Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: WapitiTalk1 on April 22, 2014, 02:38:28 PM

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Title: Olympic Roosevelt Elk, A "Purer" Species?
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on April 22, 2014, 02:38:28 PM

My turn to ask a question  ;)  Have you guys/gals seen, or aware of, any written scientific documentation that proves any physiological difference between Olympic Rooseys and what we call the Cascade Rooseys (west of I5 to the PCT)?  Just curious as I've heard this before. 

Title: Re: Olympic Roosevelt Elk, A "Purer" Species?
Post by: Bean Counter on April 22, 2014, 02:54:25 PM

Boone and Crocket requires book roseys to be west of I-5.

Title: Re: Olympic Roosevelt Elk, A "Purer" Species?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on April 22, 2014, 05:52:24 PM

According to my research, Cervus elaphus migrated across the Bering land bridge during the late Pliocene Period,  spreading across the continent.
As the climate and geography changed, individual populations developed distinct characteristics, yet were genetically similar.
Biologist Valerius Geist claims all American elk are C. canadensis canadensis, claiming that classification of the four surviving North American groups as subspecies is driven, at least partly, for political purposes to secure individualized conservation and protective measures for each of the surviving populations.

Recent DNA studies suggest that all American Elk seem to belong to one subspecies (Cervus canadensis canadensis). Even the Siberian elk (Cervus canadensis sibiricus) are more or less identical to the American forms and therefore may belong to this subspecies, too.
Due to subsistence and market hunting, virtually all elk were removed from the Cascade range due to winter migrations to lower elevations, and the subsequent ease of unrestricted/unregulated harvest.
Reintroduction returned elk to their former range, but due to being so genetically similar, cross breeding is possible, and within a few generations all differences are assimilated into the genetics of the native population.
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Title: Re: Olympic Roosevelt Elk, A "Purer" Species?
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on April 22, 2014, 06:54:09 PM

Good information, thanks guys.  I do know that the elk I hunt on this the west side of the PCT are Rooseys.  I wonder how they are that much different, genetically (if at all), that makes them non qualified for B&C versus their cousins on the other west side of I5?  Gotta dig into this deeper  8) 

Title: Re: Olympic Roosevelt Elk, A "Purer" Species?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on April 23, 2014, 07:14:22 AM

Reason they do not qualify is due to similarities, they had to draw a line for classification, and felt that those living on upper slopes could/would cross PCT at will.
The next best line was I-5.