8 Elk Facts Every Hunter Should Know

Before heading to the mountains for an exciting elk hunt, here are eight facts about elk that will help you better understand and more effectively hunt these majestic animals.

1. One Queen Cow Rules the Herd

Elk live in herds of up to 400 elk and are segregated by gender. In the summer, elk herds can have up to 400 elk, all of which are led by one old cow. 

This cow leads the way to the high mountains in the summer for other cows to give birth, and each cow has a single calf that can stand within 20 minutes of being born. In the winter, the old cow directs the herd to lower elevations to graze on snowy grass and shrubs. Elk are inactive in the middle of the day and late at night. 

2. Velvet Is a Coolant

We all know how cool antler velvet looks, but it actually keeps elk physically cool, as well. 

The blood that pumps through the veins in the velvet on a bull's developing antlers cools before it returns to the heart, helping keep the large elk cool in the summer heat.  

3. Ancestral Elk Species Probably Had Tusks 

An elk's top two canine teeth are called "ivories." Scientists believe ivories are remnants of saber-like tusks that ancestral species of elk used in combat. 

Most hunters save elk ivories as a memento of the hunt.

4. Fawns are Born Camouflaged from Predators

Fawns are born one at a time to their cow mom, in late May into mid-June. They can walk within 20 minutes of being born and run shortly after. 

Cows often leave their fawns unattended for hours. So, fawns must be born with spots because they camouflage from predators. 

5. Elk Can Beat Horses in Short Races

The Guinness Book of World Records states that the fastest speed a racehorse ever recorded achieved was just under 44 miles per hour. 

Elk can reach a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour. Wild elk will easily beat any average horse over rough terrain, such as rocks, elevation changes, and snow. 

6. Antlers Grow Up to an Inch Per Day

A Bull elk's antlers can grow up to 4 feet above the head. 

Antlers are dependent on testosterone. Each winter, after mating season, the testosterone in elk drops so low that they shed their antlers. 

In the summer, they regrow their antlers coated in velvet. Velvet starts to shed as does start to come into heat, so they are hard-horned for the rut. 

7. You'll Pack Out 200-500 lbs After Shooting an Elk

Elk are big, really big. 

When fully grown, a rocky mountain elk cow will weigh 500 lbs, and a mature bull elk will weigh about 700 lbs and stand about 5ft tall at the shoulder. So, when quartering out an elk and only taking meat, you can bet you will be packing out at least 180 lbs of meat. 

If you plan to cap out a bull elk, consider the weight of more than 40 lbs of antlers, heavy cape, and all the meat. All of this is in addition to your gear. So, you better get in shape or get a guide!

8. A Lot is Going On When an Elk Bugles

Hearing an elk bugle is one of the most exciting parts of hunting elk. 

Look closely when elk bugle. You will see his lips and nostrils moving because bull elk roar and whistle simultaneously to make the famous elk bugle.

Bonus Elk Fact: HuntWise Helps You Hunt Elk Better

With the information we provided today, you'll understand elk better, so you can hunt them better. You'll also want to download the Huntwise app and use various features to e-scout land and mark hunt areas to maximize your time in the field. 

HuntWise provides species-specific forecasting using real-time data to help you track elk, alert you when it's the best time to get out and chase a bull, and use the wind to your advantage to mask your presence. So, if a bull elk is on your hunting list this season, let HuntWise help you hunt elk better to bring home that trophy. 

Download HuntWise today and get the first week for free on us!

Content updated May 23, 2024.