Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman
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Many people love hunting for elk but are surprised to find out that elk can actually be bought and raised. Whether for fun, food, or profit, raising elk is gaining in popularity year after year. But just how much does it cost to buy a live elk?
The price of a live elk will largely depend on the sex and age of the animal. Calves of either sex can be bought for around $400 or $500, while cows and immature bulls will go for $500 to $800. Mature bull elk will be the most expensive, costing anywhere from $1000 to $2000.
But just because you can buy a live elk doesn’t mean you should until you learn the ins and outs of caring for elk. If you are interested in raising live elk, continue reading to learn more about these amazing animals and raise them yourself.
In this post, we'll cover:
Land and Other Needed Items to Raise Elk
The first thing that elk will need to flourish is plenty of space. Remember, elk have yet to be domesticated, and these animals are the direct descendants of wild animals. This means they need more space and pasture to roam around than other domesticated animals such as cattle, sheep, or goats.
Generally, every two or three adult elk will need at least one acre of grazing pasture to stay happy and not stressed.
In addition to plenty of space, elk also require special fencing and equipment. Although elk are large animals, they jump extremely high and clear a fence that other animals can’t. To avoid having your elk escape, you will need to install a special elk fence too tall for them to jump over or crash through.
Elk will also need a barn or some kind of structure to keep them in when they are sick, injured, or need protection from harsh weather. While they do extremely well outside, there will be times when they need to be isolated and cared for, depending on the situation.
Speaking of care, elk will also need special diets and veterinarian visits, as there are often more rules and regulations for raising wild animals.
How Long Do Elk Live in Captivity?
Elk will live anywhere from 9 to 14 years while living in the wild, but elk raised in captivity that are properly taken care of can live for well over 20 years.
As long as they have the right food sources and sufficient space, these elk can live a very long time and can become perfect animals to raise for food, money, or simply for fun! Another important thing to consider for elk is their stress level, as this can impact their life expectancy.
But as long as they have food, water, shelter, and ample space to roam, elk are generally very happy.
Which States Allow Elk Farming?
As we mentioned, raising elk comes with a lot of special rules, requirements, and regulations. Not every state will allow you to raise elk, and even those that do will often have a strict set of rules to which you must adhere. Other states may require you to have a special license or permit to raise elk on your property.
Some states classify farm-raised elk as wildlife. This means that the state’s wildlife agency is the governing body over the rules, but in general, many still do, to some degree, allow elk farming. These states include Arizona, Idaho, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, and Texas.
Other states classify them as livestock. These states generally have fewer rules regarding elk farming. These states include Delaware, Maine, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Nebraska, and Colorado.
Depending on where you live, you may have special requirements to buy a live elk. A simple internet search on your state’s laws will allow you to look up all of the special rules and regulations to ensure you are not doing anything illegal and that you can go buy your elk without any problems.
Best Places to Buy a Live Elk
So if you want to get into elk farming, where can you actually buy a live elk? The best place to start is from other elk farms. Luckily there are many throughout the country that will sell you an elk to get you started. Here are some of the best and most popular elk farms that are known to sell high-quality and healthy animals:
M’s Elk Ranch in South Dakota
https://www.dubenselk.com/Default.htm
Cold Creek Ranch in Texas
https://coldcreekranch.com/elk/
RC Ranch Elk Farm in Wisconsin
https://rcranchllc.com/our-farm/
Luckyland Elk Farm in Minnesota
Splendor Ridge Elk Farm in Minnesota
Final Thoughts
If you have ever considered buying and raising a live elk, make sure that you do your homework. But while elk can be a lot of work and have many extra requirements compared to other farm animals, they are well worth the effort and can be an amazing animal to raise.
Whether you want to raise them for food, money, or for fun, live elk are a perfect choice!
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.
Sources
- https://www.naelk.org/getting_started_in_the_elk_business.cfm
- http://www.nelsonroadvet.com/articles/large-animal-exotics/raising-elk/
- https://www.agupdate.com/news/livestock_news/expenses-low-novelty-high-when-raising-elk/article_d05b4411-b878-58dc-a19d-8b6db9f45b9b.html
