Why no American Elk in the Sierras?

[SDHNTR]

Just a curious thought running around the dead space in my head. I've always though that the high country from Lone Pine all the way up North past Trukee seemed like suitable elk habitat, Especially from Mammoth to the Tahoe area on the Eastern side of the crest. At least the country seems similar to many places in the Rocky Mtn. states where elk abound. Why no American elk in these areas? I'm not talking about introducing them, but why isn't this region part of their natural range? Was it historically? Or have they just never been pushed this far West from their days as a plains dwelling animal? Might they ever expand this far South from their current limited area in the extreme NE part of the state? Just thinking out loud here.

 

[easymoney]

Their historic range was mainly the Plains (the more open grass or the valleys) and because of hunting pressure they have retreated back up in elevation. The original tule elk herds were prolific in the Sac River delta region and the interior valleys until the late 1800's, when they were all killed off for food, for the gold miners. The Rocky mt elk have had a similar history.
Interesting fact, there are more elk alive today nation wide, than at any other time...

 

[Speckmisser]

Easy nailed it... the high country never was their natural range. They were plains animals.

However, there are signs that they are spreading down the Eastern Sierra now. It'll probably be decades, and will depend on a lot of factors, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them populate a good chunk of the mountains over time.

 

[BOWUNTR]

They are there! Tejon Ranch, North Central Ca and the Warners! I've heard that both herds are expanding their range. If you look back not too long ago, there were no huntable American elk herds in Ca. Just be patient, I'll be posting about my Ca American elk hunt in a few years!!! Ed F

 

[bobcatman04]

great questions and answers, I'm impressed and enlightened. Thank you

 

[SDHNTR]

That pretty much confirms my suspicion too. Historically speaking, I know they were driven off the plains and into the Rocky Mtn's. I guess they just haven't gotten to the Sierra mountains of Central Cal yet. They seem to have come down from Oregon and populated the Warners, and maybe they will spread up from Tejon too and meet in the middle. Wouldn't a combo A20 deer and elk hunt be bitchin!

 

[Speckmisser]

We keep hoping to wake one morning at Coon Camp Springs and hear bugling, but so far they seem to be hanging around up at Modocer's area... still a bit north of us. Sure would be cool to add elk to the list of big game on the property up there... just a matter of time.

 

[Hitechhunter]

Several years ago i heard a local rumor about a small herd of elk on the WEST SLOPE of the Sierra's around 5000ft elevation in Amador and Calaveras Counties. I couldn't believe the reports, so I contacted F&G and they confirmed the rumor!

I've spent a great deal of time traversing this neck of the woods and have yet to see any sign of them. I think I'd crap my pants if I drew back on an approaching deer and instead have a huge elk step out in front of me!

 

[el_vaquero]

I wouldn't mind if they spread into the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests.......now that would be cool.

But seriously, that would be nice to see the herds spread into new areas.

 

[easymoney]

This expansion is one of the reasons they yanked the Owens Valley bow tag. Too many cows and too much damage done to ranchers crops and fences. DFG was responding to that expansion and I suspect we will see this up here near me soon. The local anti hunting ranchers don't want the elk, but they don't want hunting either...

 

[kphunter]

I like to see a few herds of Yellowstone elk transplanted to the Sierras. I'd bet they'd thrive in that environment.

KP

 

[YORT40]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (easymoney @ Jun 26 2007, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This expansion is one of the reasons they yanked the Owens Valley bow tag. Too many cows and too much damage done to ranchers crops and fences. DFG was responding to that expansion and I suspect we will see this up here near me soon. The local anti hunting ranchers don't want the elk, but they don't want hunting either...[/b]

The Owens Valley herd was mentioned on the local news in February. Thats when I knew more hunts would be added this year. From what was said, the Inyo County/DFG Agreement of 1968 which introduced the Tule Elk to the area, the population should never exceed something like 389. It's hard to see any expansion with restrictions like this Agreement.

