The antler is surgically removed after 65 days of growth. After removal the velvet antler is frozen and sold to a middleman. The middleman dehydrates the velvet antler and then either sells it to a processor or ships it directly to foreign markets. On average, a bull will produce 10-12 pounds of velvet antler. There is also a market for elk meat, primarily on the East and West Coasts.
Elk is a red meat low in fat content and similar to boneless chicken.
At present, this market is being supplied by New Zealand elk because of the prime price of velveting in North America. Another potential market for elk are the hunting preserves and game parks. Not many people have seen an elk, and many people will pay to see one instead of having to travel to parks such as Yellowstone. Management of an elk herd is similar to that of cattle. One advantage of elk over cattle lies in the lower cost of feed.