Elk Facts

Bulls

• Mature bulls average 800 to 1,100 pounds, stand 5' to 5'6'' at the shoulder and are 7 to 8 years of age.
  
  
• They are capable of breeding at two years of age.
  
  
• Top velvet producing bulls have large circumference beams and mass above the third tine.
  
  
• The antlers' number of points is influenced by genetics and feed, as well as by maturity.
  
  
• Antlers fall off in March and regrow every year.
  
  
• When harvested in May or June, 20 to 30 pounds of Grade A velvet should be the yield from a mature bull.
  
  
• They dress out at approximately 60% of live weight.

Cows

• Mature cows average 550 to 600 pounds, stand 4' to 5' at the shoulder, and are three to four years of age.
  
  
• Most 18-month-old females will cycle if they weigh at least 430 lbs.
• They do not grow antlers.
  
  
• They are very good mothers.

Calves

• They are born in May or June and spend the first week of their lives in tall grass, usually getting up only to nurse.
  
  
• They are spotted when born and develop their brown coats in six months.
  
  
• Through natural instinct, the cow watches the calf from a short distance, drawing near when it is threatened.

Breeding

• The rut, controlled by the day/night cycle, is from late August to late October.
  
  
• For best success, breeding bulls should be three years old or older.
  
  
• One bull can service 20 to 40 cows.
  
  
• A bull will gather a group of females and keep them away from other bulls.
  
  
• Bulls compete for dominance through bugling, sparring, and chasing would-be competitors away. (Injuries are rare.)
  
  
• Bulls and cows go through a ritual before the actual "high mount" of mating.
  
  
• A cow's gestation is approximately 246 days, + or - 10 days.
  
  
• Artificial insemination is common with a success rate of 50-80%.

Calving

• All cows will "bag up" before giving birth.
  
  
• The older the cow, the more "pregnant" she will appear.
  
  
• The cow will start to "walk the fences" prior to calving, looking for a quiet, private place to give birth.
  
  
• Ensure through controlled feeding that cows are not fat, as this restricts the size of the birth canal and increases the size of the calf.
  
  
• Although calving problems are rare, farmers can help the cow by pulling the calf, but only after waiting a lengthly period for a natural birth.
  
  

• The cow will immediately accept the calf and clean it, and the calf will stand to nurse.