Elk expanding territory?

xxclaro · #1 10-08-2018, 08:33 PM

Was driving to work a few weeks ago, about 5:30 in the morning. Been seeing lots of deer and the occasional moose, so I keep my eye's open. See what I first thought was a moose out in the field, but got a bit closer and see it's a decent little bull elk! I thought it was super cool, been living here for about 5 years and that's the first elk I've seen here(wmu 258). I realize it doesn't mean much but it would be really cool if they became a little more common in these parts.

Looking at the regs I see lots of wmu's with at least otc archery elk seasons, and sometimes rifle season too, where I really wouldn't expect to see any elk and indeed haven't seen any despite spending considerable time working and playing in these area's. Are they (wildlife bio's) actively trying to stop the elk from becoming established in some of these area's where we haven't really seen them before? I know farmer's tend to hate elk, and maybe I'm being selfish but damn it would be nice to be able to hunt my favorite meat close to home. Anyone else seeing them in non traditional areas? I saw a beauty bull just north of Vegreville about 6-7 years ago, but unfortunately it was a one off experience, never saw another.

TheIceTitan · #2 10-08-2018, 08:49 PM

The Kuntz record bull came out of 202, and 258 isn't too far away.

Does anyone have a (more) recent elk distribution map? Stelfox's in "Hoofed Mammals of Alberta" is the only one I've ever found, but I believe it understates the current distribution.

Hunter4ever12 · #3 10-08-2018, 09:04 PM

I actually have been driving a stretch of road for 18 years now and have never seen an elk in that whole wmu,well this August I see this 6x6 bull all by himself enjoying life in the wide open grazing pasture. Where he came from or went I’ll never know but it was shocking to say the least.

Red Bullets · #4 10-09-2018, 12:36 AM

Last year I started seeing elk on my trail cam on land where they haven't been in many decades too. Within 15 minutes of Leduc.

IR_mike · #5 10-09-2018, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheIceTitan

The Kuntz record bull came out of 202, and 258 isn't too far away.

Does anyone have a (more) recent elk distribution map? Stelfox's in "Hoofed Mammals of Alberta" is the only one I've ever found, but I believe it understates the current distribution.

There are elk all over probably in 75% of the province from south to north with scattered pockets along the northern river systems.

I think Stelfox used social concerns as part of the "purple/inadequate" habitat rating.

People find old elk skeletons all over in dry years.

Big Grey Wolf · #6 10-09-2018, 08:37 AM

The map needs to move much furthur east especially in the Yellowhead/ highway 16. Good elk numbers in Wabamun, Athabasca, Drayton/Devon areas.

sns2 · #7 10-09-2018, 08:52 AM

7 years ago we started seeing elk in our area we hunted for 30+ years without a sighting. Now we harvest elk every year. Go figure.

Talking moose · #8 10-09-2018, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

The map needs to move much furthur east especially in the Yellowhead/ highway 16. Good elk numbers in Wabamun, Athabasca, Drayton/Devon areas.

Ya map is 26 years old. And probably conservative to begin with.

gazin16 · #9 10-09-2018, 10:40 AM

Tons of elk in 258. Seen numerous cows calves and bulls, definitely thriving. Took a 340 class bull with 10 inch bases from there.

nast70 · #10 10-09-2018, 11:20 AM

There's a heard in 260 as well. Farmers told us to keep an eye out for them last year when we were chasing whitetails. There was supposedly a decent bull in there. No pic, no sign of them in 3 trips last fall.

pikeslayer22 · #11 10-09-2018, 12:32 PM

Loose lips sink ships! Will be like the saddle hills soon

Gbuss · #12 10-09-2018, 01:35 PM

All I am going to say is I have been seeing elk on some property east of edmonton for about 6 years now. This year I drew my moose tag and it seems the moose have all disappeared since ththeththey moved in.

Gbuss

kilgoretrout · #13 10-09-2018, 01:45 PM

Lots of |Elk to the east of there in Saskatchewan not surprising to see them expanding west where there is no season for them.... after all traditionally they were a prairie animal whose range went from the east coast to the west coast

Drewski Canuck · #14 10-09-2018, 01:45 PM

At one time, elk were regularly transplanted from Elk Island National Park. These Elk have been moved as far as the Smoky Mountains of Virginia!!

100 were put in behind Long Lake PP, 100 up by Athabasca on the north side of the river, etc.

