You see these animals in the wild or maybe at the zoo...but we are going to show you where elk are being raised on a farm in North Dakota.

Tonight Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin takes us to an elk ranch near Turtle Lake where calving season is underway.

"On a rainy, wet morning this little one is still trying to find his legs.

(Jim Kraft / Elk Rancher) It's fascinating. I look out my back window and see the elk herd and the babies running around. I have little mounds out there and they just play king on the hill and tag. They are just like little children."

13 years ago Jim Kraft started his diversified ag project.  Now Casper Elk Ranch is the home to 30 cows.  June is  a fun time of year - calving season.

(Jim Kraft / Elk Rancher) "One thing, you don't see short ears on elk calves because they are born this time of the year when the grass is fresh and full of nutrition."

Kraft says the 1st baby came at the end of May.

In 13 years of raising elk, Kraft says he has only helped 2 cows have their babies.

(Sarah Gustin / KX News) "Kraft says calving problems typically aren't a concern. Each baby only weighs about 30 or 35 pounds."

They are amazing animals to watch and admire and they're money makers.

Kraft says if you can raise cows you can raise elk - but on fewer acres.

He says three elk eat the same amount of feed as one beef cow.

(Jim Kraft / Elk Rancher) "There again it is kinda like the beef industry. You hope for the males, they are what is generating the income right now, but obviously you need the females to produce the males and you gotta increase your herd. Each year your genetics get a little bit better. I have done some AI programs with them and increased my genetics that way too."

Kraft says a full-grown female weighs about 500 pounds.

The bulls weigh between 900 and 1,000 pounds.

(Jim Kraft / Elk Rancher) "I have sold reproducing females. Sold shooter bulls to a hunt ranch down in Utah and I guess I delivered some down there, the whole aspect of it is just fascinating."

Kraft says you can sell the sheds for about 10 dollars a pound.

Or make knick knacks like knives, toothpick holders, and jewelry.

In North of Turtle Lake for KX News I am Sarah Gustin.



Kraft says a female is worth about 500 dollars.



He says shooter bulls can range in price from three to ten thousand dollars. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list