No formal field research projects on elk have been conducted by the Mammals Research Section since 2002 -

Estimating Elk Population Size in DAU-E2 - This management project was a combined effort between Research and Field management biologists and staff. A major effort to estimate population size, using techniques assessed during the Grand Mesa research, occurred in elk Data Analysis Unit E2 (DAU E2) during winter 2007. DAU E-2 covers a large geographic area east, north, and west of Craig, CO in the northwestern part of the state with elk winter ranges encompassing 1,754 square miles. Conflicts over elk numbers and appropriate management alternatives stimulated the need to obtain an estimate of population size.  Estimates of elk numbers were obtained using multiple helicopter crews to survey and count elk over 4 days in February 2007. Elk were counted on quadrats 2-square miles in size in predominately open sagebrush habitats and on quadrats 1-square mile in size in habitats of mixed sagebrush-oakbrush, oakbrush-aspen, and aspen-conifer.  Quadrats were selected at random from a stratified sampling frame of all potential quadrats in the geographic winter range area of interest. Estimated population size was 32,205 + 9,214 elk (95% confidence interval). Elk densities per square mile ranged from 2.2 to 28.0 among sampling strata. (updated 12/2008)

Forthcoming elk research may involve assessing habitat use and interactions of symbiotic mule deer and elk on large landscapes and/or assessing impacts of energy development on elk behavior and population performance. This research would probably not begin until 2010. (updated 12/2008)