St. Helen's elk are in trouble. There is too many for the habitat. Wolves would help put the herd in balance with the range.

A lot of range managers believe that Yellowstone was being overgrazed/ovebrowsed by elk pre-wolves. They are seeing a real change in the range, with many other resources benefitting (fish, pronghorn).

As to the "lack" of elk availble to hunters in the GYE what I saw when there last year, and read, is that the elk have changed their behavior. Being out in the open all day is not a good idea. They are in smaller herds, in the woods. This was where and how we saw them.

It means that hunting them has become much harder. There are fewer, and they are hiding. It just takes more work to get them.