| The South Rainier Elk Herd is one of ten | | | | winter range. |
| elk herds living in Washington State. | | | | The greatest influence humans have had |
| This herd's range covers around 1,100 | | | | on this herd, however,has been through |
| square miles, and is located in parts of | | | | direct elk mortality. The annual |
| Lewis County, Thurston County, and Mount | | | | regulated hunting harvest removes around |
| Rainier National Park. The herd area is | | | | forty to sixty percent of all bull elk. |
| bounded on the east be the North Cascade | | | | The population of the South Rainier Elk |
| Crest Trail. On the west and south, it | | | | Herd has varied widely. For instance, in |
| is bounded by major highways, and on the | | | | 1994, there were as many as four |
| north, by highways, the Nisqually River | | | | thousand individuals in this area. By |
| and Mt. Rainier National Park. Land | | | | 1997, that number had fallen to 1,500. |
| ownership in the area is a mix of public | | | | It is estimated that the current |
| and private holdings. The majority of | | | | population of the herd is around 2,100 |
| the land is owned by the U.S. Forest | | | | animals. Management goals for the South |
| Service, which has the administration of | | | | Rainier herd include increasing the |
| around 400 square miles of land, | | | | numbers of elk to a level of about 3,000 |
| primarily composed of Gifford Pinchot | | | | animals. In general, elk population |
| National Forest and the southern | | | | levels will be maintained or increased, |
| boundary of Mt. Rainier National Park. | | | | depending on the area, except in |
| Private holdings are located mostly | | | | locations where they are causing a lot |
| along the Cowlitz River. There are small | | | | of damage or having conflict with |
| tracts of state land in the area. The | | | | humans. The current population ratios, |
| remainder of the land is held by | | | | when assessed before the hunting season, |
| industrial forestry interests. | | | | are fifteen to seventeen bulls per |
| Elevations within the herd area are | | | | hundred cows, a figure which has stayed |
| between 250 feet and 14,400 feet (the | | | | steady since 1996, and forty-six to |
| summit of Mt. Rainier). Level and gently | | | | forty-eight calves for every hundred |
| rolling terrain is rare, occurring | | | | cows. |
| mostly along major drainages such as the | | | | Harvest strategies for this herd have |
| Cispus and Cowlitz Rivers. The elk | | | | varied significantly over the past forty |
| occupy almost all of the herd area below | | | | years. They have included permission to |
| 6,500 feet, except for areas that are | | | | take any bull, to spike-only bulls with |
| extraordinarily steep or rocky. | | | | a general permit, and branch antlered |
| Humans make extensive use of the area in | | | | bulls taken by special permit. In some |
| which the South Rainier Elk Herd is | | | | cases, only three point bulls or greater |
| located, mostly for recreational | | | | have been permitted. The three point |
| purposes. For instance, the visitor | | | | minimum rule has been more common in |
| usage of Mt. Rainier National Park was | | | | recent years, and is the current method |
| over two million in the 1990s. Hiking, | | | | of regulating the elk harvest for the |
| backpacking, skiing, and other | | | | South Rainier Elk Herd. Antler point |
| recreational activities are common, as | | | | restrictions normally mean higher bull |
| well as trapping, fishing, and hunting. | | | | to cow ratios after the hunting season, |
| These activities occur both in the park | | | | but fewer older animals survive. Before |
| and on adjacent lands that are privately | | | | 2000, it was legal to harvest antlerless |
| owned. | | | | elk during the archery season, or with |
| The area along the Cowlitz river has | | | | firearms by special permit. However, |
| been developed extensively, both for | | | | antlerless harvest has not recently been |
| agricultural and residential purposes. | | | | permitted. |
| This has significantly affected the | | | | Current goals for the maintenance and |
| wintering area of this herd. There has | | | | management of this herd include an |
| been a significant loss of important | | | | increase in the estimated elk |
| winter habitat for these elk, as well as | | | | population, while paying attention to |
| a rise in elk/human conflict. In | | | | habitat limitations and problems |
| addition, intensive clear cut logging | | | | landowners may experience. The |
| has changed almost all of the forests | | | | maintenance and improvement of elk |
| not in the bounds of the national park. | | | | habitat on U.S. Forest service lands is |
| Originally, this area was made up almost | | | | to be encouraged, and hunting is to be |
| entirely of old growth forest. However, | | | | kept to a limit which will allow all |
| the area is now covered in second and | | | | herds to reach the state requirement of |
| third generation growth reaching to | | | | twelve or more bulls for every hundred |
| approximately 3,300 feet in elevation, | | | | cows. |
| and covering almost all of the elk's | | | | |