Elk Elk (Cervus elaphus ) (Cervus elaphus ) Hunter Slade Hunter Slade
Dec 26, 2015
Elk BasicsElk Basics
Aka: Wapiti, Red deer Aka: Wapiti, Red deer
Male = BullMale = Bull Yearling bull = SpikeYearling bull = Spike
Female = CowFemale = Cow
Young = CalfYoung = Calf
Group name = GangGroup name = Gang
Average life span = 8-12 yearsAverage life span = 8-12 years
Four current subspecies in NAFour current subspecies in NA
Average size compared to 6 ft manAverage size compared to 6 ft man
Legal StatusLegal Status
All four subspecies legal to huntAll four subspecies legal to hunt
Depends on locationDepends on location Some areas depletedSome areas depleted
Even states with small populationsEven states with small populations
IdentificationIdentification
Light tan coatsLight tan coats Dark brown long haired maneDark brown long haired mane White rump White rump Legs darker in colorLegs darker in color
4 ½ to 5 ft tall at shoulder4 ½ to 5 ft tall at shoulder
6 ½ to 8 ft nose to rump6 ½ to 8 ft nose to rump
Can weight between 350 -1,100 lbsCan weight between 350 -1,100 lbs
IvoriesIvories
Identification - MalesIdentification - Males
Larger physical appearanceLarger physical appearance
Longer hair on maneLonger hair on mane
Thicker necks in generalThicker necks in general
Antlers/pedicels Antlers/pedicels
Identification - MalesIdentification - Males
AntlersAntlers Sweep backwards toward rumpSweep backwards toward rump Chocolate brown with polished tipsChocolate brown with polished tips 50 inches each on average50 inches each on average 12 lbs each on average12 lbs each on average
Up to 20 lbs eachUp to 20 lbs each Points on each side varyPoints on each side vary
Drop in springDrop in spring
Velvet until fallVelvet until fall
Identification - FemaleIdentification - Female
Smaller body sizeSmaller body size
Thinner hair on maneThinner hair on mane
Thinner neckThinner neck
Very rarely have antlersVery rarely have antlers
HistoryHistory
Once approximately 10 million in NAOnce approximately 10 million in NA
Reduced to less than 100,000 by early 1900sReduced to less than 100,000 by early 1900s Unregulated huntingUnregulated hunting Pressure from domestic grazingPressure from domestic grazing Habitat destruction from timber harvestHabitat destruction from timber harvest UrbanizationUrbanization Westward ExpansionWestward Expansion
Populations total over 1 million todayPopulations total over 1 million today Ability to live in multiple habitat typesAbility to live in multiple habitat types Opportunistic feedingOpportunistic feeding Positive reaction to managementPositive reaction to management
SubspeciesSubspecies
22 Subspecies globally22 Subspecies globally
Six separate subspecies in North AmericaSix separate subspecies in North America Rocky MountainRocky Mountain Roosevelt’sRoosevelt’s TuleTule ManitobanManitoban Eastern*Eastern* Merriam’s*Merriam’s*
Subspecies – Rocky Subspecies – Rocky MountainMountain
Cervus elaphus nelsoniCervus elaphus nelsoni
Located in Rocky Mountain WestLocated in Rocky Mountain West Now transplanted to other parts of countryNow transplanted to other parts of country
Largest antlers of all subspeciesLargest antlers of all subspecies
500-700 lbs500-700 lbs
Subspecies – Subspecies – Roosevelt’sRoosevelt’s
Cervus elaphus rooseveltiCervus elaphus roosevelti
Located in Coastal Pacific NorthwestLocated in Coastal Pacific Northwest
Largest body sizeLargest body size 600-1100 lbs600-1100 lbs Not largest antlersNot largest antlers
Darkest coatsDarkest coats
Subspecies - TuleSubspecies - Tule
Cervus elaphus nannodesCervus elaphus nannodes
Located in Central CaliforniaLocated in Central California
Smallest of all subspeciesSmallest of all subspecies 350-500 lbs350-500 lbs
Extra long rows of teethExtra long rows of teeth
