I was surprised to read that as well!There's no way that there's still 290,000 elk in this state.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing...
cpw.state.co.us
CPW says 280,000 though don't share a date for their estimated count however, it's on their current government website.
RMEF noted from a 2019 read, the following:
"Wildlife officials in Colorado relocated 50 elk from Wyoming in 1916. Today, there are more than 280,000 animals in the Centennial State."
Watch: Elk Thriving in Parts of Colorado
There was a time when elk were nearly extinct in North America. Thanks to forward-thinking conservationists, and backed by funding generated by hunters, there are now more than one million elk. Wildlife officials in Colorado relocated 50 elk from Wyoming in 1916. Today, there are more than...
Does HT have a better handle on the #'s? I'd be interested to hear.
Edit added: for the general #'s posted, source:
Elk Population by State 2025
Discover population, economy, health, and more with the most comprehensive global statistics at your fingertips.
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