| When push comes to
shove, elk will usually dominate the battle of the land Elk in all of the Rocky Mountain states have done very well over the
last 50 years. The herds are continuing to do well due mostly to good conservation efforts
and good
Game and Fish management.
The elk here in Arizona have really done well. In fact the
elk have taken over some historically mule deer areas. The elk have expanded to areas
where we really don't want them such as the Arizona Kaibab Plateau, one of the premiere
areas for big mule deer bucks. In recent years some elk have drifted out of Utah into the
Kaibab and ended up establishing residency there. This is not good for the deer as the elk
will eventually dominate an area. In the end it will result in a decline in deer. Back in
the 60s the deer were doing very well. But since that time, elk expanding into many of
these areas have taken over.
Elk are strong animals and can do well in almost any area.
Hard winters and predation do not have nearly the effect on elk as deer. Note: In regards
to the above statement about predation, I am referring to mountain lions and coyotes. I am
not saying that mountain lions don't prey on elk. They just prey on deer more often. I
don't believe coyotes have much effect on elk, but coyotes play a major role in fawn
survival in antelope and deer. I have personally seen coyotes take down a full-grown deer.
They work in packs just like their cousin the wolf.
The Arizona strip is a good example of how devastating
coyotes can be to a deer herd. After poisoning of coyotes was outlawed, the coyote
population grew significantly and the fawn survival went down.
When coyote fur became popular, lots of trappers went to
the strip to trap. During that time fawn survival was up and the deer herd was doing much
better. In recent years fur prices have gone way down and Arizona has outlawed the use of
steel jaw traps. Fawn survival has dropped again. As predator numbers increase, deer herd
size decline.
In states such as Wyoming with healthy wolf populations, I
believe wolf packs can have major impacts on elk herds. I just read an article from the
Casper Star Tribune as follows: "In one week, March 14-21, 13 elk were killed by
wolves on the state feedgrounds. Several elk were found mangled but still alive, one with
its nose chewed off, another with a huge chunk ripped out of its side. In one night a lone
wolf killed five calf elk on the camp creek feedground, only eating a small portion of two
of the calves. It was obviously a 'sport killing'. Gosh, we were told wolves wouldn't do
that!" Obviously this could have a devastating effect on elk herds. 
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Continued -----> The Other Elk
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