Improving Quality of Winter Forage for Elk by Cattle Grazing

Abstract

The Bridge Creek Wildlife Management Area located in northeastern Oregon and owned by the Oregon Wildlife Commission, is a prime winter range for Rocky Mountain elk. On the average, about 120 head of elk were counted annually on the area during the winters of 1948 through 1960. When the Wildlife Area was established in 1961, cattle grazing was excluded. Elk numbers increased to about 320 head, but forage became increasingly rank and of low quality. A resource management plan was put into effect in 1964, which involved various range improvements and a cattle-grazing system designed to increase forage quality for wintering elk. In 1974, elk count increased to about 1,190. Concurrently during these years, the ecological condition of the range improved noticeably and animal unit months of cattle grazing were increased by 2.6 times. Success of the project is primarily attributable to improved quality of winter forage. The rationale used in designing the grazing system to achieve winter-forage quality is explained. Although emphasis is placed on using livestock grazing to improve the quality of winter forage for elk, it should be noted that the same technique also produces high-quality autumn and winter forage for cattle.