United States Elk population

[ironworker]

Watching the outdoor channel (Western Extremes) this morning, the show host was in the process of taking his 51st elk. I don't know what the total elk population is, but it seems like 51 elk taken for a relitivley young guy sounds crazy.

This particular hunt was with an outfitter (Trophy Mountain) in Colorado. The host can't be 35 years old..... He told a story about his first elk taken, he was 17.
If you do the math that's approx. 3 elk per season.
Needless to say he took his 51st elk (360-370 class).

I understand that when you hunt for a living, you get opertunities the average guy never gets..
How many tags can the average person get in one year?


Rich

 

[hatchet1]

you can pretty much buy as many elk as you,d like , if you got the cake

 

[XDHUNTER]

Dont be surprise anymore...Here's one link.check out ochoco valleyranch bull elk auction.

http://www.superiorlivestock.com/

 

[Speckmisser]

Colorado is crawling with elk, and they're doing pretty good in a few other states. If you hunted every state with huntable elk, you'd kill a lot more than 3 per year.

It just takes money and time... or a sponsor.

 

[wmidbrook]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

...or a sponsor.[/b]

If any of you know of a sponsor to keep me into the elk tags I deserve, I'd more than appreciate it...

'cause, if I could figure out how to work it, I would...lol.

 

[Archer32]

In Montana its one. There is also depredation hunt that will offer another if you get called to do it. The total number depends on how many states you apply to hunt in.

 

[flyingbrass]

Western Extreme is a JOKE! I saw that show also. They are shooting elk behind fences. I hate to divide hunters but in my mind if there is a high fence it ain't even hunting. These guys got no respect for the game. Sick.

 

[foulshot]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (flyingbrass @ Feb 18 2008, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Western Extreme is a JOKE! I saw that show also. They are shooting elk behind fences. I hate to divide hunters but in my mind if there is a high fence it ain't even hunting. These guys got no respect for the game. Sick.[/b]

I agree!

Oh and welcome to JHO!!

 

[Duknutz]

The heck with the tag prices,I couldn't imagine the look on my wife's face if I told her I was going to hunt four states in one year and be gone for a week in each state.After week two I would probably have a backpack with two little girls(daughters) in it,along with my gear.....

 

[DEERSLAM]

I love my big game hunting but I don't think I could kill 50 of any one species or sub species. I've shot a lot of blacktail deer, not quite 50, and could go the rest of my life with out killin another. As a matter of fact I haven't in a number of years even though I've had the chance. I'm just very selective now.

I agree that show is a joke. It and many other shows are more about the killin than the hunt.

 

[barel74]

some of those 51 elk could be cows. Sometimes they're cheaper tags, and easier to find game

 

[ironworker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (barel74 @ Feb 20 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

some of those 51 elk could be cows. Sometimes they're cheaper tags, and easier to find game

[/b]

I wish that were true but he had all 50 mounted in his work shop.

 

[younghunter]

I think harvesting that many elk is attainable if you live out west.

I live in WY and I've killed an elk every year in my home state since I've been old enough to hunt. I also venture to CO and ID almost every year to hunt. I'm 23 years old and im at 20 elk under my belt. I live for elk meat. We have elk meat for dinner 4-5 times a week....at least. Sometimes every day of the week. I also make a lot of jerky salami and such and give it to family friends for christmas gifts. Now on the flipside everyone would think I've killed a lot of antelope for living in WY. Thats not the case here, I've only harvested 3. The antelope areas I put in for are hard to draw, while I can hunt elk over the counter. I can kill two elk (one bull, one cow) in WY every year. I hunt with a general tag and pick up an additional/late season cow tag. Other states like CO have the same thing.

This years draw im in for 9 states and I'm just an average guy like you all. I don't make much money but I'm also pretty tight with my money. I don't think I'll ever make enough money to hunt a high fence, and wouldn't want to anyhow. Imagine how many DIY hunts you could do for the price of one of those canned "hunts".

The draws are up for WY, any of you chasing wapiti this fall?

 

[huntin geek]

those #s are reachable,a ol timer that hunts wit me in idaho shot his 97th elk this year,he is probably 57-59 but do the math.

 

[easymoney]

There are more elk in more places than ever before in American history and if you have enough money you can buy your way into the record books in each and every state in the union that has them...
In Texas alone you can shoot more different game animals from more different countries every day of the week and there are those who do it. Not to mention the "hunting" shows on TV where "hunters" are put on game every episode and they all score record book animals, even the idiots who couldn't find a mouse in their own pockets. More big game animals are killed by automoblies every year than by hunters.
That being said most real DYI hunters make very little difference in overall take numbers, just look at the low success rates in even in the most elk populated states like Colorado.

 

[fishnhunt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (easymoney @ Apr 21 2008, 06:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

There are more elk in more places than ever before in American history and if you have enough money you can buy your way into the record books in each and every state in the union that has them...
In Texas alone you can shoot more different game animals from more different countries every day of the week and there are those who do it. Not to mention the "hunting" shows on TV where "hunters" are put on game every episode and they all score record book animals, even the idiots who couldn't find a mouse in their own pockets. More big game animals are killed by automoblies every year than by hunters.
That being said most real DYI hunters make very little difference in overall take numbers, just look at the low success rates in even in the most elk populated states like Colorado.[/b]

That is not quite true.....At one point elk inhabitated almost all of the lower 48 states untill we market hunted them out.....