Animal Population

Elk Population by State 2025

Alaska: 1,300 Arizona: 40,000 Arkansas: 450 California: 13,000 Colorado: 290,000 Idaho: 120,000 Kansas: 350 Kentucky: 13,100 Michigan: 1,000 Minnesota: 240 Missouri: 200 Montana: 135,000 Nebraska: 2,750 Nevada: 17,750 New Mexico: 80,000 North Carolina: 175 North Dakota: 850 Oklahoma: 5,000 Oregon: 133,000 Pennsylvania: 1,350 South Dakota: 7,500 Tennessee: 450 Texas: 1,600 Utah: 74,000 Virginia: 250 Washington: 60,000 West Virginia: 100 Wisconsin: 400 Wyoming: 112,900

Elk Population

State
Elk Population
Additional Elk Population Notes
Colorado Flag
Colorado290,000
Montana Flag
Montana135,000
Oregon Flag
Oregon133,000
Idaho Flag
Idaho120,000
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming112,900
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico80,000
Utah Flag
Utah74,000
Washington Flag
Washington60,000
Arizona Flag
Arizona40,000
Nevada Flag
Nevada17,750
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky13,100
California Flag
California13,000
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota7,500
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma5,000
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska2,750
Texas Flag
Texas1,600
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania1,350
Alaska Flag
Alaska1,300
Michigan Flag
Michigan1,000
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota850
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas450
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee450
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin400
Kansas Flag
Kansas350
Virginia Flag
Virginia250
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota240
Missouri Flag
Missouri200
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina175
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia100
Alabama Flag
AlabamaExtirpated since the early 1800s.
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutExtirpated by mid-1700s to early 1800s.
Delaware Flag
DelawareThe only evidence of elk in this state is prehistoric.
Florida Flag
FloridaNo evidence of natural elk habitation in Florida exists.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaIt is debated whether wild elk ever lived in Georgia.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiNo evidence of natural elk habitation in Hawaii exists.
Illinois Flag
IllinoisExtirpated between 1800 and 1850.
Indiana Flag
IndianaExtirpated.
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaExtirpated.
Maine Flag
MaineIt is unclear whether wild elk ever lived in Maine.
Maryland Flag
MarylandExtirpated.
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsIt is unclear whether wild elk ever lived in Massachusetts
Mississippi Flag
MississippiExtirpated by 1900.
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireIt is unclear whether wild elk ever lived in New Hampshire.
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyExtirpated.
New York Flag
New YorkExtirpated, last elk was recorded in 1847.
Ohio Flag
OhioExtirpated.
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandIt is unlikely there was ever an elk population in this state.
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaExtirpated.
Vermont Flag
VermontIt is unclear whether wild elk ever lived in Vermont.
  • Data are best available estimates as of January 2024.