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In 2018, Missouri Department of Conservation hosted open houses in communities around the elk management zone.
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Management Plan Goals
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Goal 1: Population Growth
Goal 2: Hunting and Recreation
Goal 3: Elk Range
Goal 4: Public Support
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Elk in Missouri7.90 MB
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Elk in Missouri Outside of the Elk Restoration Zone
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- Missouri has a long history of elk sightings throughout the state predating the elk restoration.
- Elk sightings are uncommon but occur every year within the state.
- Approximately 25 to 30 reported sightings have been documented annually since 2013 when MDC began tracking confirmed reports.
- Reported sightings have occurred in over 44 of Missouri’s 114 counties and have been documented in all parts of the state.
- A single elk can generate multiple sightings. The 25 to 30 sightings are usually centered around 12 to 15 individual animals, annually.
- The origins of most of these elk are unknown. They may be escapes from captive facilities, from free-ranging elk populations outside of the state, or they may be an animal that has wandered out of the elk zone counties.
- There are free-ranging elk present in all the states bordering Missouri except for Illinois and Iowa (Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska have free-ranging elk).
- Captive elk are held behind fences across the state.
- MDC considers all elk outside of the elk zone to be undesirable regardless of their origins due to disease, nuisance, and other risks.
- The fate of most reported animals is unknown.
- MDC has avenues to assist the public or landowners if an elk is being a nuisance, causing damage, or is otherwise unwanted.
- MDC works closely with the Department of Agriculture in investigating elk issues or when working with elk complaints outside of the restoration zone.
- Contact your local MDC office to report an elk sighting or to request assistance with any elk issues.
- It is currently not legal to harvest free-ranging elk anywhere in Missouri.