DNR will survey elk, educate Minnesotans about the ‘treasure’ of wild herds

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is once again poised to undertake its annual aerial elk survey. Information gathered will help the DNR monitor elk populations in the northwest part of the state, and it will guide future management and harvest regulations. 

“The surveys that we are doing now are a really good way of determining how many elk we have,” said Doug Franke, an area wildlife supervisor with the DNR. “And whether we’re within the population range that's expected within our elk plan.”

And, Franke said, the surveys help to educate the public.

“I think the people of Minnesota have a true treasure in the wild elk herds we have in Minnesota,” he said. “If you don’t know that they’re there, stay tuned.”

Elk were nearly extinct in the state around the turn of the 20th century. The last reported sighting of a native elk during that era was in 1932. A few years later though, through legislation, 70 wild elk were reintroduced into the northwest where they still reside. 

During last year’s aerial survey involving the Grygla, Kittson Central and Caribou-Vita herds 233 elk were counted. That was below DNR expectations and as a result they limited the number of permits for hunting elk to four, down from 10 state licenses in 2024.

Aerial survey

To conduct the counts, which encompass about 500 square miles of where the herds roam, the DNR will use two fixed-wing planes in tandem. Before getting to that point though, they’ll need more snow cover. 

“We like to have at least 8 inches on the ground, and we're not quite there yet,” Franke said. “There’s been a hit and miss with snow events across the elk range. We hope that by early January we could get enough snow and we'll fly as soon as we can.”

Franke said snow aids researchers in identifying elk tracks from the sky and it makes the animals stand out from the landscape.

Since the Caribou-Vita herd — the largest of the three — commonly crosses between the U.S. and Canada, the DNR will also survey portions north of the border. 

“The relationship we have with Manitoba makes the survey and crossing the border relatively easy, it's just a few phone calls, and we're able to fly this,” Franke said. “There’s really no complicating factors other than funding, really.”

Based on the Caribou-Vita herd’s migration the state typically has about 100-250 elk.

Franke said once the surveys begin they can be finished in as little as five days if weather conditions are optimal. 

“We have to have 5 miles of visibility and 1,000 foot of ceiling in order for us to fly safely,” he said. 

The DNR is asking people to report any elk sightings to them online through their website or by calling their local office.

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