Spend time in “Tules”Spend time in “Tules”
Subspecies - ManitobanSubspecies - Manitoban
Cervus elaphus manitobensisCervus elaphus manitobensis
Located in Northern Great PlainsLocated in Northern Great Plains
Dark coatsDark coats
600-770 lbs600-770 lbs
Subspecies – Eastern*Subspecies – Eastern*
Cervus elaphus canadensisCervus elaphus canadensis
Officially extinct in 1880Officially extinct in 1880
Were located east of MississippiWere located east of Mississippi
Subspecies – Subspecies – Merriam’s*Merriam’s*
Cervus elaphus merriamiCervus elaphus merriami
Extinct in 1908Extinct in 1908
Were located in the Southwest and MexicoWere located in the Southwest and Mexico
Annual CycleAnnual Cycle
SummerSummer Bachelor groupsBachelor groups FeedingFeeding
AutumnAutumn HaremsHarems RutRut
WinterWinter Winter rangeWinter range
SpringSpring Return to summer rangeReturn to summer range BirthingBirthing
Some herds are not migratorySome herds are not migratory
Daily ActivityDaily Activity
Active day and nightActive day and night
Peaks dawn and duskPeaks dawn and dusk
ReproductionReproduction
Rubbing antlersRubbing antlers
Mud wallowsMud wallows
BuglingBugling
FightingFighting
Cows in estrusCows in estrus
Elk Fighting and Bugling
CalvingCalving
240 to 262 day gestation period240 to 262 day gestation period
NewbornsNewborns
Cows are protectiveCows are protective
Nursery herdsNursery herds
Survival rates?Survival rates?
DispersalDispersal
Males more likely than femalesMales more likely than females
Females range adjacent to mother’s rangeFemales range adjacent to mother’s range
Males rarely make contact with mother againMales rarely make contact with mother again
Density dependent?Density dependent?
DistanceDistance Varies greatlyVaries greatly
HabitatHabitat
Food, water, cover and space!Food, water, cover and space!
Habitat depends on subspecies…Habitat depends on subspecies…
Woodland areasWoodland areas Early, mid- and late successionalEarly, mid- and late successional
Security coverSecurity cover
Large open areasLarge open areas Within 400 yards of woodlandWithin 400 yards of woodland
Winter habitat*Winter habitat*
HabitatHabitat
Pacific Northwest and CaliforniaPacific Northwest and California Coastal coniferous rainforestsCoastal coniferous rainforests Coastal prairieCoastal prairie Mixed conifer forestMixed conifer forest Riparian hardwood forests and shrublandsRiparian hardwood forests and shrublands Oak woodlandsOak woodlands Sagebrush steppeSagebrush steppe GrasslandsGrasslands
HabitatHabitat
Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains Mixed-conifer forestsMixed-conifer forests Quaking aspen forestsQuaking aspen forests GrasslandsGrasslands Alpine meadowsAlpine meadows Stream valley shrublandsStream valley shrublands Floodplain riparian hardwood forestFloodplain riparian hardwood forest
HabitatHabitat
Northern Great Plains and Prairie ProvincesNorthern Great Plains and Prairie Provinces Quaking aspen parklandsQuaking aspen parklands ShrublandsShrublands Mixed hardwood-conifer forestsMixed hardwood-conifer forests Conifer forestsConifer forests
HabitatHabitat
SouthwestSouthwest ShrublandsShrublands Pinyon-juniper woodlandsPinyon-juniper woodlands Ponerosa pine and Douglas-fir forestsPonerosa pine and Douglas-fir forests Stream valley shrublandsStream valley shrublands Floodplain riparian hardwood forestFloodplain riparian hardwood forest
Home RangeHome Range
Varies greatlyVaries greatly 1 – 95 sq. miles on average1 – 95 sq. miles on average Larger for malesLarger for males
Largest recordedLargest recorded 247 sq. mi. for males247 sq. mi. for males 149 sq. mi. for females149 sq. mi. for females
Influenced by many factorsInfluenced by many factors
DietDiet
Mostly opportunisticMostly opportunistic
Green and dried grassesGreen and dried grasses
