Habitat/hunting Terrain

Finding elk at times can be physically challenging. In many areas, foot travel is the only method allowed. Even those areas that do allow ATVs or motor vehicles run out of roads leaving you and your feet to get you the rest of the way. Learning about the terrain can help you physically and mentally prepare for the hunt. Hunters need to be able to get within range of an elk, while still being capable of getting their harvest back out. Help from others is always an option hunters have. Hunters should include the others they hope to bring along in their physical preparations as well. This may make packing out your elk much more enjoyable (for everyone)!

The terrain can vary across the 4.3 million acres. The total elk-zone landscape can best be described as steep wooded mountainous terrain dominated by oaks and hickory trees with the interspersion of reclaimed surface mines. Reclaimed surface mines are a predominantly open shrub/grass habitat characterized by level plateaus, steep hollow fills and gently rolling contours.