Missouri Eastern Elk population on the rise

When you hear the word elk, you might be thinking about back west towards Colorado, but Missouri is actually seeing an increase in their population for the Eastern Elk.

According to Aaron Hildreth of the Missouri Department of Conservation, there were 108 elk introduced to southern portions of Missouri. Of those 108, only 81 survived their first year. As of today, the population now sits over 320. This indicates a wavering increasing rate of 10%-12% each year.

This past year 9,305 people applied for elk tags, with only 5 tags granted. This means slim odds for people looking to harvest an Eastern Elk in state. The tags are only awarded to in-state residents to give Missourian's exclusive access to this large game animal.

Elk fair decently well in Missouri due to the geography of the Ozarks in Southwestern Missouri. Winters usually prove the hardest for many elk across the United States, but since Missouri sees far less aggressive winters to that of those in states such as Colorado. Decreased snowfall totals and warmer temperatures during the winter lead to better conditions for a higher survival rate in comparison to other states elk inhabit.