All across the West, elk can be found on vast expanses of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management ground, as well as state managed wildlife areas.

Demand often outpaces supply, so drawing this tag may require applicants to have a preference point. allows animals to move from one place to His goal was to document a sample of average distances covered by different species to and from winter and summer ranges and, in some cases, the routes they took. Non-residents who want to hunt elk in Wyoming need to apply for a general elk tag, which is not guaranteed every season.There’s a cap on the number of general non-resident elk tags made available in Wyoming each year. Get Started Data Basin is a science-based mapping and analysis platform that supports learning, research, and sustainable environmental stewardship. 330 pp. Disconnected populations unable to mate with others can lose the genetic diversity and resiliency that helps them ward off disease and survive natural disasters.

These muleys travel for miles in search of broken topography such as deep ravines along river breaks. Additional elk hunting opportunities can be found where private landowners allow public access through collaborative arrangements with state wildlife management agencies. Naturally, many... Our picks for the week’s best hunting, fishing, wild foods, and conservation content. You need to be signed in to access your workspace. For instance, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife biologists have tracked mule deer in northeastern Montana moving an average of 64 miles from winter range west of Glasgow to summer fawn-rearing sites in Saskatchewan.

The general elk tag is valid throughout much of the state during a six-week archery season and five-week rifle season.

Average/longest documented migration distance: 12/44 miles, Major migration concerns: Roads and fences from That’s a big question, and one that we’ll try to answer in a series of articles. Others are man-made, like the 42 wildlife passageway culverts recently installed under stretches of U.S. Highway 93 by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Montana Department of Transportation. Tag numbers are limited but in some years, unsold general elk tags can be purchased over the counter after the drawing period has ended. Some wild sheep, such as those in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, migrate just a few miles, while others travel 40 miles each way. These obstacles often disrupt “connectivity”—the degree to which the landscape The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The Judith River, Sun River, Wall Creek, Mount Silcox, and many other WMAs were bought to protect winter elk habitat while reducing damage to private land by hungry elk.

“We need to understand the animals’ responses to natural areas and human development,” says Justin Gude, who manages FWP’s wildlife research Big game animals must sense whether the trip is worth the effort.

hibernation. Elk winter ranges, summer ranges, calving areas and migration areas for the state of Montana.

This might seem like a hassle, but Wyoming consistently boasts the highest elk hunter success rates in the West, often doubling success rates of Colorado or Montana. Colorado sells either sex and cow-only archery tags over the counter. 1991.

Montana Elk Winter Ranges, Summer Ranges, Calving Areas, and Migration Areas, http://fwp.state.mt.us/insidefwp/fwplibrary/gis/shapefiles/elk99.shp.zip, http://fwp.state.mt.us/insidefwp/fwplibrary/gis/e00files/elk99.e00.zip. For much of the 20th century, they focused on protecting core habitats—such as wildlife management areas (WMAs), national wildlife refuges, and national parks. The Conservation Biology Institute (CBI) provides scientific expertise to support the conservation and recovery of biological diversity in its natural state through applied research, education, planning, and community service.

Some Canadian herds, perhaps following ancient routes thousands of years old, hit Fort Peck Reservoir and cross its frozen surface, only to be stranded on the lake’s south shore in spring. Idaho also sells archery and rifle tags over the counter.

FWP biologists have been tracking wildlife migrations since the 1950s, when they followed elk and sheep by horseback. Additional funding for Data Basin is provided by the Kresge Foundation. This is where research comes in. New Tracking Technology Reveals Hidden Animal Migration Routes Using improved GPS collars, scientists are mapping more herd migration routes than ever before, a … GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE The elk situation. You can search for roadless areas that elk use during hunting season and get a quality view of the terrain and cover where you’ll be hunting.