Best States to Hunt Elk
Considered one of the largest in the deer family, the magnificent elk, or wapiti, was once on the brink of extinction. Before the European settlement, an estimated 10 million elk were present in North America.
Elk are native to the US and at some point in history, the elk population was higher than white-tailed deer. Many native American tribes relied on elk for food, clothing, and jewelry. Before the settlement, elk occurred throughout the eastern U.S., except for the eastern and southern coastal areas. During the settlement period, elk were significantly overhunted and due to the changes in land use, the remaining ones were slowly pushed from most eastern states. These migrating herds settled in the mountainous terrain of the western Rocky Mountain states and Pacific Northwest.
Many states have been tirelessly working on the reintroduction of elk into areas where they have not been seen for more than 100 years. The state of Kentucky has been very successful in its efforts to reestablish the elk herd. In addition, the founding of national parks and wildlife refuges significantly improved the numbers and supported protecting elk habitat.
1.Wyoming
There are many options available for Wyoming elk hunters. The state’s elk population is estimated at 113,000 animals. Elk ranges from mountainous areas to lowlands and plains. You can hunt Elk on public and private land. For nonresident hunters, only certain areas have been designated to allow hunts. Although the state does not have the highest population of Elk, it offers excellent hunting opportunities. Visit https://wgfd.wyo.gov/regulations#Elk-Hunting-Seasons for more information.
2. Colorado
Elk is abundant in Colorado and the state has introduced strategies to better manage the population. Approximately 250,000 hunters will pursue elk hunts each year in Colorado and harvest close to 50,000 animals. There are an estimated 280,000 elk in the state with Gunnison Valley being considered elk hunter’s paradise. There are several hunting clubs and outfitters in Colorado that can help you with a successful elk hunting season.
3. Montana
Montana has been established as the best state to hunt elk for residents on public land. If you are looking to hunt in the state, start by making sure you understand the regulations in the area you are hunting in. Snowy Mountain (Unit 411) and East Bridger (District 393) are considered the best areas to land elk. East Bridger is located north of Bozeman and offers large herds of elk with big bulls.
4. Idaho
Approximately 20,000 elk are harvested each year in Idaho. With a total population of 107,000 elk in the state, it’s a significant number. Since the elk population does not fluctuate as much as the deer population, the harvest numbers remained steady for the last few years. Residents can purchase over-the-counter licenses for many of the state’s hunting units. Diamond Creek,
Pioneer, Sawtooth, and Brownlee are some of the best units for archery elk in Idaho.
With the efforts dedicated to growing the elk population in the United States, hunting elk is again becoming a great tradition and the opportunities to harvest this magnificent animal are constantly improving.