Elk Restoration
Plentiful before European settlement, elk disappeared from Missouri by 1865. In July 2010, the Conservation Commission directed the Department to reinstate plans to restore elk to a suitable area in southeast Missouri. Use these pages to follow restoration milestones, read the plan, view restoration zone maps and trace the history of elk in Missouri.
Before the Conservation Commission approved MDC's plan to restore elk to Missouri in 2010, it considered biological feasibility, citizen interest, stakeholder input, and recreational and economic benefits. Browse the history of elk restoration in Missouri, including the management plan and frequently asked questions.
Subscribe to this page for the latest news about Missouri's historic elk restoration efforts.
To give you a chance to see some of Missouri’s first free-ranging elk in nearly 150 years, we’ve set up a self-guided driving tour at Peck Ranch Conservation Area. The 11-mile route begins at the Peck Ranch office and is marked along the way.
See where there are captive elk and reports of elk sightings in Missouri.
