Rocky Mountain Elk

There are three Rocky Mountain Elk populations. The Lytton herd in management unit (MU) 3-13 is about 100. The Gang Ranch herd in MU 3-32 East is about 50, and the herd in MU 3-32 West is about 5. To remain healthy, elk need security and snow interception cover, adequate forage, and movement opportunities, especially between summer and winter habitats.

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Rocky Mountain Elk Map

Issues:

  • Reduction in the quality and distribution of essential habitat including snow interception cover, forage, security cover and movement opportunities.
  • Increased mortality risk from unregulated hunting, poaching, stress, uncontrolled access and expanding settlement.
  • Management for elk can adversely affect agricultural use.
  • Need map on elk only
  • Does the gang elk ranch exist?
  • Lytton area elk exist: burns, access, huntable
  • Transplant

Goals:

  • Viable elk populations in a healthy condition

Rocky Mountain Elk Prescriptive

Objectives Management Direction/Strategies Measures of Success/Targets Intent
1. Maintain the elk range shown on the Elk and Moose map 1.1 Designate the elk range area shown on the Elk and Moose map as “ungulate winter range” under the Forest and Range Practices Act Management objectives for elk are not expected to have an impact on the timber harvesting land base so no planning allowance has been allocated
1.2 Consider available First Nations’ knowledge of elk range in the designation
2. Manage resource development and use activities within elk range (see map) by providing adequate forest cover and forage for elk. 2.1 Ensure that approximately 30 – 50% of the security and snow interception cover within the elk habitat shown on the on Elk and Moose map occurs within patches that are 10 hectares or greater Provide fire maintained openings within interior Douglas fir that create temporary grasslands or open forest Elk habitat requirements are similar to those of mule deer – see mule deer section
2.2 Maintain visual screening along main haul roads
2.3 Allow for the use of prescribed fire on the areas upslope of Lytton and upslope along Highway 1
2.4 Maintain natural ecosystems in the Siska Creek drainage including grasslands that are essential elk habitat
3. Manage resource development and use activities within elk range by providing movement opportunities for elk between the two high elevation summer habitats as well as between summer habitats and the low elevation critical winter range habitats 3.1 Provide a mosaic of age classes within corridors as follows:

  • Maximum 30% removal with 3 metre green up for hiding cover within the corridors
  • At least 30% of the stands must be greater than 16 metres in height at any onetime
  • Maximum opening length is 300 metres (one side). This does not apply when utilizing selective harvesting systems
  • Selective harvesting systems should retain at least 40% basal area and original tree species composition
High elevation summer elk habitats are: Mount Zakwaski/Cowhead Pass/Mount Hewitt Bostock and Mount Lytton/Kanaka Mountain Critical winter range habitats are the low elevation, west facing slopes between Lytton and the Mowhokan River
4. Limit impacts of road access and density on elk populations within their range (see Elk and Moose map) 4.1 Within elk habitat, minimize to the extent practical the amount of road accessible to 2 or 4-wheel drive vehicles Roads open to public use within elk range are minimized
4.2 Use the following directions to guide development, deactivation, rehabilitation, and regulated closures within elk range:

  • Check the seasonal access maps to identify any access management direction for public and industrial use
5. Undertake elk conservation efforts in the community/Crown land interface area especially within critical winter range near Highway 1 Minimized elk mortalities No habitat loss near travel corridors