Of the four subspecies of elk found in North America, two reside in British Columbia. Roosevelt elk can be found across the Pacific Northwest, but Vancouver Island is particularly well-known for the quality of its animals.    Rocky Mountain elk are most numerous in the east and west Kootaneys and spread as far as the Liard River area. 

An elk’s diet primarily consists of sedge, grass and ferns, but is supplemented by willows, elderberry, cedar and hemlock. In the winter, elk ranges are most commonly found in open forests, grassy bench lands or floodplain marshes. In May and June, Rocky Mountain elk migrate to subalpine and alpine basins that support lush vegetation. At maturity, a cow will weigh about 500 lbs and a bull will weigh about 700 lbs. Elk meat is leaner and higher in protein than both chicken and beef.