A Captive Elk Herd in Missouri

A captive herd of 103 elk was exterminated by hunting. The herd had increased from 10 elk to 103 elk after eight calving seasons. Sex and age ratios indicated some mortality. Average annual rate of increase was calculated to be 28 percent. The population density of 1 elk per 23 acres was very near the carrying capacity of the range. Acorns and grass were the most important foods in the fall diet. These data were collected during extermination of a captive herd of American elk (Cervus canadensis) confined on an ammunition storage depot known as Tyson in St. Louis County, Missouri. The storage depot covers 2,373 acres which are surrounded by an 8-foot-high chain-link fence. Oak-hickory forest cover the steep slopes and ridges which compose most of the area. There are only about 250 acres of grassy bottomland clearings. The original stocking of 10 elk (2 bulls and 8 cows) was obtained from Yellowstone National Park and released in the depot during February, 1951. The U. S. Defense Corporation, which administers the depot, contacted the Missouri Conservation Commission about management of the elk in February, 1958. An aerial survey in April, 1958, revealed 66 elk. A subsequent survey of range conditions showed very heavy utilization of available forage. Grass was available only in the bottomland clearings and was very closely grazed. Little forage was available under the closed canopy of the forest, and heavy browsing was evident on woody vegetation. A reduction of the herd was recommended. The Defense Corporation decided to eliminate the elk for safety reasons and because funds were not available for winter feeding, which would soon have become necessary. The writer expresses appreciation to F. L. Luke, Chief of Security, U. S. Defense Corporation, and H. Schwartz, Missouri Conservation Commission, for expediting collection of these data, and to Levi Mohler, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and T. S. Baskett, Missouri Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, for advice on the manu-