Ranchers in the Mountain West have complained that wild herbivores are the biggest threat to their business. Mule deer, elk, and moose all eat the dry grass when they hop pasture fences. That vegetation is supposed to be for grazing cattle and hay production, and in the past, ranchers would do everything to chase the wild mammals away. However, that’s beginning to change.
Bridget Shirvell of Modern Farmer spoke with Dave Gottenborg of Eagle Rock Ranch in Jefferson, Colorado. Gottenborg has done something revolutionary: He opened his ranch to the elk herds. He is creating a specific habitat for them as he helps restore the animal’s population after years of overhunting and habitat loss.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), by the turn of the 20th century, there were only 40,000 elk in North America.
Today, that number has grown to 280,000, but that’s still substantially lower than the 10 million estimated to have roamed the plains before European settlers arrived. Hunting elk is still permitted since it functions as a population control, along with predators like wolves and bears.
In 1916, Colorado imported 50 elk from neighboring Wyoming, and decades of conservation efforts by the CPW have helped restore the population. However, climate change is threatening elk habitats. Manufactured barriers have blocked migration routes, and despite efforts to open more migration routes, maintaining the elk population is still a challenge.
Photo Courtesy Anne Zwagers
That’s where Gottenborg and his ranch come in. He and other ranchers are opening their pastures for elk migration and grazing. It benefits the elk and Gottenborg’s bank account. The elk has opened Eagle Rock Ranch up for agritourism with activities like fly fishing, ranch tours, and nature walks — the ranch benefits from this tourism.
Gottenborg’s ranch is ideal for elk grazing because his cattle spend the winter in Nebraska. The heifers don’t have to compete with the elk for food or water. When the cows come home, the elk will have moved into the mountains for summer.
Elk-friendly fencing was also installed to make it easier for the animals to exit the ranch. He even installed high-elevation, solar-powered water pumps for elk drinking water. Gottenborg told Modern Farmer he hoped his neighbor would do the same.
Some states are offering financial incentives for wildlife management. There’s Elk Rent in Montana, a program run by the Property and Environment Research Center.
The Department of Agriculture has a Migratory Big Game Initiative in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. The program pays landowners to provide habitats for elk. Colorado doesn’t have one yet, but it’s anticipated to arrive soon.
Photo Courtesy Hari Nandakumar
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is also helping out. In March, it announced that in 2023, the organization had completed 11 land conservation acts across nine states, improving public access to nearly 78,000 acres in eight. States like Kentucky, Virginia, and Pennsylvania had land conserved for elk breeding, migration, hunting, angling, and camping.
The wildlife advocacy group has serious sponsors backing the project, such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, and Yamaha. RMEF is active in the elk hunting community.
“Our focus on creating and improving public access dates back to our founding and remains an ongoing, day-to-day emphasis to who we are as a conservation organization,” Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO, said in a press release. “We’re grateful for our Access Elk Country sponsors, as well as our members, volunteers, and the outdoor community as a whole, for their engagement and support.”
California received around $1.28 million from RMEF for 20 elk and wildlife conservation projects, ranging from game stewardship to hunter education.
There are more than 28 RMEF chapters in the state and over 684 active conservation campaigns.
In Idaho, RMEF and Idaho Fish and Game worked to expand the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area to accommodate a growing herd. Around 328 acres were added to an existing 36,000 acres. This area is home to nearly 5,500 elk and 3,000 mule deer who use it as a winter feeding ground.
Having more access to land helps elk and other migratory animals continue rebuilding their populations. The ranches offer a safe place to eat and rest, and allowing passage through will encourage healthy migration. Gottenborg’s approach means ranchers no longer need to treat elk as invasive pests; instead, they should embrace them as the mammals repopulate to pre-settler numbers.
