The Smoky Mountains National Park elk herd now numbers over 150 animals. From the original herd of 25. They're no longer radio-collaring or tagging any newborns after the third batch born in the park. So now there are plenty of elk to see with no collars and no ear tags. This was one of the biggest bulls I've seen in the park. Now they're spreading out and can regularly be seen as far from Cataloochee as downtown Cherokee.