Hedges Hunting and Outdoors
MONTANA'S ELK COUNTRY

The Rocky Mountain Elk is our most common. They can be found throughout the west. A mature bull can weigh somewhere around 700 pounds or more, with antlers that can weigh up to 30 or more pounds, and the cows around 525 pounds. Weight can vary depending on the habitat they live in. Western Montana being Prime Elk Habitat.

Today there are more elk in North America than any time since the turn of the 19th century. Because of our current day wildlife management programs, and the dollars generated by the American Sportsman, for the enhancement of are Big Game Habitat. Montana has an estimated elk population of 100,000. Many first-time hunters don't live anywhere near elk country. Even if you are a Western and live in elk country you still have to know elk. You have to know the country they live in, what they eat, where they eat, what they do in the changing seasons, and how they will react to different weather patterns. To become a successful big-game hunter, you must learn all about the animal you wish to pursue. The most accessible locales for watching elk are in Yellowstone National Park where you will be able to view two of the largest herds of elk in the world, the southern and northern herds I personally enjoy visiting Yellowstone in late September when the bulls start the rut and their bugles can be heard through-out the valleys and meadows of Montana's Elk Country.Elk Bugle

Elk calves are born in the spring of the year, usually in late May and peak-out in early June, eight-and-a-half months after the breeding season (rut) of September. The prime calving areas are not in the high mountains or the deep dark timber, but in more wide open sagebrush areas and the lush spring meadows. Usually 90% of the cows in a healthy elk herd will become pregnant each year, but not all will give birth to a living calf. When a pregnant cow's time approaches, the herd is usually lingering between their winter range and their summer range. The pregnant cows will wander away in search of a secluded area with good cover and with a good food source to give birth, it is not uncommon for a cow elk to give birth to twins. The cows will hide their calves in the sagebrush, where the calves will often lie motionless , for concealment from predators, in their first days of life, away from the herd. After the first weeks of life, cows, calves and young spikes will start gathering up, forming nursery groups, primarily for safety. The typical elk calf is about 35 pound at birth, sorrel color, with white spots. A healthy calf will rise on wobbly legs within hours of it's birth, and will be able to follow it's mother almost anywhere within a few days. Elk are very social and vocal animal, while in these nursery groups the calves start to discover their voices and social involvement with the herd, in a way they start to learn how to be an elk. Living in Helena we are surrounded by prime elk habitat, and it has become an annual event for us to watch these nursery groups. By far the best viewing is in Yellowstone National Park.
But the "Real Way Nature Works" can be a harsh life for these new born elk calves.

While hunters are more concerned with the bulls, the cows actually control the day to day activities of the herd. The big bull might drive them, but not lead them. The cow elk is the one who teaches an elk how to be an elk. The survival of the species rests in the greatest part with the females. Find the cows and the bulls are sure to be close by. In late June early July cows, calves, and young bulls begin their trek back to the high country, following traditional migration routes. Bulls bunch and cows clan. It's a fact of elk life. The cows and bull can inhabit the same drainage, but utilize different parts of it. Cows are more likely to use the same home ranges as their mothers. These home ranges will include well defined feeding and bedding areas. During the rut the cows play a far more active role than meets the eye of the casual observer. There is a certain amount of fighting and jockeying for social and sexual rank among the cows, with mature females in their sexual prime seeking breeding dominance over the younger less experienced females. Mature cows in their breeding prime, usually at the ages of 3 1/2 to 8 1/2 years, are experienced and know what the rut is all about. Although a cow elk is physically capable of breeding during their second autumn, at an age of about 18 months. It is the older more mature cow elk that will lead the herd. I have seen on several occasions a lead cow go down and the herd stop at a distance to watch, like they are not quite sure what to do. But there is always another mature cow to take the lead.Cow Talk

Mature bulls will keep pretty much to themselves during calving season and let the cows and spikes do the baby sitting. Although if you find the cow's and calves the bulls will not be far, usually in the more undesirable areas, The bull's will begin antler growth anytime between January and June. In a healthy bull, antler size, weight, and overall aesthetics will continue to increase through yearly cycles of growth and casting until about the tenth year. Bull elk will expend as much energy growing a new set of antlers as a cow will growing her new calf. By August or early September antler growth is completed. Once the breeding season (rut) and bugling begins, the bull elk will become a whole new animal and they truly become the Monarchs of the woods. The bigger bull's are tough to come by since they follow no steady pattern. Than there are the big herd bull's, which are not like the other bull elk, Herd Bulls have lived longer. They have paid their dues, weather from skill or luck, they have been able to survived the many hunting seasons and harsh winters. A big herd bull will surround himself with his large harem of cow and the smaller satellite bull, which act like lookouts for this big bull. But these smaller bulls are also trying to take the big bulls cows. And one day, may be taking his place. Being a big bull can be a very demanding job trying to keep his cows in check, and can also be the death of this big bull, because he uses up so much of his energy and body fat just before what could be a long cold, snowy winter. The bulls like to hang on upper edges of prime habitat, at the bottoms of deep gorges, dark deep recesses, thick timber, blown downs and along heavily brushed ridges. It is rare, but not uncommon, to find mature bulls with the cows and calves except during the rut. Mature bulls are loners by nature, preferring solitude or the company of a handful of other bulls most of the year. For more information about Elk and Montana's other Big Game, and how to score your trophy stop by ANTLERS, HORNS AND SKULLS
 

J.Hedges 2008 / 

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