Elk range... in your opinion.....

[iccyman001]

This is an educated guess from a young buck, but in my opinion, I believe a whitetail buck stays within a 500-600 acre range until that testosterone starts pumping, then that\'s obviously extended....


I was wondering if you all had an estimate for an elk\'s average range? Regular day and then once the rut starts.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Reports that I\'ve read indicate that some elk herds can do a 8 square mile range.

 

[cnelk]

I think that 8 sq mile range sounds about right

 

[iccyman001]

Wow, they are definitely movers.

Thank you!

 

[otcWill]

We have collared elk that travel over 50 miles to their winter range, but I have noticed that most of the season they stay in about a 8-12 mile radius. Some actually remain in very small (usually private) parcels of about 1 mile.

 

[OldMan]

Are you asking about their range for the whole year, or just one period of time?

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Still brings up a good point. Elk can winter a lot farther away from their regular range.

jf

 

[iccyman001]

Pete, I just wanted a general day range, not during the rut. I know how crazy animals can get when that test starts flowing.


Thank you all for the input. I do use that kind of stuff when I am scouting my WT, so I can also apply it to the elk

 

[cnelk]

Day range??
Im going to modify my answer to maybe a mile or so [without pressure]

With pressure?
At least double that, maybe triple

 

[iccyman001]

Day range??
Im going to modify my answer to maybe a mile or so [without pressure]

With pressure?
At least double that, maybe triple

I don\'t have as much time as I usually do to scout this type of stuff, but I can usually pattern WT and track out their entire day (pre rut)

Following rub lines going into/out of their feeding areas and finding where they bed.

So that\'s how over time I figured they do about 600 acres a day.


Knowing elk travel a mile/8 sq miles/ etc, it\'ll help me figure this out a little more!

Thanks Brad

 

[OldMan]

I agree with Brad. If it\'s not hunting season, and they have food and water near by. They won\'t move much at all. No reason to.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Yep, I hear day range about 1 mile, weekly to monthly range about 8 miles, and wintering range can be really far.

 

[OldMan]

Yes, in my area the winter and summer ranges are 25 miles apart.

 

[Swede]

Elk range seems to vary a lot. Elk on the open desert of eastern Oregon have a much larger range than those that stay in and around the forests. Some that move to the sanctuary of a ranch with alfalfa and good cover nearby seem to not stray far until the bullets start to fly. In many places it appears the elk have about an 8-12 mile radius area they cover. 8-12 mile is a guesstimate on my part, but coincides with what others here have observed.