Effects of Range Improvement on Roosevelt Elk Winter Nutrition

Abstract

Three pasture types dominate the Beneke Creek Wildlife Management Area on this Roosevelt elk winter range in northwestern Oregon. In winter, elk showed a strong preference for perennial ryegrass pastures that were hayed the previous summer and fall fertilized over bentgrass pastures also hayed and fertilized or unmanaged bentgrass pastures. These perennial ryegrass pastures provided forage that met minimal requirements for digestible protein and digestible energy all winter while both bentgrass pasture types were deficient in these nutrients through winter. Improvement of bentgrass pastures by conversion to ryegrass should result in higher rates of elk reproduction and better survival of offspring.