Montana Dppartmenl of Fish, Wildlife & Parks 



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Elk: Cervus elaphus 



Next largest in size to the moose, elk, 

 whose correct name is wapiti, are numer- 

 ous in western and central Montana, rang- 

 ing from grassy benchlands to mountain 

 meadows. The young are born in late April 

 or May, usually singly. Elk move from 

 lower ranges to higher areas as warming 

 weather melts the snow and forage grows 

 again. Elk once ranged throughout 

 Montana but are now found primarily in 

 the western portion of the state. 



A full-grown bull elk will weigh 800 

 pounds; the older males carry a "rack" of 

 antlers that may be five feet across. The 



elk's coat is buff-colored, with dark brown 

 on the legs and neck. 



White-Tailed Deer: 



Odocoileus virginianus 



These deer live in all parts of Montana, 

 and usually are seen along brushy creek 

 bottoms and river land. They also range 

 into dense coniferous forests. The white 

 flash of its tail distinguishes this species 

 from the mule deer. The young, often 

 twins, are born in early May. 



Mule Deer: Odocoileus hemionus 



Because they like open space, these deer 

 are seen more often in forest clearings, 

 prairie country, and upland benches. They 

 are found at higher elevations than white- 

 tails, and are abundant throughout 

 Montana. They prefer broken terrain like 

 that in eastern Montana, but can be found 

 in almost every habitat. 



Bison: Bison bison 



The northern plains bison or buffalo is 

 now seen in Montana only in Yellowstone 

 Park, and some game refuges such as the 

 National Bison Range in the Flathead Val- 

 ley and the Fort Peck Game Range in east- 

 ern Montana. A few small privately owned 

 herds are also scattered around the state. 

 This huge member of the bovidae (or cattle) 

 family once numbered in the millions and 

 had a range from alpine tundra to eastern 

 U.S. forests. 



Adults are dark brown, and the males 

 have a heavy, shaggy mane; the young are 

 a light reddish tan. The bulls weigh be- 

 tween 1,800 to 2,000 pounds and may be 

 five feet high and from 9 to 12 feet from 

 nose to tail. 



Comparative sizes of wildlife and human 



