Arizona, often associated with arid desert landscapes, holds a surprising ecological diversity within its expansive high-country forests. These mountain ranges and plateaus support a complex array of wildlife, including some of the largest land mammals in North America. The Ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer forests of the state’s central and northern regions provide the necessary habitat for these large herbivores to thrive. This environment supports a robust and carefully managed population of ungulates.
Answering the Question: Identifying Arizona’s Elk
Arizona maintains a significant elk population, a testament to decades of conservation and reintroduction efforts. The specific subspecies inhabiting the state today is the Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni). Current estimates by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) place the total population at approximately 35,000 animals, establishing Arizona as home to one of the most productive elk herds across the western United States.
The History of Elk Restoration in Arizona
The elk currently found in Arizona are not the original native inhabitants; the indigenous subspecies was the Merriam’s Elk (Cervus elaphus merriami). This species was never particularly numerous or widespread, mainly occupying areas of the White and Blue Mountains. Due to unregulated hunting and increased human settlement, the Merriam’s Elk was extirpated from Arizona by the early 1900s, coinciding with a continental decline in elk numbers.
This loss prompted conservation-minded citizens and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) to initiate a reintroduction program. The first successful transplant occurred in 1913, when 83 Rocky Mountain Elk were shipped from Yellowstone National Park and released near Chevelon Creek. Subsequent releases from Yellowstone and Wyoming established the foundation for the current herd. The descendants of these relocated animals successfully adapted to the high-elevation forests, securing the species’ modern presence in the state.
Where Arizona’s Elk Herds Roam
The distribution of Arizona’s elk is concentrated in the high-elevation forests of the central and northern parts of the state, particularly on the Colorado Plateau. These animals rely on a seasonal migration pattern, utilizing different habitats for their summer and winter ranges. Summer range is typically found at elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 feet, dominated by Ponderosa pine forests, mixed conifers, and open meadows.
Key geographical areas for summer concentration include the Kaibab National Forest, the Coconino National Forest around Flagstaff, and the White Mountains. As winter approaches, the elk migrate to lower elevations, typically between 5,500 and 6,500 feet. These winter ranges are characterized by pinyon-juniper woodlands and scrub oak along the slopes of the Mogollon Rim and the rims of deep canyons.
The Mogollon Rim, a geological escarpment, is a primary corridor for this seasonal movement, separating the high plateau summer habitat from the lower wintering grounds. Herds are commonly found throughout the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and near communities like Payson, Show Low, and Williams. The movement between these ranges is dictated by the availability of water and the depth of the snowpack, driving the elk into more sheltered areas during the colder months.
Viewing and Management
The best opportunities for viewing elk occur during the early morning and late evening hours when the animals are most active in open meadows. During the fall rut, typically in September and October, the bugling of bull elk can be heard, offering a unique way to locate herds. Well-known viewing areas include the fields near Flagstaff, Mormon Lake, Rogers Lake, and Fool Hollow Lake in the White Mountains.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) manages the elk population to ensure herd health and ecological balance, primarily through a regulated hunting program. Hunting permits are allocated via a lottery drawing system, which controls the number of animals harvested each year. This system helps maintain the population at a level compatible with the available habitat and reduces conflicts with human development and agriculture. Revenue generated from these permits is reinvested into habitat conservation and management efforts statewide.