Worldwide Elk

[Trophyhill]

so a question for elk lovers/experts and Elknuts. there are elk scattered and distributed all over the globe. not a whole lot of difference from what i can see in pics other than maybe slight size variations. elk here in the US and Canada bugle and make alot of high pitch sounds.

European bull elk other bull elk throughout the world use low pitch roaring type sounds. some type of evolutionary reason i imagine.

my question is can all variations of elk throughout the world make the same sounds?

[elkmtngear]

David,
I know that in Eurasia, they call moose "elk"

The European Red Stag is a very different creature than the North American Wapiti, although similar in appearance. I'm not sure if they had a common prehistoric ancestor.

That being said, I have heard a North American Elk "roar". Maybe not as loud as a Red Stag, but it was a roaring growling sound. It was a HUGE bull, who never bugled once.

I've never hunted them, but I know Jacquomo Feral hunted them last Season in Australia. He may have some info for you.

[slim9300]

That's a good question David. I will tell you that there are places in New Zealand that have both elk and red stags on the same properties (mostly high fence). For the most part, they were both transplanted (despite red stags actually being native animals that were wiped out of the area). The red stags roar and the elk bugle. Even though they look very similar, I think they have relatively different genetics (obviously not that different). My guess is that they have different vocal structure to some extent. Just my guess through.

[Trophyhill]

During my elk hunt last year in the Gila I heard what I called a growl but it sounded like a cross between a roar and a loud groan very close. It was a big Gila monster of a bull. I worked him into a screamin frenzy with a challenge bugle with grunts and some raking. Gosh darn it I should have killed that bull!

[slim9300]

During my elk hunt last year in the Gila I heard what I called a growl but it sounded like a cross between a roar and a loud groan very close. It was a big Gila monster of a bull. I worked him into a screamin frenzy with a challenge bugle with grunts and some raking. Gosh darn it I should have killed that bull!

My partner and I heard a 'roaring' old bull in the Gila back in 2009. He was a giant too. The funny part is that his 'bugle' was almost like a mean sounding beef cow. I never would have believe it was an elk unless I saw it and then had it respond to our bugles (two nights in a row).

[JGH]

Back when I was a biology major (years ago, but not too long!) ... elk and red deer were considered the same species. Odd, as they clearly had different appearance and behavior ... but that's what we were taught. Now it looks like the taxonomists are calling them two separate species with red deer having 7 or 8 subspecies.

[pd]

Hey Guys, loving this forum. Finally, I can add something.

I spent several years in New Zealand. You elk hunters should really try to go there, to the South Island (deep southwest, Fiordland). Elk (called wapiti in New Zealand) are an invasive species. In fact, all mammals are invasive in New Zealand (except for some bats). Those mammalian species have been destroying the native New Zealand environment for more than 200 years now. In addition to wapiti, the biggest problem are actually opossums from Australia. Also causing troubles are cats, rats, goats, wild pigs, rabbits, the list goes on. Fortunately, nobody was foolish enough to bring in large predators like bears, wolves, coyotes, lions, etc.

Back to our story. Red deer and wapiti are NOT the same species. Wapiti and and red deer can interbreed, however. The funny thing is this: New Zealanders consider the hybrid species to be inferior, and they kill them on sight. Go figure--they are just a big deer to me.

Wapiti are feral (well, they are wild, right??) and troublesome. You should research this, of course, but my memory tells me that there are no seasons, no licenses, no bag limits on wapiti. The access to Fiordland is terrible (lots of boating, then hiking, after flying/driving for a few days). There are guides who will take you to the animals. Do some research, and go there. It is a beautiful country.

[Trophyhill]

thanks for that feedback pd! how bout the vocalizations? can you tell us what you have heard from the 2 species and the hybrids?

[pd]

Sorry, TrophyHill, I can't help you with vocalization.

I lived in Auckland, which is near the top of the North Island. As far as I know there are no wapiti on the North Island--they are all on the South Island, and waaaaaay down south, to boot. Fiordland is in the far SW of the South Island. Look at a map and you will understand---way far south. By the way, all of Fiordland is National Park, the whole thing. There is no private land there. The access is really, really difficult.

I am a climber first, and spent a lot of time climbing on the South Island. I fished as well (second love is fly fishing). Sorry, while I was there I didn't hunt, so I can't help anymore.

There are a ton of wapiti in Fiordland. Really, go there before you get too old to regret it. It is truly a wonderful country.

[Vanish]

Here's a couple:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rAJU9ofHwc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwqoU71vOdE

[Vanish]

pd - its not quite that simple anymore.

They are running ballots for the remaining Wapiti hunting in Foirdland. It consists of three periods during the Bugle which I think is the end of February through April. People from around the southern hemisphere converge on Fiordland to hunt these Wapiti. Now in order to hunt them you have to draw a ballot for one of the three periods where you will be assigned a block from which you will hunt in. You will have a set amount of days to get the job done say 10 days or what have you.

* Actually you CAN hunt them year round, EXCEPT during the rut. http://www.fwf.net.nz/ has great info.