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Rocky Mountain Elk

Rocky Mountain Elk

by | Aug 25, 2020 | Animal

 

Interested in hunting Elk?

As of now elk hunting can be done in the states surrounding the Rocky Mountains. Great elk hunts can be found in Arizona and New Mexico to Idhao and into Montana, plus I can even find an adventures elk hunt in New Zealand and provinces around Canada. Try out your hunting skills and stealth while hunting elk on some of the most pristine terrain.

Get to know the Rocky Mountain Elk.

Rocky Mountain Elk have a vast presence that spans beyond the region in which these elk inherited their name, so much so, that they are also called American Elk. Found in 22 states within the United States and also a revered symbol of the great American West, Rocky Mountain elk are a part of the deer family, being the second largest subspecies behind moose. When fully matured, Rocky Mountain elk average a weight of 700 pounds, measuring 5-feet from the shoulder and maintaining a length of 8-feet from nose to tail. In addition, bulls grow into their antlers within 90 to 140 days of age, with antlers weighing 20 to 40 pounds. Their iconic and widely recognized appearance allots them a sizable audience with spectators visiting national parks and the like in order to view them, especially when rutting season begins.

Rocky Mountain Elk Ethology Image 1

When does rutting season begin?

Rutting season for the Rocking Mountain elk begins in late August and lasts until October. A notable factor of rutting season is relative to the bull who becomes subject to “bugling” or calling, which is also in relation to the process where the bull experiences swelling in the neck and shoulders as a result of built-up tension from the rut; the antlers of the bull will also develop sharper facets. After 3 years, cows are able to reproduce and enter mating season, whereas the bulls wait until their 4th or 5th year. Cows go through a gestation period that lasts 250 days, with the calves being weaned by the end of the summer. The Rocky Mountain elk will then join one of the larger herds that often consist of and are founded upon 50 to 100 elks of all genders who band together until winter, when they migrate to “summer lands” as a means of avoiding heavy snowfall.

Survival of the Rocky Mountain Elk.

Rocky Mountain elk are herbivores who survive off of the land; consuming mainly grasses, forbs, and leaves, the Rocky Mountain elk establish themselves in abundance among forests, primarily. They have predators among those who share the same landscape, such as mountain lions, gray wolves, coyotes, as well as hunters. The Rocky Mountain elk was among the many subspecies of deer who went through a rapid decline in numbers during the 1800s as a result of poor hunting stipulations. Their populations grew once ample hunting laws were founded and now, Rocky Mountain elk have elevated and steady numbers around the country.

 

 

Tule Elk

Tule Elk

by | Aug 19, 2020 | Animal

Are Tule Elks only found in California?

Tule Elks are exclusively found in California, specifically the Central and Northern regions of the state. As natives of the land, Tule elks entered on the edge of extinction in the late 1800s; this was as a result of lacking hunting laws and the mismanagement of cattle. Tule elks are vegetarians; they primarily survive off of grasses, similar to roaming cattle. Through posed competition when it came to food and an absence of hunting regulations, Tule elks were on the decline until deliberately protected when only a few herds were left roaming. Now, the population of Tule elk exceeds 5,500 with herds ranging from 20 to 200 elks. Each herd is founded upon cows, spikes (young bulls), and calves, while bulls separate themselves and live in solitude until rutting season. 

Tule Elk Ethology Image 1

 

When does rutting season begin for the Tule Elk?

Rutting season begins in the late summertime and lasts into the early fall, August to October with calves born as early as February, but, more typically so, May and June. The calves resemble the appearance of a fawn with a spotted pattern on their light brown coat. As the elk ages, their fur color becomes darker around their neck, though they maintain that same identifiable light brown fur coat and white rump. Though the Tule elk is the smallest of the elk species, the bulls average 450-700 pounds, while the cows average 375-425 pounds; both measure 7 feet long and 4 to 5 feet tall from the shoulder. Bulls drop their antlers annually and after rutting season concludes, distributing viable calcium to the grounds of their grassy hillside homes. Elks tend to utilize heavy cover when they can and often graze within general areas, never migrating in an identifiable pattern, but simply ensuring they have a sufficient food source.

Where do Tule Elks prefer to roam?

Tule elk are highly social and likely to roam on the privately-owned lands of California as a result of the high-pressure hunting practices that occur on public lands; this allots the elk a bit of protection under modern hunting guidelines in order to maintain a steady and resounding population.

Blacktail Deer

Blacktail Deer

by | Aug 19, 2020 | Animal

Where are Blacktail Deer found?

Blacktail Deer are a member of the mule deer family, though they have many notable attributes and characteristics that make them unique to themselves. Blacktail Deer are found in Northern America; more specifically, California, Oregon, Washington, the Canadian Province of British Columbia, and Alaska.

Blacktail Deer Ethology Image 1

Distinctions found among Blacktail Deer.

Blacktails are often regarded as either Columbia blacktails or Sitka blacktails; Sitka blacktails are commonly found within Alaska, while Columbia blacktails occupy all other noted regions. In addition, Sitka blacktails have a meager frame in comparison to Columbia black tails, a ratio of 8o:130 pounds for does and 120:200 pounds for the bucks. Blacktail deer have a reddish-brown tone to their fur in the summertime and an ash to dark brown/gray color in the winter; they have an easily identifiable stark black tail and the bucks have bifurcated antlers that are full-grown at age 4 or 5 years. And they are also nocturnal, preferring the morning and evening hours.

