WI Elk Numbers Trend Up News | May 23, 2023 | 0 | by Morgan McCarthy Wisconsin’s DNR says the state’s elk population continues to grow. Wildlife managers say the elk herd in the state should top 500 by this summer. Wisconsin re-introduced elk to the state back in 1995 with 25 elk. Wisconsin added 150 more in 2014, and the numbers have only grown since then. The DNR says the population is healthy enough to sustain an elk hunting season that began back in 2018.