Public Lands

BLM
The largest public land manager is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of  the U.S. Department of Interior, responsible for about 300 million acres. Of this, about 176 million acres is in the western states and 97 percent is classified as rangelands. BLM lands are managed under a multiple-use concept and management for and hunting of elk is a major element in many western states. Nearly half of all BLM lands are in Alaska. The Elk Foundation has funded many habitat improvement projects for elk on BLM lands and has also assisted with land exchanges and acquisitions to benefit elk.

U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), also a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, manages 191 million acres of land scattered across the United States, but predominantly in the West. Of all forested lands in the West, USFS lands account for a substantial share (up to 80 percent in Idaho), and about half of all USFS lands, roughly 85 million acres, support elk habitat. The USFS manages habitat that supports approximately 80 percent of all elk either yearly or seasonally. The RMEF has a long and extensive history of cooperation to improve habitat on these lands. USFS lands are managed under a multiple-use concept that provides for extensive recreational opportunity, including hunting and other wildlife related activities.

National Refuge
Elements of the National Refuge system, a part of the U.S. Department of Interior, total more than 400 independent units covering about 90 million acres. Consisting of lands to protect habitats and species, the National Refuge system is managed with multiple uses in mind. The National Elk Refuge in Wyoming is a specific example of a refuge established to benefit elk that lost critical winter range to development and settlement. Some refuges allow hunting while others do not offer that opportunity. The National Refuge system fills an important niche in public land wildlife habitat.

National Parks
National Parks, also in the U.S. Department of Interior, can be found in 49 states, and consist of about 340 individual units and encompass 75 million acres. Parks were established to protect unique areas and yet be enjoyed by people. Generally, no hunting is allowed in national parks except under very specific provisions.

Yellowstone National Park has a unique place in the history of elk management. Around the turn of the century, nearly all the elk left in North America were in or near Yellowstone. From this nucleus of elk, transplants were relocated all across the United States and parts of Canada to initiate a recovery that is a classic wildlife management success story. Today, the largest migratory elk herd in the United States is linked to Yellowstone. The RMEF has been extensively involved in land transactions to protect and perpetuate elk winter range north of the park.

Private Lands

Nearly 60 percent of all forested lands in the United States are in private ownership. No significant elk herd exists in the absence of forests. Consequently, management of private forest lands is very important to elk habitat management, especially in western states.

Private rangelands in the West fulfill a significant seasonal need in that critical elk winter range is often located adjacent to public lands. Without these important private lands, many elk herds would have to be reduced in number to balance available habitat on public lands.

No figure is available for acres of elk habitat in private ownership, but it is significant.