Colorado Rocky Mountain Elk Hunts

The wapiti, or elk, is the largest of Colorado’s native deer (seven to nine feet long, with a four to six inch tail, and weighing 450 – 900 pounds). Commonly called "elk" in this country, wapiti is a preferred name because elsewhere in the world "elk" refers to the animal we call moose. Our wapiti is a Holarctic species, which means it occurs in both North America and Eurasia; in Eurasia it is known as the red deer. Whatever we choose to call it, this is an impressive and important animal in Colorado. The wapiti is brownish tan in color, with a yellowish rump and a dark mane on the shoulders. Mature males have large antlers, typically with six tines branching from each beam.

Wapiti range throughout mountainous parts of the state, foraging in meadows and alpine tundra. Wapiti are gregarious animals, sometimes moving in herds of several hundred individuals.

Before the arrival of European settlers, wapiti ranged nearly throughout the area that is now Colorado, including the eastern plains. Market hunting nearly drove Coloradoan elk to extinction. By 1910 only a few hundred elk remained, restoration of the herds was helped by transplanting elk from Yellowstone.

Wapiti are grazers; that is, they eat mostly grasses, when available. In summer, the diet may be 80 to 90 percent grasses. Bark and twigs of trees and shrubs may contribute half the winter diet. Wapiti sometimes congregate at haystacks in severe weather.

Hunters harvest 40,000 to 50,000 wapiti in Colorado each year, the largest number of any state. In the fall rut, bulls spar for dominance and possession of harems of several cows. Mating is over by mid-October. Usually a single, obscurely spotted calf is born in May or June, after a gestation period of 8 1/2 months. Females breed first at 3 years of age, males about four.
 

Hunt Colorado Rocky Mountain Elk

Colorado offers fantastic Rocky Mountain Elk hunting opportunities, and QRS Outdoors is positioned perfectly to take advantage of them. Find your Colorado Rocky Mountain Elk hunt below:

4 Corners
Rocky Mountain Elk Rifle Hunt
Interested in "do it yourself" rifle elk hunting experience?  Then our "4 Corners" package is just for you!  This elk…
Armstrong
Rocky Mountain Elk Rifle Hunt
This hunt takes place at our base camp at the Rocky Mountain Ranch on approximately 10,000 acres. Licenses and tags…
Doughnut
Rocky Mountain Elk Archery Hunt
Interested in "do it yourself" elk hunting experience?  Then our "Doughnut" package is just for you!  This elk hunting outdoor…
Enoch
Rocky Mountain Elk Archery Hunt
Interested in a tree-stand only archery elk hunting experience?  Then our "Enoch" package is just for you!  This elk hunting…
Gould
Rocky Mountain Elk Archery Hunt
Interested in a fully-guided archery elk hunting experience?  Then our "Gould" package is just for you!  This elk hunting outdoor…
Kimmons
Rocky Mountain Elk Muzzleloader Hunt
  Interested in a fully-guided muzzleloading elk hunting experience?  Then our "Kimmons" package is just for you!  This elk hunting…
Peterson
Rocky Mountain Elk Rifle Hunt
Interested in a fully-guided rifle elk hunting experience?  Then our "Peterson" package is just for you!  This elk hunting outdoor…

All posted date hunts are subject to Colorado and Wyoming Division of Wildlife and are subject to change. Contact QRS Outdoor Specialties for more information or assistance.