The Elk Hunter's Guide to Plants

During my undergrad days as wildlife biology major, I sat down with my adviser and asked why I needed 15 credits of botany. Since then, my appreciation of botany has increased exponentially, and I've realized to truly understand elk habitat, hunters need to have a basic understanding of plant species elk prefer to eat. 

For the purpose of this blog, I'll focus on Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) although there is overlap with other subspecies. 

In spring and summer, elk are primarily grazers, eating grasses. 

As spring turns to summer and the grasses die out, elk start to depend more on and forbs (small plants that grow in the forest), which stay green longer than some grasses.  As winter approaches, elk increasingly act as browsers, feeding on the sprouts and branches of shrubs and trees, including pine trees. 

I'll start with spring time browse and work my way to fall. I can tell you from personal experience, elk eat a variety of plants, but for the sake of brevity, I'm focusing on those species that are 'preferred' food of elk.  These may change due to weather conditions, region, and pressure, but I hope this is a good starting point. I've included a link to pictures of each of the species. 

Grasses and Sedges

Blue Bunch Wheatgrass, Pseudoroegneria spicata

Elk Sedge, Carex geyeri 

Mountain Brome, Bromus marginatus

Orchard Grass, Dactylis glomerata

Idaho Fescue, Festuca idahoensis

Forbs

Sweet clover, Melilotus spp.

Clover, Trifolium spp.

Miners Lettuce, Claytonia spp. 

Dandelion, Taraxacum spp.

Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium

Yellow salsify, Tragopogon spp.

Shrubs and Groundcover

Red-twig dogwood, Cornus sericea

Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus

Serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia

Wild rose, Rosa spp.

Currant, Ribes spp.

Deer brush, Ceanothus integerrimus

Elderberry, Sambucus spp

Huckleberry, Vaccinium spp.

Oceanspray, Holodiscus spp.

Sumac, Rhus spp.

Bitterbrush, Purshia tridentata

Trees

Aspen, Populus tremuloides

Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana

Cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa

Rocky mountain maple, Acer glabrum

Mountain Ash, Sorbus americana

Willow, Salix spp.

Western Red Cedar, Thulja plicata