Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to control network element management traffic are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to process an element management system (EMS) query message includes a receiver to receive the EMS query message from a managed network element, the EMS query message being redirected from an EMS server, a responder to select a pre-determined response to the EMS query message and discard EMS information contained in the EMS query message, wherein the pre-determined response is to delay the managed network element from resending the EMS query message to the EMS server for a time period, and a transmitter to send the pre-determined response to the managed network element.