Location
In Canada they are found on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and the adjacent mainland. In the United States they are located in coastal Washington and Oregon, west of Interstate 5, and northwestern California, essentially in Del Norte and Humboldt counties. They have been introduced (1927) on Afognak and Raspberry Islands in the Gulf of Alaska. There is also a free-ranging herd on Santa Rosa Island off California's southern coast, which was introduced about 1910 from Washington's Olympic Pen.
Description
This subspecies is the largest North American elk, with bulls weighing 700-1,100 pounds and cows 500 to more than 600 pounds. Compared with those of the Rocky Mountain elk, the antlers are much more rugged and massive, although generally shorter and with less spread. The fourth (royal) tine can be forked, and the ends of the antlers, which are often webbed or palmate, tend to form a crown or cup of three or more points. The body coloration has more contrast, with the back and sides turning pale fawn in winter, the head, legs and underparts a dark brown, and the neck almost black. They are usually found in dense evergreen rain forests, including mountain forests.
Super Ten®/Super Slam®: Information found here contains excerpts from the on-line and printed version of Safari Club International (SCI) Record Book of Trophy Animals and is used by permission. Visit www.scirecordbook.org.
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