 

[SDHNTR]

I'm not talking about the tules down in the valley. They are native to our state and don't inhabit the high country. I don't think they would expand to alpine areas. I understand the need to contol the population of the herds. Especially the Owens herds (although I certainly don't agree with their methods) since that valley is a relatively small place. I'm talking American, Yellowstone, Rocky Mtn., (whatever you want to call them, non-Roosevelt, non-Tule) elk inhabiting the high country of the central Sierras. I doubt they will get there in our lifetimes, but it sure would be cool to pack into the Hoovers for a Sept rutting bulls hunt.

 

[easymoney]

Yes, sdhntr, it would be great for us hunters if they migrated to more public land. But, IMHO, it is not going to happen.
The best land for the game, the best food, water and cover is on the private ranches ( because historically those were the lands homesteaded or taken by the settlers first, the remaining public land is what was left over)and the ranchers do not want this to happen. I see it in OR each year and those are native animals( not planted) who migrate onto the surrounding ranches each fall and do serious damage to crops and fences. The ODF raises the tag numbers in those areas, BUT the ranches do not provide access to the game nor grant permission to hunt. Catch 22...

 

[wmidbrook]

'Cause they don't want to leave where the Grass is Green and the Cows are Pretty.

 

[84toyota]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hitechhunter @ Jun 26 2007, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Several years ago i heard a local rumor about a small herd of elk on the WEST SLOPE of the Sierra's around 5000ft elevation in Amador and Calaveras Counties. I couldn't believe the reports, so I contacted F&G and they confirmed the rumor!

I've spent a great deal of time traversing this neck of the woods and have yet to see any sign of them. I think I'd crap my pants if I drew back on an approaching deer and instead have a huge elk step out in front of me![/b]

There are a fair number of elk (Rocky Mountain) East of Redding, Around Shasta Lake, the eastern foothills/mountains, approaching Lassen Park... Wouldn't take too much for them to start spreading southward...

Ken

 

[Big 17]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (84toyota @ Jun 28 2007, 12:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

There are a fair number of elk (Rocky Mountain) East of Redding, Around Shasta Lake, the eastern foothills/mountains, approaching Lassen Park... Wouldn't take too much for them to start spreading southward...

Ken[/b]

Back when I worked for Lassen National Forest, we had to do an audit of all the property that belonged that Forest. One of my jobs was to do reports on some of the buildings, such as Fire Look outs. My coworker and I were on our way to a lookout near the Hat Creek Ranger Station. As we were driving up the dirt road, I saw what I thought was the biggest damn deer I had ever seen in my life, cross the dirt road in front of us. When we got to where it had crossed we looked to see if we could see it. It wasn't a deer, it was a raghorn bull elk. I was like, HOLY CRAP! I tried to grab the camera from my Big City coworker and jumped out of the truck. But the elk decided it had enough of our presence and took off. I never even got the camera on.

That was in 1998 or 99.

 

[wmidbrook]

Speaking of Hat Creek reminds me of something I heard while hunting G1 in '96....I ran into a couple of guys just north of Hiway 32 who'd run into 2 elk...that's pretty darn far south and about 10 years ago. I think it was kinda isolated but they'll eventually be well established down that way for sure. And, I sure'd like to see some elk one day up @ Coon Camp Springs...they aren't all that far away from there either.

 

[Speckmisser]

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

And, I sure'd like to see some elk one day up @ Coon Camp Springs...they aren't all that far away from there either.[/b]

We keep waiting. When you gonna get back over here to visit us?

 

[wmidbrook]

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

When you gonna get back over here to visit us?[/b]

Hopefully sooner than later...I'm a solid 9 hrs from there now but I might tie it into a trip over to Chico. I may end up relocating back in CA within a few years to develop a boat storage yard up at the ranch and would probably do 3 day (30 hrs)/week contracts in the Sac area. Getting my wife's buy-in on that is proving to be the tough part--schools near the ranch aren't all that good.

If the timing's right, you're welcome to stop where I live on your way to/from your CO elk trip. I'm about 5 minutes from I-15 near the new Cabelas.