Elk Forage Examples Common in the Rocky Mountain Area

What do Elk Eat (Elk Forage)?

The following plants are some of the more common examples of elk forage found throughout the Rocky Mountain area.  Chances are good that if you find any of these plants in abundance in a particular area, elk will be nearby.  Also keep in mind that if these plants are in abundance but you do not see any fresh signs of elk in the immediate area, you may want to consider scouting other nearby areas with abundant elk forage until you find sign of fresh elk activity.  Also, if you happen to find a high density of these plants growing within or near security habitat and near a source of water, then you have most likely found an elk hot spot.

Examples of Elk Forage

Elk Forage - Rough Fescue

Rough Fescue

Elk Forage - Timothy Grass

Timothy Grass

 

 

 

 

Flowering Elkweed

Flowering Elkweed

Immature Elkweed

Immature Elkweed

 

 

 

 

Willow

Willow

Serviceberry

Serviceberry

 

 

 

 

Elk Thistle

Elk Thistle

Bitterbrush

Bitterbrush

 

 

 

 

Beargrass

Beargrass

Lupine

Lupine

 

 

 

 

Needle and Thread Grass

Needle and Thread Grass

Quaking Aspen Leaves

Young Quaking Aspen Leaves

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Sweetvetch

Northern Sweetvetch

Arrowleaf Groundsel

Arrowleaf Groundsel

 

 

 

 

 

Elk Sedge

Elk Sedge