ELK: Table of Contents Overview

Big Game Statistics: Elk

ELK: Table of Contents

Overview

Life history ........................................................................................................ 54 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 55 Management ..................................................................................................... 55 Chronic wasting disease (CWD) ......................................................................... 56

2010 Statistical Reports

Roosevelt elk herd composition report ............................................................... 57 Roosevelt elk population trends report .............................................................. 58

Rocky mountain elk herd composition report .................................................... 59 Rocky mountain elk population trends report .................................................... 60

Roosevelt elk and cascade archery seasons ........................................................ 61

Roosevelt elk and cascade rifle seasons ............................................................. 63

Roosevelt elk and cascades: harvest by hunters with disabilities (all weapons) ..... 69

Roosevelt elk and cascades: total archery and rifle harvest .................................

70

Rocky mountain elk archery harvest ................................................................... 71 Rocky mountain elk rifle seasons ....................................................................... 73 Rocky mountain elk: harvest by hunters with disabilities (all weapons) ............... 81 Rocky mountain elk: total archery and rifle harvest ............................................ 83

Elk hunting trends .............................................................................................

85

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

53

Big Game Statistics: Elk

Overview

Two sub-species of elk (Cervus elaphus) reside in Oregon. The Rocky Mountain (C. e. nelsoni) subspecies is found east of the Cascades, while Roosevelt elk (C. e. roosevelti) are distributed throughout the Coast and Cascade Ranges of western Oregon. Elk occur throughout the state of Oregon, but are most abundant in the Blue and Wallowa Mountains and in the northern Coast Range and least abundant in the southeastern high desert region. Roosevelt elk are typically larger and darker in color, and bulls have more massive antlers and a narrower spread than Rocky Mountain elk. Variation among individuals within the two subspecies often makes identification difficult.

Although elk are now firmly established in Oregon, this has not always been the case. Numbers were so low at the turn of the century due to market hunting for meat, teeth, and antlers that all hunting was prohibited from 1908-1932. Protection and management resulted in the increase and spread of elk populations until hunting again became possible by 1933.

Management strategies have evolved as habitat conditions, hunter participation, and elk populations changed over the years. In order to measure proper hunter numbers and elk harvest goals, management objectives for elk numbers for each management unit were established in 1981.

Attempting to restore or maintain mature bulls in herds throughout the state, while still controlling overall populations, has had several impacts on hunters. Limited entry units often mean hunters must be flexible and willing to try new areas, spike-only hunts, or antlerless hunts in order to hunt elk every year.

Elk

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 3406 Cherry Ave NE Salem, OR 97303

dfw.state.or.us

Life History

Elk breeding behavior involves a complex social system, which revolves around mature bulls gathering harems. This complex process may be altered if bull:cow ratios and/ or mature bull:yearling bull ratios become skewed. Studies of Roosevelt elk in western Oregon and Rocky Mountain elk in northeastern Oregon indicate that fewer than 10 older bulls/100 cows during the breeding season can cause delays in conception, affect conception rates, and may contribute to reduced calf survival.

The time of breeding for elk in Oregon typically extends from late August through mid-November. Most cows, however, are bred during a shorter time period, mostly by mid-October. Information collected in a recent study in northeastern Oregon indicates

54

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Big Game Statistics: Elk

that when breeding is done primarily by mature bulls (3 ? years or older) the range of breeding dates is shortened and the median breeding date is up to two weeks earlier.

Reproductive success is closely related to nutrition, body condition, physical health, and age of females. Cows in good body condition during breeding are more likely to conceive, and calf survival will generally be higher than for cows that are nutritionally stressed. Calves born early with higher birth weights typically have a better chance of surviving.

Adult cow elk that have nutritious forage available to them typically produce a calf each year. Roosevelt elk cows in the coastal areas of Oregon typically produce a calf every other year. Reduced levels of physical condition and lower pregnancy rate of lactating cows indicate that the nutritional base in western Oregon is not sufficient to allow many of the lactating cows to breed in successive years.

Distribution

Quality, quantity, and arrangement of several habitat components affect the distribution of elk. Availability and distribution of food, water, shelter, space, and harassment due to human activities ultimately determine the number of elk an area can produce and the amount of recreation that can be provided. Migratory herds need high quality forage on transitional winter and summer ranges. Resident herds must find sources of quality forage within their herd range.

