T.R.'s Tips; Introduction to Elk

[TRMichels]

Although it is early for elk hunting, it is not too early to start offering some information on the biology and behavior of elk , so that we can talk about elk hunting tips, tactics and techniques - when the time is right.

The premise of my articles, books and seminars revolves around the fact that the more you know about the biology and behavior of the animal you are hunting, the better prepared you are to predict when, where and how to hunt it.

This is from my book - Elk Addict's Manual:

Chapter 1: Introduction to North American Elk

Class: Ungulata (hoofed)

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Family: Cervidae (antlered artiodactyls)

Genus: Cervus (Eurasian red deer, North American elk and allies)

Species: canadensis (Northern and Eastern Asia Red Dee and Wapiti and North AmericaElk/Wapiti)

North American elk, also referred to as wapiti, reach lengths of 7-9.5 feet, heights of 4.5-5 feet; males reach weights of 600-1100 pounds, females 450-650 pounds; and they may live 15-20 years. Their body color is brown to tan in color with a dark brown head, neck, belly and legs; and a rump patch of light tan to yellowish. They breed from September through November, have a gestation period of 250-265 days and normally have one and rarely two calves, born from late May to early July; usually late May to early June. The tracks of their front hooves are 4-4.5 inches long, with the hind hooves slightly smaller; the hind hoof generally falls in or near the front hoof print, and the marks of the dewclaws may appear behind the hoofs in mud or snow. Their droppings are usually clumps in the spring and summer, and large pellets in the fall and winter.

During the fall/rut the bulls rub trees and thrash brush and evergreens with their antlers, often make scrapes on dry ground with their antlers when they get up out of their beds, and make wallows with their antlers in muddy or wet areas during the fall. During the rut the bulls often urinate in the scrape or wallow and on themselves, then they roll in the scrape or wallow to cover themselves with mud, urine and testosterone, which is used to express dominance and attract females during the rut.

Bull elk generally carry antlers of from 1-6 points on each side of their rack during their first year, 4 or more points during their second year, 5 or more points after their second year, and 6 or more points after the third year; with the main beams becoming heavier, longer and spreading wider apart until the seventh year, when the lengths of the tines may become shorter.

Elk, like moose and caribou, are an Old World deer species that originated in Eurasia, probably near the Hindu Kush Mountains of western India. They eventually spread to North America, crossing the Bering Land Bridge during the ice age. North American elk were once considered a separate species, and the Eurasian red deer another species. Then the North American elk were considered a subspecies of the European red deer. But, recent mitochondrial DNA research suggests that the Red Deer of western Asia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (referred to as Western Red Deer), are a distinct species from the Red Deer and Wapiti of northern and eastern Asia and the Elk of North America (referred to as Eastern Red Deer. The results of the study shows a very high probability for the existence of two different species of red deer with three subspecies in Asia and America (Eastern Red Deer) and four subspecies in Eurasia (Western Red Deer) and additional one or two primordial subspecies in Central Asia (Tarim group).

At one time there were thought to be six subspecies of elk in North America, with an estimated total population of about 10 million animals; the Rocky Mountain or Yellowstone elk (C.c. nelsoni), Manitoba elk (C. c. manatobensis), Olympic or Roosevelt elk (C. c. roosevelti) and the Tule elk (C. c. nannodes) still survive. The Eastern elk (C. c. canadensis) and the Merriam's elk (C. c. merriami) are considered extinct. This list has now been narrowed to two subspecies (C .c. nelsoni) Rocky Mountain Wapiti/Elk now known as C.c. nelsoni; and (C. c. canadensis) American Wapiti/Elk; both which occur in North America.

The other members of the Cervus canadensis group include: (C. e. sibericus) Siberian Wapiti of China and Mongolia, now known as C. e. sibericus; (C. c. songaricus) Tien Shan Wapiti of China, Tien Shan province, now known as C. c. sibericus; (C. e. hanglu) Kashmir Red Deer of India; (C. e. kansuensis) Kansu Red Deer of China, Dong Da Shan province, now known as C. c. kansuensis; (C. e. macneilli) McNeill's Deer China, Qinghai province, now known as C. c . macnelli; (C. e. wallichi) Shou of China and Tibet, now known as C. e. kansuensis.

If you have questions - fire away.

I'll get more into depth on the biology and behavior of elk in the next few posts.

God bless and good hunting,

T.R.