The rising elk population in Alberta has become an increasingly pressing concern for beef ranchers, with many struggling to manage the financial burden and operational challenges these animals impose. While issues like tariffs, disease, and drought remain on ranchers’ radars, recent Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) meetings have shown that elk dominate discussions. Producers across the province are calling for decisive action from the government to mitigate the damage elk cause to their operations.
Financial and Operational Strains
While many Albertans are thrilled to see giant herds of elk, for many Alberta ranchers, elk represent a significant economic challenge. The financial losses can be substantial between destroyed fences, lost feed, and competition for grazing land. One producer highlighted the inadequacy of current wildlife damage compensation programs, stating that initial payments covered only a fraction of the total costs.
“The cost of damage and prevention of further damage from elk far outweighs any payments we receive from wildlife damage control programs,” the producer explained. He noted that fencing off his feed yards would cost significantly more than the $4,000 he received in repair funding.
Elk frequently invade feed yards and pastureland, consuming valuable feed meant for cattle. The problem is especially significant in the winter when ranchers have hay bales in their yards to feed cattle.
Mark Lyseng, Government Relations and Policy Lead with Alberta Beef Producers said, “If you’re the unlucky producer who gets a herd of 600 elk on your land, you get absolutely hammered.”
Calls for Government Action
Ranchers are urging the provincial government to take a definitive stance on elk management. Some believe that increased hunting opportunities should be part of the solution. In contrast, others argue that if Alberta wants to maintain a thriving elk population, the government should provide resources to feed them elsewhere.
“There’s only two solutions – either we kill them, or we feed them. If we want these elk in the province, let’s feed them,” one producer stated bluntly.
While Alberta has increased the number of hunting tags available for elk, many ranchers feel this approach is ineffective, as elk herds in affected regions have altered their behaviours to avoid hunters. Trail cameras have captured images of elk raiding feed yards in the early morning, leaving before hunters can intervene.
Elk herds constantly move, making it difficult to regulate their numbers through hunting. According to Mark Lyseng, elk may not arrive in ranchers’ yards until February or March—after hunting season. Even with extended hunting seasons and additional tags, success rates remain low because hunters must first locate the herds, which limits the effectiveness of population control efforts.
In many areas of the province, cow elk tags are also not being filled. Hunting has shifted from food to trophy hunting; “Nobody wants to shoot the doe,” Lyseng says.
Other ranchers complain that the lack of predators, wolves, and coyotes has resulted in an explosion of elk populations. Ironically, all across the province, wolves and coyotes are still targeted by ranchers and farmers as ‘vermin,’ and some even support predator “killing contests” as a way to increase populations of deer, elk, and moose in the province.
The Complexity of Managing Hunter Access
While hunting is an essential tool in controlling elk populations, ranchers face a delicate balancing act when it comes to granting hunters access to their lands. Some landowners welcome responsible hunters and have built long-term relationships with them, while others are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of access requests they receive each season.
Graham Overguard, a fifth-generation rancher near Sundre, explained that the relationship can be mutually beneficial when hunters are respectful and communicate well. “When we have hunters who come consistently and are respectful and kind, it goes well. We’ve made lasting relationships with some of these guys.”
However, managing hunter access on leased land is more complex. Alberta’s Recreational Access Regulation (RAR) mandates that recreational users, including hunters, contact leaseholders before accessing grazing leases. While this system gives ranchers some control, it is far from perfect. Ranchers often deal with an overwhelming number of requests, and enforcement against trespassing is inconsistent.
John Buckley, a rancher southwest of Cochrane, fields more than 1,000 emails annually from people seeking access to his land. “We’re absolutely inundated,” he said, explaining that hunters, bird watchers, and other recreational users all compete for access.
Another challenge is Alberta’s current hunting tag draw system, which prevents hunters from consistently returning to the same lands year after year. Mark Lyseng noted, “There’s no consistency. If the same hunter uses your land year after year, you develop a relationship, but the draw system means hunters often have to look for new spots every year, and the ranchers can’t develop trust in the hunters using their land.”
A Need for Long-Term Solutions
Alberta’s ranchers are clear: something needs to be done about the growing elk population. Whether through increased hunting opportunities, government-led feeding programs, improved land access regulations, or the recovery of predator populations, ranchers need relief from the economic and logistical burdens elk are placing on their operations.
At the heart of the issue is a delicate balance between conservation, wildlife management, hunting, and cattle ranching. Alberta’s grasslands, essential for cattle and wildlife, require careful stewardship. “The grasslands we need to be respected and managed properly, and the best way to do that is by having cattle graze,” Overguard emphasized.
As ABP continues discussions with government officials and agricultural groups, ranchers hope a sustainable and effective solution will emerge—ensuring a thriving cattle industry and a well-managed elk population.
