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Elk Hunting Colorado ...
The elk, or wapiti (Cervus canadensis), is the second
largest species
of deer in the
world, after the
moose (Alces alces), which is, confusingly, often also called "elk"
in Europe. Elk
are one of the largest
mammals in
North
America and eastern
Asia. Until recently, elk and
red deer (Cervus
elaphus) were considered the same species, however
DNA research has
indicated that they are different.
Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants,
leaves and bark. Although native to North America and eastern Asia, they have
adapted well to countries where they have been introduced, including
New
Zealand and
Argentina.
Their high level of adaptability poses a threat to
endemic
species and ecosystems and they are considered an
invasive species.
Male elk have large
antlers which
are shed each year. Males engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the
rut, including posturing, antler wrestling and, especially, "bugling",
a loud series of screams designed to help attract females and to establish
dominance over other males. The bugle call is one of the most distinctive calls
in nature.
Elk are susceptible to a number of health issues, some of which can be
transmitted to livestock. Efforts to eliminate
infectious diseases from elk populations, largely through
vaccination,
have had mixed success.
Some cultures revere the elk as a spiritual force. In parts of Asia, antlers
and their
velvet are used in
traditional medicines. Elk are hunted as a game species; the meat is leaner
and higher in
protein than beef
or chicken.
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