The refuge is the only one in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service devoted primarily to elk management. Today the refuge is comprised of nearly 25,000 acres of land consisting of native grasses and other elk forage. The Refuge is comprised of meadows and marshes along the valley floor, sagebrush and rock outcroppings along the foothills. A diversity of food and shelter provides for the rich mixture of wildlife species found at the National Elk Refuge. When snow becomes to crusty or deep, refuge managers feed pelletized alfalfa hay to the elk.
Elk have a dark head, neck and legs, with a lighter brown body and cream- colored rump.
Females have a darker body than the males. Antler size indicates dominance, nutrional state and genetic fitness. Antlers are shed each year during March and April, while younger bulls shed their antlers later in the spring. New antler growth begins within a week after shedding and continues until late August when the antlers are full sized. During the peak period of growth in the summer, antlers may grow one inch per day.