How long do elk live?
Elk can live 15-20 years. Harvest data shows most Arkansas elk were 1.5 to 6.5 years old, based on annual growth rings in teeth. The oldest checked bull was 15.5. The oldest cow was 24.5. Why not reintroduce elk into every county in Arkansas? Elk need appropriate habitat and public support. That combination isn’t available in every county. They need large areas. An adult bull elk uses up to 60,000 acres. Almost 90 percent of Arkansas is privately owned, and most private land holdings are relatively small. Most farmers usually have little tolerance for elk, so biologists are concentrating on maintaining elk on large tracts of public land for optimal management opportunities. Is the AGFC involved in elk habitat management? Yes. The AGFC, National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and U.S. Forest Service cooperate to improve habitat for elk and other wildlife. Management includes planting and maintaining cool-season grasses and plants such as winter wheat, orchard grass and clo