When does rutting season begin for Blacktail Deer?

November to December is the rutting season for blacktails, with fawns born in May or June. Their lifespans are from 9 to 10 years with a typical lifespan of 6 years; Blacktail deer are burdened by a long list of primal adversaries consisting of bears, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions. The deer seek refuge in woodland areas; Blacktail deer are unlike mule deer, being that they spend their lives within an area of a few square miles and only migrate when changing altitude to evade snowfall. Moreover, Blacktail deer tend to prefer a mild, coastal climate, one that is often subject to heavy rainfall. With a vegetarian-based diet from acorns to berries, grasses to woodier growths, Blacktail deer are able to find solace in woodland areas; they often times near the edge of the forest, but have the capability of seemingly vanishing when spooked, which inherently grants them their notoriety of being the “ghosts of the forest.”

Mule Deer

Mule Deer

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

Why are Mule Deer called Mule Deer?

Mule Deer, the inhabitants of western North America with a prominent and idiosyncratic outward appearance in comparison to their close relatives. The most notable trait, the trait responsible for their name, is their large ears that are more reminiscent of those belonging to a mule. Their sizable ears allow Mule deer to have exceptional hearing, along with their excellent eyesight. Similar to both Blacktail and Whitetail deer, Mule deer are nocturnal since they possess the ability to see at night and often find themselves out in correspondence with the moon.

Mule Deer Ethology Image 1

What are the behaviors and attributes of the Mule Deer?

Furthermore, Mule deer are sociable animals and remain in herds that expand for added protection in the wintertime and become much smaller at the start of the summer; nonetheless, Mule deer herds are founded upon families of multi-generations with only the bucks preferring a more solitary existence before rutting season. The rutting season of Mule deer share the same timeframe as other related deer subspecies, beginning in the late-fall months, with fawns born in the early summer months; 1 to 2 fawns are usually birthed at a time. The appearance of fawns is also similar to relative subspecies of deer with a reddish coat, spotted with white; as Mule deer grow older, their coats have red undertones amongst their light/medium brown coat in the spring and summer months, turning to a grayer color in the winter; they sometimes have darker patches on the tops of their heads and noses, a white spot on the rump, and their tails being white and black at the tip. Does do not grow antlers, while bucks do; the antlers of a buck have a symmetrical “fork-like” unique and identifiable appearance.

Further understanding the Mule Deer.

In addition, Mule deer, on average, weigh 130 to 300 pounds, having a studier build and measuring 3 feet tall from the shoulder; they can also reach up to 40mph. Mule deer have a 9 to 11-year lifespan spent amongst the trees of the forest or the shrublands of the desert. Being herbivores, Mule deer survive off of a plant-based diet entailing grasses and forbs. They constantly have to be on the alert when foraging; some of their most prominent predators are coyotes, bobcats, wolves, bears, and, regrettably, automobiles. They also fell victim to unregulated hunting practices in the United States, particularly Colorado in the early 1900s, which resulted in a statewide hunting ban to regain the depleted population of Mule deer. Today, the herds of Mule deer are plentiful and prosperous where they roam.

Whitetail Deer

Whitetail Deer

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

Where to find the Whitetail Deer.

Whitetail Deer are a wondrous and beautiful subspecies of deer found throughout numerous regions of the world, including North and South America as well as Europe. Given this array of territories, whitetails are able to thrive in diversified habitats; these habitats include forests, tropical savannas, and wetlands that are all temperate with mild weather conditions. Being herbivores, they live off the land that they occupy; their vegetarian diet consists of primarily legumes, leaves, and cacti as well. The lifespan of a Whitetail deer varies from 2 to 20 years after their population was once severely depleted specifically in the United States as a result of insufficient hunting laws; as of today, the whitetail deer population is steady.

Whitetail Deer Ethology Image 1

When does breeding season begin for the Whitetail Deer?

Moreover, breeding season begins in the fall months of late October and continues on until early November, with fawns born in the months of May and June; one to three fawns are born at a time. A young doe will stay with her mother for two years after birth, while young bucks stay with his mother for a single year. Whitetails typically reach a weight of 110 to 300 pounds, being recognized as the smallest subspecies of deer in North America. Nevertheless, whitetails demonstrate astounding frolicking and leaping capabilities; whitetails can reach up to 40mph and can bound a remarkable 8 feet into the air, while covering a span of 30 feet.

Whitetail Deer Ethology Image 1

Easily recognize and understand the Whitetail Deer.

Whitetails have a notable reddish fur that grays in the winter, and bucks are easily recognizable through their antlers that they shed annually in the wintertime. In addition, Whitetail deer are mainly nocturnal, grazing at twilight or the breaking of dawn; the structure of their eyes is a contributing factor to this fact. A whitetails’ eyes biologically have more rods and fewer cones, enabling them to see exceptionally well at night. All of these noted traits allow Whitetail deer to evade their enemies consisting of bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and more that are dependent on the particular regions inhabited. Finally, named for the white underneath their tails that stand and become prevalent as they run, Whitetail deer are an incredible animal with many extraordinary facets to be studied and appreciated for all time.