In this article, we highlight three important topics seldom examined in modern management of elk populations: the deep history of elk in the NGB, how Indigenous peoples interacted with them, and how human-herbivore interactions changed with Euro-American incursion. We first discuss the archaeology and historical ecology of elk in the NGB and report new radiocarbon dates on archaeological specimens. We then highlight topics for future research, including how scholars and practitioners might work toward creating deeper understandings of the historical ecology of elk to inform future management. We conclude that the archaeological record demonstrates Indigenous peoples have always coexisted with, harvested, and probably stewarded elk in the NGB — attesting to sustainable traditional practices. Such stewardship was not practiced by Euro-Americans after their incursions in the nineteenth century. We argue that progress will be best accomplished through collaborative projects using a historical ecological approach and hope our ideas will help begin the conversations needed to achieve a better understanding of elk stewardship and related complex ecosystems in the NGB.