During summer, elk use damp sites such as meadows and riparian areas, which offer nutritious forage, and moist, cool places for escaping summer heat and insects. Winter survival is primarily dependent on fat stores; thus, quality summer forage is at least as important as adequate winter food for overwinter survival. Elk require a mosaic of early forageproducing stages and later cover-forming stages of forest development -- both in close proximity. In

western Oregon, Roosevelt elk utilize forest clearcuts heavily. In many areas, elk will seek out fertilized meadows, pastures, and crops such as alfalfa. Vegetation in high rainfall zones generally lack nutritional quality as compared to mineral-rich ranges in eastern Oregon. Changes in ownership patterns, societal attitudes, forest management, and increases in road-building on public lands have encouraged elk to move out of forested habitats on public land to private lands in some areas. In northeastern Oregon, most summer ranges for elk are on public lands, whereas winter ranges largely are on private lands. Herein lies the source of most complaints of damage to crops and property. While new opportunities are emerging for hunters, ranchers and farmers can experience serious damage to crops when elk become resident on their land.

Management

Elk management involves a variety of steps, which include 1) establishing management objectives, 2) regulating hunting seasons, 3) maintaining and improving habitat, and 4) monitoring harvest and elk populations. Successful management requires consideration of both biological and social issues during the decision-making process.

The Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission adopted a minimum statewide postseason ratio of 10 bulls per 100 cows in 1992. A 3-tiered bull management system provides a diversity of hunting opportunities with 10, 15, or 20 bulls/100 cows post season. Various management techniques are recommended to reach bull escapement objectives. These include controlled-entry bull hunting, spike-only seasons, and changes in season timing. Population management objectives were revised in 2005 for each Big Game Unit to maintain elk numbers at levels compatible with their habitat and agricultural considerations.

Annual inventories are conducted to determine population trend and herd composition (sex and age ratios). This information is typically collected

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

55

Big Game Statistics: Elk

from fixed wing aircraft or helicopter. Some herd composition data is collected from the ground. Composition and trend information are collected from February through early April. Each animal is classified as bull, cow, or calf, and bull antler class is recorded. This data is later converted to the number of bulls and calves per 100 cows. Herd composition is one measure of bull and calf survival. Low bull:cow ratios generally indicate excessive bull harvest, and low calf:cow ratios suggest poor calf survival. Population trend is an index to the end-ofwinter population size. Trend data is expanded to a population estimate, which is compared to population management objectives (MOs) for each unit and used along with herd composition data for recommending hunting season regulations. Collecting reproductive tracts, udders, and teeth from harvested antlerless elk in selected units helps ODFW monitor reproduction and the age structure of the population. Pregnancy rates, average age of females, and number of lactating cows (indicating that they raised a calf ) are estimated from these collections.

Computer modeling of elk populations is used extensively to assist in making management decisions. All factors affecting reproduction and mortality, such as weather, harvest, natural mortality, and

habitat, are considered in this process. Models allow managers to look at several years of harvest, calf survival, and bull ratios to determine the appropriate level of tags to meet management objectives for bull escapement and winter population.

Oregon consistently ranks among the top three western states for elk numbers, hunter numbers, and elk harvest. Hunter success for bull and antlerless hunts combined remains fairly stable annually. The wetter climate in western Oregon creates brushy, heavily timbered habitat broken only by clearcuts, while eastern Oregon has much more open country with less underbrush, and more snow to help in tracking elk. More detailed information regarding elk can be found in Oregon's Elk Management Plan on the department's Web site.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

CWD has not been detected in any Oregon samples obtained since testing began in 1996. Regulations are in place to help prevent CWD from being brought to Oregon from animals harvested in CWD states (see regulations).

Elk hunters are encouraged to allow there animals to be sampled for CWD or stop at biological sampling stations that may be set up during hunting seasons. Sampling takes only a few minutes and will not impact any taxidermy you may want to do with your trophy.

