cosmic_cowboy
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I have never had the privilege to hunt the Gila but have seen many pics of the huge bulls that call it home. Why are they so big ? is it better feed, longer life or genetics?
The Elk that used to inhabit all of the southwestern mountains were Merriam's Elk they became extinct sometime around 1900
Rocky mountain Elk from Yellowstone were brought into NM in 1913 by Mr Bartlett who owned the Vermajo ranch. Then in the late 1940s WS Gorley brought in several hundred again to Vermajo and these are the Elk that repopulated the northern part of NM I think the first transplant to the Gila happened in the 1950s with elk from Chama Land and Cattle a large ranch in Chama NM so these Elk are of Yellowstone decent also. The discussion of there still being some small pockets of Merriam's Elk left in the Gila and SE AZ in the 1950s and these interbred with the transplants from YS. But don't think any genetic studies have been done.
What do you guys think could this be the reason for the large Bulls ?
I remember one winter day about 20 yrs ago I was out with an old time rancher looking over a herd of about 150 Elk and he said see the 2 purple cows their (Native Elk)I ask him more about this and he said all the Native Elk were not killed and every once in awhile you get a purple one.And to this day if you look over a large herd you can still see a few purple/blue ones in the herd.
I believe this is the Merriam's genes coming out.
What do you guys think ??
CC
The Elk that used to inhabit all of the southwestern mountains were Merriam's Elk they became extinct sometime around 1900
Rocky mountain Elk from Yellowstone were brought into NM in 1913 by Mr Bartlett who owned the Vermajo ranch. Then in the late 1940s WS Gorley brought in several hundred again to Vermajo and these are the Elk that repopulated the northern part of NM I think the first transplant to the Gila happened in the 1950s with elk from Chama Land and Cattle a large ranch in Chama NM so these Elk are of Yellowstone decent also. The discussion of there still being some small pockets of Merriam's Elk left in the Gila and SE AZ in the 1950s and these interbred with the transplants from YS. But don't think any genetic studies have been done.
What do you guys think could this be the reason for the large Bulls ?
I remember one winter day about 20 yrs ago I was out with an old time rancher looking over a herd of about 150 Elk and he said see the 2 purple cows their (Native Elk)I ask him more about this and he said all the Native Elk were not killed and every once in awhile you get a purple one.And to this day if you look over a large herd you can still see a few purple/blue ones in the herd.
I believe this is the Merriam's genes coming out.
What do you guys think ??
CC