Historical Native Elk Populations
Elk were historically present across much of Texas. Evidence indicates their widespread presence from the Panhandle to deep South Texas. These native populations likely included the Merriam’s elk (Cervus canadensis merriami) in the Trans-Pecos region and the Manitoban elk (Cervus canadensis manitobensis) in the northern Panhandle and along the Red River.
By the late 1800s and early 1900s, native elk populations in Texas faced significant decline and eventual extirpation. Unregulated hunting played a major role in their disappearance. Habitat degradation and diseases introduced by domestic animals also contributed to their loss. By 1900, elk were considered extirpated from the state.
Current Elk Presence
Today, elk in Texas are primarily found in the Trans-Pecos region, particularly in the Guadalupe, Sierra Diablo, Glass, Wylie, Eagle, and Davis mountains, existing as free-ranging herds. An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 elk live in these free-ranging herds, with a 2014 estimate placing the total population closer to 3,500 individuals. Some free-ranging elk have also been observed in the Texas Panhandle.
Most current elk populations in Texas originate from reintroductions by private landowners and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The first significant reintroduction occurred in 1928, when 44 elk from the Black Hills of South Dakota were released in McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains. These reintroduced animals were primarily Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni). While some free-ranging herds have expanded naturally, DNA research suggests that free-ranging elk in the Davis and Glass mountains are also a result of natural immigration from New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest.
Beyond these free-ranging populations, many elk are maintained on high-fenced private ranches across the state. These introduced populations, predominantly Rocky Mountain elk, are managed for hunting and conservation purposes. Elk on private lands are often classified differently under state regulations than truly wild species.
Conservation and Management Efforts
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) manages wildlife, though elk are legally classified as an exotic species in much of Texas. This classification means elk are not subject to the same hunting seasons or bag limits as native game, allowing year-round hunting without restrictions. This policy stems from concerns that elk might compete with desert bighorn sheep, a species TPWD has worked to reintroduce and manage.
Private landowners and organizations also contribute to elk management. Many ranches offer guided elk hunting experiences, which can help manage herd sizes on private lands. Conservation groups, such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, support research on elk movement and habitat preferences in West Texas, even though they are officially classified as non-native. These efforts aim to understand and influence the future of free-ranging elk in the region, particularly on private lands where most elk hunting occurs.