The Elk Cam now features sound! Turn up the volume for the best viewing experience.
Free Tours to See the Elk
Are you ready to experience Virginia’s elk in person? Registration is now open for DWR's guided tours! Read more…
About the Elk Cam
Elk are able to share their charismatic presence with all Virginians from the valleys of Appalachia through this live viewing camera. After nearly two years of rigorous work by donors and volunteers, the “Elk Cam” is now live to see elk while they are active during September and October as breeding season approaches.
The Elk Cam will run annually from mid-August (when we expect calves and cows to rejoin the herd) through November. Elk rut peaks between late September and early October and will have the greatest amount of all-day elk activity.
Learn More About the Virginia Elk Cam »
Where to View Elk in Virginia
Three viewing stations are now open and are located on Buchanan County IDA (Industrial Development Authority) property, which is located near Poplar Gap Community Park. Each station was built on a different area of the property overlooking individual “viewing zones,” roughly within 1-mile proximity.
Learn More About Viewing Stations »
Learn More About Elk in Virginia
Elk are a native part of the Virginia wildlife community. Lack of regulations and over-hunting led to the last elk in Virginia being harvested in 1855. A restoration effort in the early 1900s eventually failed again in 1970. Elk are now found throughout an Elk Management Zone comprised of Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties.
Elk Cam Made Possible by Generous Support From
The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program, a partnership between DWR and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia to connect youth to the outdoors, is proud to support this connection to our elk herd!