Then there was all the Town Elk rounded up from Banff that ended up by Slave Lake...

These elk have been spreading out over the years, and have been taking a foot hold. There are escapee elk that are in the Blackfoot Grazing Reserve from Elk Island, and then there are the Suffield Elk that have been seen as far away as Manyberries.

So yes, the map is out dated.

Drewski

xxclaro · #15 10-09-2018, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazin16

Tons of elk in 258. Seen numerous cows calves and bulls, definitely thriving. Took a 340 class bull with 10 inch bases from there.

Really? Well I'm certainly glad to hear that, I'm going to have to see if I can locate some. The well known popular places are getting pretty crowded it seems, so more elk in more places would be a huge bonus.

bessiedog · #16 10-09-2018, 05:17 PM

I wish they’d populate my freezer already.

I’m outta elk meat..... dammit.

Supergrit · #17 10-09-2018, 05:22 PM

Moose moved into the Viking area and have done well I would think that elk would be ablle to thrive on the prairies.

Swamp hunter · #18 10-09-2018, 05:30 PM

Probably moving away from the wolves....you will start seeing them next. Same up north...more and more elk in farm country east of the foothills and now there has been 2 wolves shot north of me in the rocky Rapids area.could hear them howling in the river valley behind my house last winter. Plenty of Cougars too.

gazin16 · #19 10-09-2018, 06:43 PM

Yup..see them in 500 as well as pierceland area

xxclaro · #20 10-09-2018, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamp hunter

Probably moving away from the wolves....you will start seeing them next. Same up north...more and more elk in farm country east of the foothills and now there has been 2 wolves shot north of me in the rocky Rapids area.could hear them howling in the river valley behind my house last winter. Plenty of Cougars too.

The wolves are here already,have seen several in the area over the past few years,and less moose too it seems.

Akoch · #21 10-09-2018, 07:19 PM

CFB suffield is “inadequate / poor” quality habitat, must be why they were pulling out stunted little bulls and the numbers haven’t really increased.

kropsbone · #22 10-09-2018, 08:09 PM

A couple years ago got a picture of a small 5x5 on my camera down by the north Saskatchewan river just outside of Edmonton, but never seen him again. I also had raccoons on camera as well

bubba300 · #23 10-11-2018, 06:48 AM

I live west of Three Hills and there elk here now.Haven't seen any this year but seen a few last year and year before.Think they must travel threw here from over by Elnora.

Grizzly Adams · #24 10-11-2018, 08:11 AM

At one point , Alberta's elk population had almost been wiped out. What we have now is directly as a result o transplants from Yellowstone during the 1920s, would you believe ?

Grizz

Talking moose · #25 10-11-2018, 08:19 AM

Manning/North Star herds started from a transplant during the 70’s. Pretty healthy nowadays.

Hemi44 · #26 10-11-2018, 09:44 AM

Any elk around torrington? I saw they open up elk draws here but I've never seen elk in this area . You can also bow hunt elk without draw here.

xxclaro · #27 10-12-2018, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi44

Any elk around torrington? I saw they open up elk draws here but I've never seen elk in this area . You can also bow hunt elk without draw here.

Don't know about your area but that brings back what I was wondering about in the original post. Are they trying to keep elk from spreading too much into new areas by allowing hunting of them when there are still relatively few in that area? Maybe not, maybe there are more than we think and it'll be fine, just seems kinda strange to me to see OTC rifle tags for areas where most people have never seen an elk.

bubba300 · #28 10-13-2018, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi44

Any elk around torrington? I saw they open up elk draws here but I've never seen elk in this area . You can also bow hunt elk without draw here.

All the elk I see are east of Torrington,had a herd of 14 bulls 3 years ago about 6 miles straight east of there.Then they were seen east of Didsbury overpass a couple of weeks later.I like the way they set up the 3 zones into 1 for elk,hope to be drawn for rifle next year.The cow elk season goes into January.

gazin16 · #29 10-13-2018, 09:08 PM

Torrington? You're in the heart of elk country lol. Just because you do not see them doesn't mean they're not there.

AlbertaWild · #30 10-13-2018, 09:28 PM

Seen a bull elk west of pigeon lake and had went camping at pigeon lake provincial park..haf a fire going at night siting around fire, here comes a cow elk mewing around the park... went out in early am.. found tracks on the road .. bugger was wondering around.