ForbsForbs
Woody plantsWoody plants
BrowseBrowse
Other Grasses, Sedges, Other Grasses, Sedges, and Forbsand Forbs
wheatgrasses
fescues
buckwheat
elk sedge
dandelion
daisies
prairie junegrass
golden currant
chokecherry
beargrass
fireweed
American bistort
scarlet falsemeadow
clovers vetch
Mortality Mortality
PredationPredation WolvesWolves CoyotesCoyotes Black bearsBlack bears Grizzly bearsGrizzly bears Mountain lionsMountain lions
CalvesCalves
AdultsAdults
MortalityMortality
DiseaseDisease BrucellosisBrucellosis Bovine tuberculosisBovine tuberculosis Chronic wasting disease (CWD)Chronic wasting disease (CWD)
ParasitesParasites Meningeal wormMeningeal worm Psoroptic mitesPsoroptic mites Giant liver flukesGiant liver flukes
MortalityMortality
Human factorsHuman factors HuntingHunting Elk-vehicle collisionsElk-vehicle collisions
Combination of the twoCombination of the two
MortalityMortality
Malnutrition and weatherMalnutrition and weather Timing of estrus and birth dateTiming of estrus and birth date Birth weightBirth weight Resistance to diseases and parasitesResistance to diseases and parasites
Winter mortalityWinter mortality
Heavy snow beneficial?Heavy snow beneficial?
ValuesValues
EcologicalEcological GrazingGrazing PreyPrey
AestheticAesthetic
RecreationalRecreational HuntingHunting ViewingViewing
EconomicEconomic Major source of moneyMajor source of money
Management Management ConsiderationsConsiderations
OverharvestOverharvest
Human disturbanceHuman disturbance Especially roadsEspecially roads
Habitat successionHabitat succession
Invasive plantsInvasive plants
Climate change?Climate change?
Management Management ConsiderationsConsiderations
Limiting Factors?Limiting Factors? FoodFood Summer rangeSummer range Winter rangeWinter range Security coverSecurity cover WaterWater Interspersion of habitat componentsInterspersion of habitat components Minimum habitat sizeMinimum habitat size
To be determined by locationTo be determined by location
Logistic GrowthLogistic Growth
Can reach capacityCan reach capacity
Should be managed to stay below KShould be managed to stay below K
N
Time
Accelerating Phase
K
Inflection Point (½ K)
DeceleratingPhase
N
dN
/dt
Inflection Point (½ K)
K
Habitat ManagementHabitat Management
Assistance programsAssistance programs
Component Assistance programs
Food WHIP, EQIP, PFW, CRP
Winter Range WHIP, EQIP, PFW
Transitional Range WHIP, EQIP, PFW
Security Cover WHIP, EQIP, PFW
Habitat ManagementHabitat Management
Open Area ManagementOpen Area Management BurningBurning GrazingGrazing PlantingPlanting
Habitat ManagmentHabitat Managment
Woodland managementWoodland management BurningBurning Timber harvestTimber harvest
FutureFuture
Looking goodLooking good
Numbers are up in most placesNumbers are up in most places
Current event…Current event…
Current EventCurrent Event
https://www.feedsys.com/tabid/327/EntryId/99/Elk-problems-prowl-farms-in-Washington.aspx
ReferencesReferences
Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationRocky Mountain Elk Foundation
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/ceel/all.htmlall.html
Discover the OutdoorsDiscover the Outdoors http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/152http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/152 http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/265http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/265 http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/225http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/225 http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/222http://www.dto.com/hunting/speciesProfile/222
NRCSNRCS http://www.wildlifehc.org/new/wp-content/uploads/http://www.wildlifehc.org/new/wp-content/uploads/
2010/10/American-Elk.pdf2010/10/American-Elk.pdf