56

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

57

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

ROOSEVELT ELK HERD COMPOSITION REPORT

UNIT SCAPPOOSE SADDLE MT WILSON

W TRASK NE TRASK TRASK STOTT MT ALSEA E SIUSLAW S SIUSLAW SIUSLAW

WATERSHED DISTRICT

N WILLAMETTE N COAST N COAST N COAST N WILLAMETTE

N WILLAMETTE N COAST N WILLAMETTE S WILLAMETTE

ELK CLASSIFIED IN 2010

BULLS COWS CALVES TOTAL

36

423

110

569

65

369

131

565

44

383

128

555

91

498

157

746

49

231

85

365

140

729

242

1,111

14

57

28

--

0

0

0

--

27

324

101

452

0

0

0

--

27

324

101

452

2010 9

18 11 18 21 19 -- ---

8 -8

BULLS PER 100 COWS

2009

2008 P3YR

12

10

10

17

14

16

20

17

16

18

10

15

6

13

13

13

11

14

18

6

18

--

--

6

6

--

6

11

--

6

7

7

MO 10 20 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

NORTHCOAST

326

2,285

740

3,252

14

15

13

14

--

E TIOGA W TIOGA TIOGA SIXES POWERS CHETCO MELROSE

UMPQUA UMPQUA UMPQUA UMPQUA UMPQUA ROGUE UMPQUA

42

147

49

238

26

176

56

258

68

323

105

496

77

465

127

669

35

196

56

287

0

0

0

--

0

0

0

--

29

24

22

25

15

15

21

16

18

15

21

23

19

21

15

17

12

11

13

15

18

17

24

20

10

--

28

16

14

15

--

--

--

--

--

SOUTHWEST

180

984

288

1,452

18

17

17

17

--

N SANTIAM

N WILLAMETTE

S SANTIAM

S WILLAMETTE

SANTIAM

MCKENZIE

S WILLAMETTE

N INDIGO

S WILLAMETTE

S INDIGO

UMPQUA

INDIGO

DIXON

UMPQUA

EVANS CR

ROGUE

ROGUE

ROGUE

METOLIUS

DESCHUTES

UPPER DESCHUTES DESCHUTES

38

168

70

--

10

55

20

--

48

223

90

--

0

0

0

--

0

0

0

--

28

193

40

261

28

193

40

261

48

323

104

475

6

36

14

56

25

152

46

223

0

23

4

27

2

46

16

--

--

--

9

--

10

--

--

10

--

10

--

--

9

--

10

--

14

--

5

10

--

11

--

4

10

15

10

11

12

10

15

10

11

12

10

15

12

19

15

10

17

11

13

14

10

16

16

21

18

10

0

25

100

--

10

--

--

--

--

10

CASCADES

157

996

314

1,042

8

11

22

8

--

GRAND TOTAL ROOSEVELT ELK

663

4,265

1,342

5,746

13

14

17

13

--

CALVES PER 100 COWS

2010

2009

2008 P3YR

26

35

35

32

36

43

37

38

33

38

34

35

32

37

35

35

37

29

26

31

33

34

32

33

--

--

35

12

--

32

--

--

31

34

34

--

--

29

34

--

31

32

34

32

32

37

34

34

33

37

29

33

32

38

37

36

33

37

33

34

27

36

32

32

29

40

27

32

--

40

37

25

--

--

--

--

29

38

32

33

--

--

28

--

--

--

38

--

--

--

31

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

21

24

38

28

21

25

38

28

32

24

37

31

39

28

24

30

30

36

34

33

17

0

17

--

--

--

--

--

17

14

23

15

26

29

30

28

Big Game Statistics: Elk

Big Game Statistics: Elk

ROOSEVELT ELK POPULATION TRENDS REPORT

UNIT SCAPPOOSE SADDLE MT WILSON TRASK ALSEA SIUSLAW

WATERSHED DISTRICT

N WILLAMETTE N COAST N COAST N COAST N COAST

MILES

ELK

TRAVELED OBSERVED

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

NORTH COAST

--

--

E TIOGA W TIOGA TIOGA SIXES POWERS CHETCO

UMPQUA UMPQUA UMPQUA UMPQUA UMPQUA ROGUE

75

209

300

301

75

510

500

947

650

287

0

242

SOUTHWEST

1225.0

1986.0

SANTIAM MCkENZIE

N INDIGO S INDIGO INDIGO DIXON EVANS CR ROGUE

S WILLAMETTE S WILLAMETTE S WILLAMETTE UMPQUA

UMPQUA ROGUE ROGUE

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

112.0

--

273.0

--

730.0

CASCADES

0.0

1115.0

ROOSEVELT ELK GRAND TOTAL

1225.0

3101.0

2010 -------

--

2.8 1.0 6.8 1.9 0.4

--

2.3

---------

0.0

0.8

ELK PER MILE

2009

2008 BENCHMARK

--

--

--

--

--

2.4

--

--

2.6

--

--

1.5

--

--

16.1

--

0.26

--

--

0.3

--

3.2

3.63

2.0

0.6

0.51

1.5

1.2

1.13

1.7

1.6

0.39

1.0

0.4

0.45

1.2

--

--

1.5

0.8

0.5

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

3.1

1.35

3

1.35

1.7

1.26

--

--

--

--

-9.6 10.2 2.1 3.3 2.5

-2.6

0.8

0.4

--

0.5

0.4

--

58

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

59

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK HERD COMPOSITION REPORT

UNIT MINAM IMNAHA CATHERINE CR KEATING PINE CR LOOKOUT MT

WATERSHED DISTRICT

GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE

ELK CLASSIFIED IN 2010

BULLS

COWS CALVES

35

559

117

63

684

213

0

0

0

4

54

10

121

897

125

116

420

103

TOTAL 711 960 -68

1,143 639

2010 6 9 -7

13 28

BULLS PER 100 COWS

2009

2008

P3yr

18

13

12

16

10

12

7

13

7

14

39

20

10

14

12

18

25

24

WALLOWA ZONE

339

2,614

568

3,521

13

14

14

14

SNAKE RIVER CHESNIMNUS SLED SPRINGS WENAHA WALLA WALLA MT EMILY

GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE GRANDE RONDE JOHN DAY JOHN DAY

