I recently posted a topic asking for recommendations on ranches/outfitters for a free range West Texas elk hunt.

I received a couple PM's from guys saying there really is no such thing as truly wild "free range" elk in West Texas. They said these herds are mostly released captive animals, and I should go further west to New Mexico to hunt wild elk.

How wild are West Texas elk?

Thanks for the feedback.

Why dont you come out to the ranch I have in Van Horn and I will show you how wild they are. They have been arround for more than 80 years and some have even migrated down from the Guadalupes over the years (New Mexico).

They are as wild as can be and completely free range, they come out of some rugged mountains and come and go as they please.

As long as free range, just as wild as any other elk. There have been reintroduced herds out there for 50 years. P&Y and B&C won't recognize them because they aren't an official game animal in Texas, but they are just as wild and have been in place for longer than many other herds east of the continental divide.

Whoever told you there are no wild, free-range Elk in Texas is full of the brown stinky stuff....

[quote=TexasBlueDevil]I recently posted a topic asking for recommendations on ranches/outfitters for a free range West Texas elk hunt.

I received a couple PM's from guys saying there really is no such thing as truly wild "free range" elk in West Texas. They said these herds are mostly released captive animals, and I should go further west to New Mexico to hunt wild elk.

How wild are West Texas elk?

The ones out here in west Tx are "truly" wild. They are not transplants, bought and shipped etc. Most all the free ranging elk in the Glass Mountain areas have inhabited this area for many a yrs. Most coming in from the NM area.

Marfa, Marathon, Alpine, Van Horn areas are all closer to or are in the Glass Mountains. Are they elsewhere in Tx? sure they are, but some of those if not all are going to be a High Fence Exotic.

the majority of them are transplants from several years ago. you would have to go to the guadalupe mtns. to possibly find native elk

To those who consider decendents of released elk not wild or free ranging. I guess you will never consider New Mexico west Texas or Arizona as having wild elk. If you read the accounts the native Meriems (sp) were wiped out in the early 1900s. Those were replaced by stocking with elk from the Yellowstone herd. Also note it was not goverment that started that process but the provate land owner. That info is from the NM parks and wildlife department. In 1875 They report there being 2000 elk seen in southern NM. You can get elk tags for right across the Texas border in NM units. Elk are big critters that will range for miles. Some are in Texas from NM others wrre released and are now living wild. Still wild none the less.

There was a season at one time for elk in texas. I think that ended in 1997 I think. Stopping on this subject for now. But i will say have hunted elk with Mulie Mike and found elk aa wild as some i encountered hunting in Montana

Years ago we went to the Glass mountains looking for Aoudad. Did not see any but saw elk and they were as wild or wilder than any I have seen anywhere.