This is obviously much larger than the average whitetail or mule deer, and should be taken into consideration when hunting. The average mature bull elk will be about 5 feet tall at the shoulder, 8 feet long, and weigh about 700 pounds. All references to bull elk on this webpage will be with regard to Rocky Mountain Elk. Rocky Mountain Elk – With the largest population and range, these elk are the most commonly hunted, and are indeed the focus of this website.Tule Elk – The smallest bodied elk subspecies is located in small pockets of California.Manitoba Elk – These elk are located in the southwestern corner of Manitoba, southeastern Alberta and the southern half of Saskatchewan.Roosevelt Elk – The bulls of this subspecies have the largest bodies, and they are primarily located in the Northwestern United States, Western Canada, and Alaska.The characteristics of these subspecies differ slightly. There are four distinct subspecies of elk that live in North America, and close relatives that live in Europe.

If you are going to hunt, or even just observe and photograph bull elk, it will be good to have a more in depth knowledge of the animals and their behaviors. Their distinctive mating call, or bugle, during the rut is like no other animal. Certainly their massive size, both in body and antler, makes them one of the most prized hunting trophies. There are many characteristics of bull elk that create their mystique. Images of these awesome creatures can be seen representing everything from insurance companies to fraternal organizations. Bull elk are probably the most majestic and iconic animals of the deer family.

Mountain bull elk