I remember when they introduced the first 40 member Elk herd up in Maggie Valley somewhere around 2001 or 2002. My sister and BIL were living in Waynesville. They drove over and saw them one time. I don’t know what the size of the herd is now.
http://www.buffaloriver.com/elk-watching/
They introduced these in Arkansas some years ago and now the valley is full of them.
Not far from my cousins house so when I go to visit him we always go see the elk.
Just like week access to Great Smokies National Park via US 441 and the Blue Ridge Parkway was blocked for a couple of hours by a large herd of elk. My wife and I sat in our car at the beginning of the Parkway and got PLENTY of pictures. They were coming right up to cars trolling for snacks.