Elk of North America

Olaus J. Murie

• Publisher: Stackpole Books
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9780811766746
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

This is an outstanding treatise on one of America’s most widely hunted and most important big-game animals. Although thousands of sportsmen take to the field each year in quest of trophies, the perpetuation of elk hunting in America depends entirely upon proper management of the herds. Whether management succeeds or fails in future years will depend upon how well the public understands the problems of the game administrators and of the animals themselves.
Everything the sportsman or naturalist would wish to know about the elk in included in this new volume. Habits, food preferences, seasonal movements, anatomy, antler development, and management problems are interestingly and thoroughly discussed. Written by one of America’s greatest field naturalists, this new book has behind it a lifetime spent in intimate study of the subject.
Dr. Murie is recognized as the world’s foremost authority on the American elk and his comprehensive research on elk in the Jackson Hole National Monument forms the basis for this book. Everyone interested in America’s wildlife will want this volume in his library. The book is copiously illustrated with half-tone and original line drawings by the author.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• The Name
• Origin of the American Wapiti
• The American Forms of Elk
• Early Elk Distribution in America
• Elk Habitat
• Life Zones
• Migration
• Physical Characters
• Reproduction
• Natural Enemies
• Accidental Deaths
• Parasites
• Disease
• Varied Opinions on the “Elk Problem”
• Food Habits
• Elk Habits
• The Elk Population
• Elk Hunting
• Elk Management
• Bibliography