1980). However, this is considered low for northern herds (Kimball and Wolfe, 1974) and is considerably less than the average 0.467:1.000 ratio during the years of maximum population size estimated for 1961 through 1966 (Moody and Simpson, 1980). The results of this study indicate a continuing decline in the numbers of elk occupying Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The decline from an adjusted total of 162 animals in 1978 (Moody and Simpson, 1980) to 58 in 1983 implies an average annual decrease of 18% (Kelker, 1947) which is much greater than the decline of 6%/year found by Moody and Simpson (1980) between the mid-1960s and late 1970s. The source