111

1,324

159

1,252

22

600

123

573

77

846

142

1,353

283

1,718

428

1,839

152

774

151

847

97

1,020

135

1,630

8

13

13

11

13

12

9

11

4

9

20

11

21

20

14

18

9

10

12

10

10

14

13

12

WENAHA-SNAKE ZONE

634

5,948

1,246

7,828

11

13

13

12

STARKEY UKIAH SUMPTER DESOLATION HEPPNER FOSSIL

GRANDE RONDE JOHN DAY GRANDE RONDE JOHN DAY JOHN DAY JOHN DAY

0

0

142

3,315

102

833

40

1,065

180

853

0

0

0

--

499

3,956

290

1,225

121

1,226

107

1,140

0

--

--

9

12

7

4

10

9

8

12

9

19

13

4

11

9

8

21

9

7

12

--

13

14

9

UMATILLA-WHITMAN ZONE

NORTHSIDE MURDERERS CR W. BEULAH E. BEULAH MALHEUR RIVER SILVIES OCHOCO GRIZZLY MAURY

JOHN DAY JOHN DAY JOHN DAY MALHEUR MALHEUR MALHEUR DESCHUTES DESCHUTES DESCHUTES

464

6,066

1,017

7,547

140

1,333

187

1,198

16

63

115

616

99

723

259

1,690

311

1,248

0

0

107

247

231

1,704

247

1,632

12

91

177

908

272

1,094

666

2,615

516

2,075

0

--

130

484

8

10

10

9

11

12

12

12

16

26

36

26

25

44

41

37

19

12

16

16

14

19

17

17

15

11

12

13

25

16

30

24

--

12

81

31

43

55

23

40

OCHOCO-MALHEUR ZONE

1,234

7,118

2,251 10,603

17

16

22

18

WHITE RIVER MAUPIN / BIGGS STEEN'S MT FORT ROCK SILVER LAKE PAULINA WAGONTIRE

DESCHUTES DESCHUTES MALHEUR KLAMATH KLAMATH DESCHUTES DESCHUTES

23

233

16

96

10

74

4

45

22

54

30

194

0

0

77

333

19

131

20

104

18

67

15

91

65

289

0

--

10

5

14

10

17

10

7

11

14

21

--

--

--

--

--

--

41

22

27

30

15

650

9

225

--

10

--

--

CENTRAL/SE ZONE

105

696

214

1,015

19

120

14

69

MO 20 15 10 10 15 10

--

15 10 10 10 10 10

--

10 10 10 10 10 10

--

10 15 15 -15 15 20 15 20

--

10 10 20 20 20 20 20

--

ROCKY MT ELK GRAND TOTAL

2,776

22,442

5,296 30,514

14

35

15

24

--

2010 21 31 -19 14 25

22

21 34 25 26 11 10

21

-15 35 11 13 --

17

17 21 19 29 38 39 41 -53

32

33 20 27 -28 34 --

28

CALVES PER 100 COWS

2009

2008 P3YR

26

25

24

31

22

28

28

26

18

27

27

24

27

26

22

39

25

30

29

24

25

14

18

18

19

30

28

19

23

22

18

16

20

14

18

14

15

14

13

16

19

18

17

24

14

11

16

14

24

32

30

16

21

16

26

30

23

23

20

14

18

22

19

22

31

23

23

27

24

28

30

26

21

23

24

36

32

35

32

40

37

41

45

42

45

27

24

37

38

43

31

34

32

23

22

26

31

27

--

37

--

--

--

--

--

74

25

42

100

47

60

17

