Types of Elk for Hunting
Elk hunting has grown to be a one of the most popular sports in U.S. today. The
elks are almost paradoxical creatures, they bugle and have very distinctive
calls, yet they can be difficult to locate and may disappear in seconds or
sneak up on hunters without making a sound. As large as they are, they can be
swift and silent as much as they can be callous and loud.
There are three subspecies of elk in North America. The most widespread of all
the elks is the Rocky Mountain Elk or as most people know it, the American Elk.
In Colorado, the largest herd of elks can be found, with over 300,000 animals
in it. A bull American elk may weigh up to 800 pounds or more while a cow
typically weighs around 450 to 500 pounds.
The population of American elk was once large in most of U.S. and Canada.
However, too many have been killed rampantly that they now survive only in
regions west of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. The largest herds are in
Yellowstone Park, on Montana’s Sun River and the Olympic Mountains of Washington. Along the mountain ranges
of Utah they live in large numbers. In New Mexico, Arizona and Idaho, western
elk hunting has become popular. Transplanting of the American elks to states
east of the Mississippi River, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan and
Pennsylvania has allowed them to have elk hunting on a limited basis.
The next type of elk is the largest of all elk species, the Roosevelt Elk. Its
mature bull can reach up to 1,000 pounds and a mature cow come up to 600
pounds. This subspecies are found in Oregon and Washington, while some can be
found in northern California and British Columbia. The Roosevelt elk is thought
to be the toughest to hunt as they don’t bugle as much as the American Elk. They are also slightly darker than the
American Elk and many inhabit can be found in the rugged and wet terrain of
Oregon’s rain forest.
The habitat and distribution of the Roosevelt Elk set them apart from the Rocky
Mountain Elk. These elks favour the logged and burnt-over areas of the coastal
mountains and the western slopes of the Cascades. Once they find a particular
area which meets their needs, they will spend their entire lives there. In late
summer, fall and winter, among their favourite food will be huckleberry,
trailing wild blackberry vine maple and other shrubs. In spring and early
summer, weeds and grasses are preferred.
Unlike the other two types of elk, the Tulle Elk can only be found in parts of
central California. It is smaller in built than the other two types. The
largest adult bull may weigh up to 600 pounds while the cow typically weighs
300 to 350 pounds. The most prominent feature of this type of elk is the white
rump.
The Tulle Elk live best in the moderate Mediterranean climate. They forage on
annual grasses such as red brome and cheatgrass, and perennial forbs such as
globe mallow and wild licorice. An important part of the herd’s diet is alfalfa.
Once, the North American Elk were considered a species separate from the
Eurasian red deer. Scientists now consider them to be the same, though the
distinctions between the two actually still live on in the different cultures
and languages.