Eastern elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis), native to Wisconsin, were extirpated in the mid to late 1800's. During pre-settlement, elk were hunted regularly by Native North Americans in the Bayfield, Ashland, and Sawyer County area. The last elk probably disappeared from Wisconsin in 1868. Elk populations were also declining across most of North America during this period due to a variety of factors including unregulated hunting and habitat changes.  Elk populations were estimated to be 10,000,000 animals prior to the arrival of Europeans, but were reduced to nearly 90,000 by the early 1920's.

By the late 1970's, there were about 500,000 in North America. In an effort to bring elk back to their native ranges, several states attempted elk reintroductions between 1903 and 1986. Two out of ten states, Michigan and Pennsylvania, were successful.

In Wisconsin, a small, fenced elk herd was raised near Trout Lake in Vilas County. The entire herd of 15 elk were released from the enclosure in 1932, and by the early 1950's, no more than 2 elk were believed to remain in the area. Poaching is believed to be the primary reason for the failure of this reintroduction effort. Since then, elk have been bred and raised on ranches and game farms but free ranging, wild elk were not present in Wisconsin until the mid-90s.