Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection in domestic animals, wildlife and humans worldwide. The disease can result in abortions in some pregnant animals, including domestic cattle, bison and elk. It can also result in serious financial burdens to cattle producers, potentially resulting in quarantine of a herd, increased testing and vaccination costs and possible difficulty in trade with other states and countries. The potential for transmission to livestock has led FWP to investigate the status of brucellosis in some elk herds near Yellowstone National Park.

Because brucellosis can negatively impact Montana livestock producers, influence the acceptability of elk on the landscape, impact the overall health of wildlife populations and remains a health concern for people, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working with the Montana Department of Livestock, livestock producers and sportsmen and women to better delineate the geographic distribution of the disease in elk, understand elk-cattle transmission risk and ways to mitigate that risk, measure its prevalence in elk populations and understand factors that may influence changes in prevalence and distribution of the disease.

• Additional information on brucellosis programs for livestock are available on the Montana Department of Livestock website.

FWP along with informal input from the Elk Management Guidelines in Areas with Brucellosis Working Group annually assembles an "Elk Management in Areas With Brucellosis Work Plan (PDF)" which guides implementation of potential management actions within the Designated Surveillance Area or in other specific areas where brucellosis-exposed elk have been confirmed within the previous five years. The work plan requires annual adoption by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Surveillance for brucellosis across Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana has largely relied on collection of samples from hunter harvested animals. Due to difficulties in obtaining a large enough sample size from harvested elk in Montana, since 2011, FWP has embarked on a surveillance and research project that involves capturing, testing, and radio collaring elk from areas on the edge of the known distribution of brucellosis. 

In the winter of 2022/2023, FWP embarked on its thirteenth year of targeted brucellosis surveillance and research in southwestern Montana. One hundred and forty-nine adult cow elk were captured in the eastern Pioneer Mountains in HD331 and HD329. All elk tested negative for exposure to brucellosis. Thirty cow elk received GPS collars to enhance our understanding of elk movement patterns, evaluate the risk elk may pose for brucellosis transmission to cattle or other elk, and improve overall elk population management.  In January 2024 FWP is planning to capture up to 130 adult cow elk in the Highland Mountains for continued brucellosis surveillance.

Annual Reports

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2023 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2022 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2021 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2020 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2019 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2018 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2017 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2016 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2011-15 Annual Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2010 Annual Report (PDF)

Post Capture Reports

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2024 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2023 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2022 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2021 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2020 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2019 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2018 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2017 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2016 Post Capture Report (PDF)

• Elk Brucellosis Surveillance Project 2015 Post Capture Report (PDF)

Additional Reports

• Elk Responses to Management Hunting and Hazing (PDF)

• Effects of Elk Density on Elk Aggregation Patterns and Exposure to Brucellosis (PDF)

• Brucellosis Working Group Proposed Recommendations for Commission Endorsement (PDF)

• Reproductive Fate of Brucellosis-Seropositive Elk (PDF)

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America and are an icon of big game hunting and conservation. Elk are managed for the benefit of all Montanans. Managing Montana’s elk populations at levels compatible with other land uses and meeting the current and future demand for hunting and other recreation has become increasingly complex and has demanded comprehensive planning. Montana has operated under some form of elk plan since 1978.

This Elk Management Plan has multiple uses. It is intended to:

1. inform the decisions regarding elk management and conservation in Montana,

2. assist FWP personnel when considering elk management recommendations, 

3. define FWP’s commitment to the public to responsibly manage elk populations, and

4. guide FWP to meet statutory requirements in sustainably managing elk populations.

2023 Montana Statewide Management Plan

See a list of current and completed elk research projects

Hunter Surveys

• 2023 Elk Resident Hunter Survey Summary (PDF)
  This summary was updated Aug. 30, 2023 to reflect minor language edits

• 2023 Elk Resident Hunter Survey Report (PDF)

• 2023 Elk Nonresident Hunter Survey Report (PDF)

• 2021 CWD (PDF)

• 2015 Landowner Management of Hunter Access (PDF)

• 2014 HD 204 Elk (PDF)

• 2014 Hunter Access and Success Summary (PDF)

• 2013 CWD (PDF)

• 2010 Antlerless Elk B-License Summary (PDF)

• 2009 Hunting Access Management on Private Lands (PDF)

• 2008 Variable Priced Outfitter Sponsored License (PDF)

• 2007 Montana's Elk Population (PDF)

• 2001 Missouri River Breaks Archery (PDF)

• 2001 Profile of a Montana Elk Huntter (PDF)

• Private Land Decisions & Elk (PDF)

• Elk Refuge Areas and Impacts in Montana (PDF)

• Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Western States and Provinces Deer and Elk Workshop (PDF)

• Survey & Inventory Protocols for Big Game in Montana (PDF)