Research

This elk is one of eight cow elk in the North Hills herd that has been outfitted with a GPS radio collar that tracks the elk’s location every two hours—or more frequently if researchers specify (Shawn Cleveland photo).

The only one of Missoula’s elk herds that has been extensively studied is the North Hills herd.

Darrel Weybright studied the herd for his master’s degree from the University of Montana in 1983.

A summary of his study (511-kilobyte Acrobat file) includes the pages related to the locations of radio collared elk and recommendations for management.

The entire study (3.5-megabyte Acrobat file) includes detailed studies of vegetation on the National Wildlife Federation property in Grant Creek.

Shawn Cleveland is now studying the North Hills elk herd for a master’s study under Mark Hebblewhite, Assistant Professor in the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana's College of Forestry and Conservation.

Fifteen cow elk were radio collared during early 2007, eight with GPS collars that monitor the elk’s location every two hours. For more information about the current work being performed, please read "11 North Hills Elk Sporting Radio Collars" (494-kilobyte Acrobat file), which appeared in the “Leopoldian,” the newsletter for Hellgate Hunters & Anglers.