support their mission, which is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, and our hunting heritage.
Aerial surveys are used by many state fish and wildlife agencies to estimate population abundance, herd composition, and distribution of elk, and to compare those values to their management objectives. These surveys are challenging, costly, and weather-dependent, but are often conducted on an annual basis. The source of the majority of funding for elk (and wildlife in general) management ultimately comes from hunters, whether through state license fees; federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, etc.; or through hunter-supported organizations such as Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
State fish and wildlife agencies also conduct focused research and management activities that directly involve capturing elk, such as net-gunning via helicopter. Typically, captured elk are radio-collared and many types of data are collected prior to release. These focused projects are designed to answer specific questions and therefore allow for informed decision-making by managers.
PROJECT PARTNER
Copyright 2024 Wildlife Ecology Institute