The Rocky Mountain Elk is one of Arizona’s most recognizable wildlife species, inhabiting the state’s high-elevation forests. As a large game animal, the elk holds a significant place in the state’s outdoor culture. Its population is a measure of the health of the northern Arizona ecosystem. Managing this herd involves balancing ecological sustainability with the public’s interest in viewing and hunting the animals.
Current Statewide Population Estimates
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) estimates the statewide elk population to be nearly 35,000 animals. This robust herd has expanded significantly since its reintroduction in the early 20th century. The population number is an estimate derived from a combination of field surveys and statistical modeling, not a precise count.
The size of the herd is subject to natural fluctuations based on environmental factors like drought and management actions. Regulated hunting harvest plays a considerable role in maintaining the population at sustainable levels for the available habitat. Calf recruitment, the survival rate of young elk, is another factor that causes the overall estimate to change annually.
Geographic Range and Distribution
Elk in Arizona are primarily concentrated in the high-elevation forests of the central and northern parts of the state. The largest herds occupy the extensive ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer forests within the Coconino, Kaibab, and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, which provide necessary forage, cover, and water.
The Mogollon Rim serves as a primary summer range. Elk inhabit elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet during warmer months, utilizing mountain meadows and coniferous forests. As winter approaches, they migrate to lower elevations dominated by pinyon-juniper woodlands to escape heavy snowpack.
A distinct concentration is the Interstate 17 herd, residing primarily in Game Management Unit 6A south of Flagstaff. This herd was estimated to contain approximately 6,500 animals in 2019. Movement corridors and winter ranges are continuously monitored to mitigate conflicts, especially along major highways.
Managing the Elk Population
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) employs sophisticated techniques to monitor and manage the elk population across the state. Population estimation relies on a combination of standardized aerial surveys and ground counts, which are then integrated into population modeling software. This approach helps biologists determine herd health and calculate sustainable harvest levels.
Management goals focus on maintaining a healthy herd size that aligns with habitat capacity, while also addressing concerns from private landowners and livestock producers. The agency uses hunting tags as a primary tool for population control. Annual harvest targets are set high, often aiming for 9,000 or more elk, to prevent the population from exceeding ecological carrying capacity.
Antlerless elk tags, specifically for cows and calves, are strategically issued to control overall herd growth and manage localized population density. Survey data, including pre- and post-hunt ratios of calves to cows, gauge reproductive success and habitat quality. The AZGFD also works with land management agencies to minimize conflicts between elk and livestock.
Historical Context and Reintroduction
The elk currently living in Arizona are descendants of the Rocky Mountain elk subspecies, not the native Merriam’s elk. The indigenous Merriam’s elk population was extirpated from the state by the beginning of the 20th century, largely due to unregulated market hunting and competition with expanding livestock operations.
The restoration effort began in 1913 with the successful reintroduction of 83 Rocky Mountain elk shipped by rail from Yellowstone National Park. These initial animals were released near Chevelon Creek in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Further translocations occurred in later years, including releases near Springerville and in the Hualapai Mountains.
The current robust population is a direct result of these early 20th-century conservation efforts. The descendants of the Yellowstone stock now form the basis of the state’s managed elk herd.