Are There Elk in Virginia?
When most people think of elk roaming the wilderness, they envision Colorado or another rocky mountain state out west. Virginia is one of the last places that most people would expect to find elk, one of the largest members of the deer species. But did you know that there is actually a population of elk right here in the mountains of Virginia? Not only does Virginia have a stable elk population, but you can actually watch a live stream camera setup to give us a chance at seeing some elk in the wild in real time.
History of Virginia Elk
Elk are actually a native species to Virginia. In fact, elk used to range through the majority of the eastern United States. However, the last native elk in Virginia was killed in Clarke County in 1855. Similar to many other species, habitat destruction and over hunting led to their downfall in Virginia. The precursor to the VDGIF attempted to reintroduce elk to the state in 1916 by releasing them into 12 different counties around the state. This attempt did not work. The elk still struggled with limited habitat and over hunting. Additionally, they were now beleaguered by various diseases that were impacting their populations.
The catalyst for the reintroduction of elk in Virginia may have actually been the state of Kentucky. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources reintroduced over 1,500 elk to different areas of the state. Many of these elk crossed into Virginia after a few years. These elk garnered attention from both the VDGIF and public and would go on to inspire the state of Virginia to begin another elk reintroduction effort. The VDGIF released 75 elk into Buchanan County between 2012 and 2014. The elk population has since grown and looks like it will find a solid footing.
Where to find Elk in Virginia
The number one place to see elk in Virginia is Buchanan County. Buchanan county is where they were reintroduced to Virginia. The herd has stayed close to the original release area so far. The population of the reintroduced herd is currently around 120 elk. Elk have also been reported in Wise, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Tazewell, Bland, Scott and Washington counties. The elk seen in these counties were most likely elk that came across the border from Kentucky.
Elk Viewing Area
The VDGIF created viewing stations near the restored elk habitat in Buchanan County. There are three different stations setup to give you a good chance of seeing some elk in person. The stations overlook a large grassland area bordered by forest habitat. In addition to seeing elk, this area is also great habitat for deer, hawk and black bear spotting. The best times of year for elk viewing are April through May and August through October. The months of April and May are the calving months and August through October is the breeding season. This is when the elk will be most active.
Elk Restoration Efforts
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The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation promoted the restoration efforts in both Kentucky and Virginia. You can check them out at their official site HERE.
The Elk Live Cam
The VDGIF runs a livestream camera that you can watch and hopefully see some elk in real time. Click HERE to watch the stream and see if there are currently any elk in view of the cameras. Most elk activity around the cameras will be during the rut in late September through the middle of October. I’ve spent some time streaming the camera and it definitely gave me flashbacks to backpacking in Colorado.
Virginia Elk Hunting
Elk hunting is prohibited in Buchanan, Wise, and Dickenson counties. Hunting for elk in other counties is similar to deer hunting practices. Hunted elk need to be checked in with the VDGIF so that samples can be collected for disease testing. Make sure you know all of the specifics for elk hunting regulations prior to going out. Read their full page on elk hunting in Virginia HERE.
Additional Reading
The VDGIF has a great list of resources about elk populations and regulations in the state. You can see their page HERE. If you’re in the area, you should also be sure to check out the New River Trail and Trout Fishing at Clinch Mountain Management Area. Southwestern Virginia is a great place to explore and it doesn’t get a lot of tourism pressure like other regions of the Appalachian mountains on the east coast.
