Suitability and products God made elk for the climate and environment of much of North America. They thrive in winters that kill cattle. When it's ten below, with a stiff breeze blowing, elk are just as likely to be lying in the snow on an exposed hillside as they are to be seeking shelter. They tolerate hot summers as well. Their annual cycle is totally in tune with the changing seasons, and one of the most noticeable aspects of that annual cycle is the growth and shedding of the bull's antlers.
Antlers are the most unique trait of all members of the deer family.
Practitioners of traditional Asian medicine, who use different portions of the antler as food supplements, recognized this long ago. Users of the supplements feel that antler enhances energy, growth and blood circulation and that it alleviates symptoms of arthritis and pre-menstrual syndrome. A huge and growing market exists for these products. Surveys show that more than half of the U.S. adult population uses dietary supplements. Hard antlers, which are shed every year, are also a very valuable product, used in jewelry and other small decorative items as well as in home decor and furnishings.