Four kinds of elk live in North America today: Rocky Mountain, Roosevelt, tule and Manitoban elk. Two others, the eastern elk and Merriam’s elk, are extinct. Most elk hunters chase Rocky Mountain elk, because Yellowstone’s herd was used to restore elk across much of the country.
| Subspecies | Scientific Name | Range | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | C. canadensis nelsoni | Rocky Mountain West, restored herds | Largest antlers |
| Roosevelt | C. canadensis roosevelti | Coastal Pacific Northwest | Largest body size |
| Tule | C. canadensis nannodes | California only | Smallest elk |
| Manitoban | C. canadensis manitobensis | Manitoba and Saskatchewan | Northern plains elk |
Rocky Mountain elk
The most widespread elk. Herds across the West and most restored eastern herds came from Yellowstone stock, moved by truck and railcar. Rocky Mountain bulls carry the largest antlers of any elk.
Roosevelt elk
Named for President Theodore Roosevelt, these elk live in the wet coastal forests from northern California through Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. They are the largest elk by body size, though not by antler size.
Tule elk
Found only in California, tule elk are the smallest elk, with adult bulls weighing up to about 550 pounds. They nearly disappeared in the 1800s and recovered under protection.
Manitoban elk
Today most Manitoban elk live in the provincial and national parks of Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, though they once ranged along the eastern edge of the Rockies and onto the plains.
Elk that are gone
The eastern elk once lived across the eastern United States, and Merriam’s elk lived in the mountains of the Southwest, including Arizona. Both were gone by the early 1900s. Elk in those regions today were restored from western herds.
