An average sized bull elk should cost no more than $300 to have butchered (give or take $50), depending on how large he is and if you get any jerky or sausage made.

Elk meat is worth about $2.50/lb. carcass weight (approximately 56% to 60% of live weight), which makes a 15 month old bull (average live weight of 450#) worth about $675. This is a good price, but yields a lesser return than the other markets for elk breeding stock and antler.

Elk are classified as wildlife animals, even if they are commercially raise d in captivity. Most states have a registry of all the elk breeders; some require a license to keep elk and other species of wildlife.

A Colorado ranching family has demonstrated for nearly two decades that raising elk on their wild elk farm for the commercial market is more profitable than traditional livestock farming. These animals are about as close to being domesticated as elk are ever likely to come. …

You can buy a few elk and board them on an existing, well-run farm. That way you can significantly minimize your risks, reduce your workload, and still enjoy your animals while taking time to learn how to look after them. If everything goes well, you can eventually move them to your own farm.

Elk meat is a form of Venison, the meat of the Deer. Here in the USA, North American Elk are one of the larger deer species, exceeded only in size by the North American Moose. Interestingly, what we would call Moose found in Europe, are called ELK by the indigenous Europeans.

Elk farming is an agricultural industry for the production of elk as livestock or for the sport of hunting. Elk have a variety of uses. Elk are also raised for venison, their meat. All of these markets are rising in popularity thus causing an increase in the breeding industry.

Velvet is a commodity used widely in the Pacific Rim as a primary ingredient in holistic medicines. Companies create by-products with the velvet here in North America. Over the past 15 years, the selling price for velvet has ranged from $35 to $115 per pound. Recent averages are around $55-$70 per pound.

Self-sustaining herds of wild elk in Tennessee exist today only in a few remote tracts, like Land Between the Lakes, Smoky Mountain National Park and the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area in Campbell County. At least two ranchers in Middle Tennessee are currently raising elk, and have been for years.

It is currently estimated that the Tennessee elk herd numbers a little over 400.

The purchaser of this elk permit is required to purchase a big game license before participating in the hunt.   The resident elk license (Type 256) is $28.00, and a non-resident elk license (Type 257) is $300.00.   Tennessee Sportsman and Lifetime license holders are exempt from having to purchase the elk license.

Elk Viewing in the Smoky Mountains. Elk viewing is a popular wildlife activity in the Great Smoky Mountains. In February of 2001 the release of elk into the Smoky Mountains began with 25 elk. Twenty seven more elk were imported in 2002 and radio collars were attached to all the elk to be monitored.

Deer & Elk You won’t see elk around Cades Cove, but you have the chance to see them on the North Carolina side of the mountains in Cataloochee Valley.

Dangerous wildlife in Tennessee

• Copperheads. Copperheads are probably the most common, and commonly seen venomous snakes in the state of Tennessee.
• Rattlesnakes. timber rattlesnake | image: Peter Paplanus | Flickr | CC 2.0.
• Black bears. black bear.
• Black widows. black widow spider.
• Brown recluses.
• Skunks.
• Ticks.
• Poison ivy.