--

--

47

30

43

24

28

26

27

Big Game Statistics: Elk

Big Game Statistics: Elk

UNIT MINAM IMNAHA CATHERINE CR KEATING PINE CR LOOKOUT MT

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK POPULATION TRENDS REPORT

WATERSHED MILES

ELK

ELK PER MILE

DISTRICT TRAVELED OBSERVED

2010

2009

GRANDE RONDE No Flight

--

--

7.7

GRANDE RONDE No Flight

--

--

7.5

GRANDE RONDE

--

--

--

9.5

GRANDE RONDE

75

68

0.9

2.9

GRANDE RONDE

90

1,143

12.7

5.0

GRANDE RONDE

--

639

--

--

2008 1.0 1.0

11.6 1.8 7.5 --

BENCHMARK 8.1 3.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 1.8

WALLOWA ZONE

165.0

1,850

6.8

6.5

4.6

4.6

SNAKE RIVER CHESNIMNUS SLED SPRINGS WENAHA WALLA WALLA* MT EMILY*

GRANDE RONDE No Flight

GRANDE RONDE No Flight

GRANDE RONDE No Flight

GRANDE RONDE No Flight

JOHN DAY

--

JOHN DAY

--

----1,020 1,785

--

18.6

19.1

--

13.2

10.9

--

8.2

10.1

--

5.2

5.8

--

--

--

--

--

--

15.0 9.2

12.0 18.0 20.0 25.0

WENAHA-SNAKE ZONE

0.0

2,805

--

11.3

11.5

14.6

STARKEY UKIAH* SUMPTER DESOLATION HEPPNER FOSSIL

GRANDE RONDE JOHN DAY GRANDE RONDE JOHN DAY JOHN DAY JOHN DAY

--

--

--

3,956

--

1,225

94

1,226

45

1,140

--

--

34.1 ---

13.0 25.3

--

34.1 ---

9.7 49.5

8.3

23.4 ---

12.7 42.1 10.5

33.7 46.3

3.8 6.0 20.0 4.0

UMATILLA-WHITMAN ZONE

139.0

7,547

24.1

25.4

22.2

18.4

NORTHSIDE

JOHN DAY

70

1,704

--

--

--

4.8

MURDERERS CR

JOHN DAY

101

1,632

--

--

--

4.9

W. BEULAH

JOHN DAY

20

91

--

--

--

3.8

E. BEULAH

MALHEUR

0

0

--

--

--

--

MALHEUR RIVER

MALHEUR

131

1,073

8.2

9.5

5.8

--

SILVIES

MALHEUR

150

2,615

17.4

15.8

14.1

--

OCHOCO

DESCHUTES

201

1,922

9.6

5.5

9.0

4.3

GRIZZLY

DESCHUTES No Flight

--

--

7.6

2.8

8.9

MAURY

DESCHUTES

105

680

6.5

1.5

3.1

2.1

OCHOCO-MALHEUR ZONE

778.0

9,717

10.4

8.0

7.0

4.5

WHITE RIVER

DESCHUTES

108

468

4.3

3.8

2.4

2.3

MAUPIN/BIGGS

DESCHUTES

100

131

1.3

1.6

--

--

STEENS MT

MALHEUR

115

0

0.0

1.5

--

--

323

599

1.9

2.3

2.4

2.3

ROCKY MT ELK GRAND TOTAL

1,405.0

22,518

16.0

2.3

2.4

10.3

* No miles are given because a fixed route has not been used since 1996 when the April fixed wing census flight was eliminated.

The elk count data is collected during the early March composition helicopter flights.

60

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

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