Data from the Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development data base, which keeps inventories of elk producers and velvet production information (n = 12 724), were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic variances, heritability and repeatability estimates for velvet antler using REML methods. The heritability based on the animal models I and II was 0.27 ± 0.03 and the repeatability ranged from 0.31 ± 0.02 to 0.35 ± 0.03 depending on the animal model used. Antler yield is expected to respond to selection as the heritability is medium, but non-additive and environmental effects can also influence production. Key words: Elk, heritability, repeatability, antler production