North Yellowstone Elk Herd

[idhunters]

Found some interesting reading from the Montana Dept. of Wildlife home page. I have heard stories from people hunting the migration from Yellowstone into Wyoming in 2005 that all they were seeing were old, big bulls. No young stuff. While this study took place using elk from the Gardiner MT area, seems to confirm what was being seen in Wyoming:

"Recent analysis shows that the average age of elk harvested in 2005 during the Gardiner late season elk hunt hit record highs?8.2-years old for cows, and 9.1-years old for bulls. Ten years ago, the average was 6.2 and 5.9 years of age respectively."

And as far as calf recruitment:

"Here again, the Northern Yellowstone elk are struggling. Aerial surveys indicate that, for the past four years, only 12-14 calves per 100 cow elk survived the first year of life and joined the herd. Recruitment of about 30 calves per 100 cows is more typical for northern Yellowstone elk."

"Recent studies in Yellowstone National Park show that about 70-75 percent of newborn radio-tagged northern Yellowstone elk calves are dead within a year of their birth, mostly due to predation. Predators include primarily bears, wolves, and coyotes?with bears accounting for 55-60 percent of the mortality and wolves and coyotes with another 10-15 percent each."

This herd is going to suffer a drastic decline in the next couple years.

Here is the link to the entire article:

http://fwp.mt.gov/news/article_4065.aspx

 

[nfh]

its more like 90 percent due to wolves for elk losses. i just wish the federal goverment could pull there foot out of there butt and realize they need to do something. elk hunting just isnt the same any more. its pretty sad when you are up archery hunting and get just a couple of bugles out of 20 days of hunting. but i guess my complaining will get no where.

 

[Bozeman]

For a minute I thought you said North Yellowstone Wolf Herd. That should be the new name.

 

[ford_boy]

I read an article in the Casper tribune Friday morning blaming the decline on the drought and hunting pressure. I didn't put a lot of weight on their opinion but I guess it helps to explain why things don't get changed for the better.

 

[hunterofelk]

I was in south Park county near Emigrant, Mt. the last week of December 2005. I looked up on west face of Dome Mountain and the slope was covered with elk. Everywhere I looked I saw elk. All antlerless. That country has been headed for a big elk dieoff. Whether from predators or starvation. In the long run the range will be better and the bulls bigger.

 

[SMOKESTICK]

It is truly amazing how elk (and moose) seemed to handle droughts and hunting pressure prior to 1995; yet, they struggle to maintain themselves now.

Several studies have been produced to show that wolves are not contributing to these declines; yet, by their own experts (Doug Smith - USFWS) wolf numbers within the park have peaked and will decline from 16 packs to 6-8 packs. This decline is being attributed to the inability of the wolves primary prey base to sustain them. You might ask what their (wolves) primary prey base is? Elk. Yep, but they are not having any impacts on elk numbers.

The truth is that environmentalists are attempting to "educate" the general populace. If they can say it enough times, eventually it will become fact. It is important that we continue to stay on top of wolves. Sooner or later someone will call for the cessation of elk hunting around Yellowstone National Park. When pack numbers begin their rapid decent within the Park, you can bet they will eliminate elk hunting so that wolves can persist.

 

[EKB]

IDhunters,

Very well put!

In Wyoming we have been seeing just what you are talking about since 1999 on the east side of Yellowstone and since 2002 on the south side of Yellowstone!

 

[Gator]

Smokestick: you hit the nail on the head. you have to wonder what those 16 pack ate, Now that area can only support 6-8 packs Lot of deer and elk filled those bellies, My guess they will have to let sheepherders in there soon to take up the slack. LMAO But don't worry the wolves aren't killing to many, Some people will just keep beleiving that polar bears and peguins drink coke together too.

 

[huntindude]

I think a rancher in Montana said it best about the wolf lovers " shove a stick of butter up thier butt tie "em to a to a tree and let them feed the wolves"