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Bull elk

Conservation > Species Elk

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America and an icon of big-game hunting and conservation. 

The depletion of Montana's wildlife, including the noticeable decline of elk herds on the landscape, during the 1800's and early 1900's inspired the beginning of Montana's conservation movement during the first half of the 20th Century.

Today, Montana is home to one of the largest elk populations in the country.

Managing Montana’s elk populations at levels compatible with other land uses and meeting the current and future demand for hunting and other recreation has become increasingly complex, demanding increased comprehensive planning. FWP has operated under some form of elk plan since 1978. In 2005, Montana adopted a new, comprehensive elk plan. In 2020, a citizens group assembled to provide overarching elk management guidance for the state of Montana, including a forthcoming update to the state's Elk Management Plan.

 

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pair of cow elk in stream

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Elk herd

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Bull elk

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Brucellosis Surveillance

Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection in domestic animals, wildlife and humans worldwide. The disease can result in abortions in some pregnant animals, including domestic cattle, bison and elk. It can also result in serious financial burdens to cattle producers, potentially resulting in quarantine of a herd, increased testing and vaccination costs and possible difficulty in trade with other states and countries. The potential for transmission to livestock has led FWP to investigate the status of brucellosis in some elk herds near Yellowstone National Park.

Because brucellosis can negatively impact Montana livestock producers, influence the acceptability of elk on the landscape, impact the overall health of wildlife populations and remains a health concern for people, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working with the Montana Department of Livestock, livestock producers and sportsmen and women to better delineate the geographic distribution of the disease in elk, understand elk-cattle transmission risk and ways to mitigate that risk, measure its prevalence in elk populations and understand factors that may influence changes in prevalence and distribution of the disease.

FWP along with informal input from the Elk Management Guidelines in Areas with Brucellosis Working Group annually assembles an "Elk Management in Areas With Brucellosis Work Plan (PDF)" which guides implementation of potential management actions within the Designated Surveillance Area or in other specific areas where brucellosis-exposed elk have been confirmed within the previous five years. The work plan requires annual adoption by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Surveillance for brucellosis across Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana has largely relied on collection of samples from hunter harvested animals. Due to difficulties in obtaining a large enough sample size from harvested elk in Montana, since 2011, FWP has embarked on a surveillance and research project that involves capturing, testing, and radio collaring elk from areas on the edge of the known distribution of brucellosis. 

In the winter of 2023/2024, FWP embarked on its fourteenth year of targeted brucellosis surveillance and research in southwestern Montana. One hundred and twenty-two adult cow elk were captured in the Highland Mountains south of Butte in HD340. All elk tested negative for exposure to brucellosis. Thirty cow elk received GPS collars to enhance our understanding of elk movement patterns, evaluate the risk elk may pose for brucellosis transmission to cattle or other elk, and improve overall elk population management.  In January 2025 FWP is planning to capture 100 adult cow elk in the Southern Crazy Mountains northwest of Big Timber for continued brucellosis surveillance.

 

Annual Reports

 

Post Capture Reports

 

Additional Reports

Statewide Management Plan

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America and are an icon of big game hunting and conservation. Elk are managed for the benefit of all Montanans. Managing Montana’s elk populations at levels compatible with other land uses and meeting the current and future demand for hunting and other recreation has become increasingly complex and has demanded comprehensive planning. Montana has operated under some form of elk plan since 1978.


This Elk Management Plan has multiple uses. It is intended to:

  1. inform the decisions regarding elk management and conservation in Montana,

  2. assist FWP personnel when considering elk management recommendations, 

  3. define FWP’s commitment to the public to responsibly manage elk populations, and

  4. guide FWP to meet statutory requirements in sustainably managing elk populations.


2023 Montana Statewide Management Plan

Plan Introduction

Includes Table of Contents, Background, Statewide Management Direction, Hunting District Information and Management Direction

Pages 1-65

Region 1 Hunting Districts

Pages 66-111

Region 2 Hunting Districts

Pages 112-198

Region 3 Hunting Districts

Pages 199-314

Region 4 Hunting Districts

Pages 315-396

Region 5 Hunting Districts

Pages 397-430

Region 6 Hunting Districts

Pages 431-444

Region 7 Hunting Districts

Pages 445-450

Literature Cited and Appendices

Pages 453-471

 

Research

Human Dimension Surveys

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