Elk size vs caribou is not a close contest. A bull elk weighs about twice as much as a bull caribou. This guide gives the numbers for weight, height, length and antlers, and shows where moose fit in.
Elk are bigger than caribou. A bull elk weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds. A bull caribou weighs 350 to 400 pounds on average. Elk are the second-largest deer in North America, after the moose.
Elk vs Caribou Size Chart
Trait
Elk
Caribou (reindeer)
Bull weight
600–1,100 lb
350–400 lb (up to ~700 lb for the biggest)
Cow weight
450–600 lb
175–225 lb
Shoulder height
4.5–5 ft
3–4.5 ft
Body length
6.5–9 ft
5–7.5 ft
Calf weight at birth
25–40 lb
10–20 lb
Antlers
Bulls only
Bulls and cows
Elk vs Caribou Weight, Height and Length
Bull Elk vs Bull Caribou Weight
A bull elk usually weighs 700 pounds or more. The biggest Roosevelt bulls can top 1,000 pounds. A bull caribou sits near 350 to 400 pounds. Only a few giant bulls reach 700.
Sources often disagree. Weight changes with season, food and subspecies. Bulls lose a lot of weight during the fall rut. They also look much leaner by late winter.
Cow Elk vs Cow Caribou Size
A cow elk weighs about 450 to 600 pounds. A cow caribou weighs 175 to 225 pounds. That makes a cow elk close to three times heavier.
A cow elk also stands taller. She reaches about 4 feet at the shoulder. A cow caribou stands near 3 feet.
Shoulder Height and Body Length
An adult bull elk stands about 5 feet at the shoulder. That is roughly the shoulder height of a large horse. A bull caribou stands 3.5 to 4.5 feet.
For body length, a bull elk runs about 7 to 9 feet from nose to tail. A bull caribou runs about 5.5 to 7.5 feet. A grown man is about the same height as the elk’s shoulder. He would stand a bit above the shoulder of most caribou.
Calf Size at Birth and Growth
An elk calf is born at about 25 to 40 pounds. A caribou calf weighs about 10 to 20 pounds.
Caribou calves grow fast. They can walk within hours and run within a day. Wolves and bears hunt them in the Arctic, so speed matters.
Only male elk grow antlers. Both male and female caribou do. No other deer species shares this trait.
Antler Length, Weight and Shape
Elk antlers are tall and branching. Each beam sweeps up and back with long tines. A big bull’s rack can weigh up to 40 pounds and span about 4 feet.
Caribou antlers curve forward in a C shape. Many bulls also grow a flat brow tine, called a shovel. It helps them dig through snow for food. Relative to body size, caribou carry the largest antlers of any deer. Big bulls grow beams over 4 feet long.
When Elk and Caribou Shed Antlers
Bull elk drop their antlers in late winter or early spring. That is usually March or April. They start growing a new set right away.
Bull caribou shed after the fall rut, in November or December. Cows often keep theirs until calving season in late spring. This is why Santa’s reindeer would all be female. Bulls are bare by Christmas.
An elk has a long, heavy frame built for mountains and meadows. Its cloven hooves are narrow and firm on soil and rock.
A caribou is compact and thick-coated. Its broad, concave hooves work like snowshoes. They spread weight on snow and also help it swim. Its dense fur even covers the nose.
Elk Subspecies Size
Elk size changes by subspecies. Roosevelt elk of the Pacific Northwest are the heaviest. Rocky Mountain elk are the most common, with bulls averaging about 700 pounds. Tule elk of California are the smallest. Their bulls run about 450 to 700 pounds.
Caribou Subspecies Size
Caribou also vary. Woodland caribou are among the biggest. Barren-ground caribou are mid-sized and form huge herds. Peary caribou of the High Arctic are the smallest, with bulls near 250 pounds or less.
Even the largest caribou subspecies stays well under the average bull elk.
Elk Compared to Other Animals
elk-compared-to-other-animals
Elk vs Moose Size
A bull moose weighs 800 to 1,500 pounds and can reach 1,800. It stands 5 to 6.5 feet at the shoulder. It runs 8 to 10 feet long. A bull elk weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds. It stands about 5 feet tall and runs 7 to 9 feet long. Next to a moose, an elk looks lean and tall-legged.
The moose wins. It is the largest deer on Earth.
Elk vs White-Tailed Deer and Mule Deer Size
A white-tailed buck or mule deer buck weighs about 150 to 300 pounds. It stands 3 to 3.5 feet at the shoulder. It runs 5 to 7 feet long. A bull elk can weigh three to four times as much. It also stands a full foot and a half taller.
The elk wins easily. It is far bigger than any deer you see in a US backyard.
Elk vs Horse Size
A riding horse weighs about 1,000 pounds. It stands 4.5 to 5.5 feet at the withers. It runs 7 to 8 feet long. A bull elk sits in the same range. It is about 5 feet tall and weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds. The horse has a heavier, thicker body. The elk has longer legs and a taller head carriage.
The horse wins slightly on average weight. A big bull elk can match a small horse.
Elk vs Bison Size
An American bison bull weighs 1,000 to 2,000 pounds. It stands 5 to 6 feet at the shoulder. It runs 9 to 12 feet long. Bison are built wide and heavy, with a big hump and a huge head. A bull elk looks slim beside one.
The bison wins. It is the heaviest land animal in North America.
Elk vs Human Size
An average adult man stands about 5.7 feet tall and weighs near 200 pounds. A bull elk reaches that height at the shoulder alone. With its head and antlers up, it can tower over 8 feet. A bull elk can weigh three to five times as much as a man.
Hi, I’m Natalie Collins, the admin at MooseSizes.com. We simplify animal sizes, measurements, and wildlife comparisons with easy-to-follow guides, useful size charts, and accurate information to help you understand animal dimensions with confidence.
