How Kentucky Became Home to the East’s Largest Elk Herd

What wild animal do you think Kentucky has more of than any other state east of the Mississippi River? If you guessed deer, you can't be alone. Well, I KNOW you're not; I would've thought the same thing before researching this story. But a lot of people would have guessed that too, I have no doubt.

Interestingly, the animal whose population in Kentucky outnumbers all other states this side of the Mississippi River isn't one I ever see. The last time I saw one, I was driving down a lonely stretch of New Mexico highway in the middle of the night and thankful that he didn't walk out in front of me.

Elk in Kentucky

You know what a deer can do to your car. Imagine the damage an elk could inflict. And it wouldn't matter how big your ride was.

Yes, Kentucky has more elk than any other state east of the Mississippi River. But you'll have to keep heading east; elk in the Commonwealth are all over Appalachia. And I believe that it must be a densely populated area. According to the Kentucky Elk Report from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, the estimated head count is north of 10,000. That number is helped, in large part, by the reintroduction of elk to the Commonwealth between 1997 and 2002.

By the way, that elk report is a keeper if you are a hunter. It also provides detailed information about, among other things, the types of diseases these animals deal with.

Elk Is Good Eating

On a personal note, elk is good eating. My late aunt in New Mexico had a chest freezer full of elk steaks. Another aunt treated us to her elk brisket. It was crazy good. It was also impressive, considering that elk is naturally lean, which could lead to it being tough if it's not correctly prepared. Hmm, now that I mention it...

Doesn't that look amazing? Anyway, we corner the "elk market" here in Kentucky, but if you're a hunter, and that's your next challenge, it will be a trip into the mountains for you.