Jackson Hole Migration
Elk
Awesome video, amazing how the bulls are lighter and are easily picked out, even the spikes.
Wow. No monsters that I see though.
Hope some hunters for that area are on watch perched up on the hills waiting for the wolves to circle! Great to see size of the herd.
WOW! Great video! A few of those cows were wearing necklaces. Do you get a prize if you catch one of those??
What's the most amazing is the trust they all put in that lead cow to lead them on... What a gal!!
I like the calf that found it's way under the fence
Z- when they get going, they don't stop and crossing roads is of no concern for them
Kinda sad with traffic and all
Robb
Are all bulls lighter in color than the cows, or am I just noticing the ones that stand out?
Deebz- Bulls are generally a lighter color tan than cows. Even as spikes you can notice it.
I was there the other day, Only saw 1 elk on the refuge, bull all by himself. The cows were leaving the refuge before daylight to avoid the hunters. You could see them bedded high up to the east. Bullelk were you there taking pics of Moose last friday morning? I noticed 2 collared cows in the herd in the video
I just read the story of how the refuge began. Rancher named LEAK. In 1910 they said the dead elk that starved were so many you could walk across them for 8 miles and not touch the ground, People were feeding them straw from their beds trying to keep the alive. Only saved about 100. Now that they have stopped feeding them I wonder what is going to happen
Welka can you imagine the wolves licking their lips! All you can eat buffet.
"Now that they have stopped feeding them I wonder what is going to happen"
Doug - Curious, when did they stop feeding them, I thought that was a daily event (or used to be) with trailers heaped with alfalfa and crowds watching from the sidelines?
BULELK1 - Yeah... Don't know the stats, but one would think a bunch get road killed... Seen a dashboard video not long ago (maybe it was last year) where a semi (or maybe it was a train) plowed through a herd of migrating pronghorns and killed like 18 or 19 in one pass...
Doug/Saphead, yes that be me.
I have a thread on here Ho-Ho that has plenty of pix.
Good luck, Robb
“Seen a dashboard video not long ago (maybe it was last year) where a semi (or maybe it was a train) plowed through a herd of migrating pronghorns and killed like 18 or 19 in one pass...”
Maybe it was a different clip, but there was video of a freight train plowing through a herd of Pronghorn…. They kept running straight down the track, counting on their speed and endurance…. and the train was faster. Snow was piled high to either side, and the goats had nowhere to go to get out of the way….
And freight trains don’t stop. They just can’t.
Zbone, I don't think they have stopped the feeding program but they have modified it to where they keep the elk spread for longer and are now waiting until it is more necessary to feed. When they decide to stop the program there will be a plethora of problems. I understand the concerns with CWD, but can you imagine what would happen in Jackson if both the elk bison and moose all migrate through? If you end the feeding program than you will end up needing to reestablish old migration routes and access through the valley for the elk. The amount of road kill will increase a ton, and property issues will go through the roof. Then the optics of piles of starving elk that get stuck and get past town. It is a horribly complex situation that does not have an easy solution.
But for now I believe that supplemental feeding will still occur when conditions are met.
That explains why I have a "memory room" with not a lot of so called "trophies" but lots of memories. When I was young enough, never thought it affordable. To be honest I would have never done such a hunt probably even if I had been rich!! I just never wanted to hunt that hard. I offer my congratulations and admiration for these brothers and all others that do it and Mike, I know you are in that company!
Thanks WYOelker, yeah, that is what I was thinking too... To now cut off all supplement feeding after all those years would cause all kind of problems and a bunch of dead elk...
Yeah Corax_latrans, had seen that one with the train, there are a couple with trains, pronghorns, and also deer... After I did 1 youtube search on "pronghorn migration hit" a bunch of videos popped up...
Seems once a building herd of wild migrating ungulates backs up at some kind of barrier (fence, road, river, etc.) whether elk, deer, pronghorn, or African wildebeests,,, once the first one takes the plunge, so to speak, the chain reaction begins and nothing but death or injury is going to stop them... The term "just like sheep" comes to mind...
“ It is a horribly complex situation that does not have an easy solution.”
Yeah, boy!
For those interested in background… I’ve included a link to a book by an avid Elk hunter and former classmate mate of mine who used to run the Refuge…
Now has been over decade since this was televised, so I didn't/don't know if the feeding program is still going on...
Zbone's Link
Here is the latest I could find about the "Step-Down Plan":
"In 2019, the National Elk Refuge (Refuge) finalized a Bison and Elk Step-Down Plan (Step-Down Plan) that authorizes and provides management direction for bison and elk on the Refuge. The Step-Down Plan is set to expire at the end of the 2024. Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is continuing development of the draft Bison and Elk Management Plan (BEMP) and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to guide long-term management of bison and elk on the Refuge. A final BEMP and EIS is expected by the Fall of 2025"
See linky:
https://www.fws.gov/NER-BEMP
So, if I'm reading this correctly, sounds like they are trying to keep stepping down and eventually eliminate the feeding program?
Z I was pretty sure they cut it off a few years ago. But not sure now. Dont have time to read the whole plan. its going to be tough when they do stop altogether. I watched them feeding in 2014. Didnt see any feeding the last 2 times I was there. Maybe its later and less???? Robb I thought that was you. Told my wife I think he's taking pics for bowsite post. I was going to turn around and say hello but she wanted to move on..
I'm pretty sure I remember that migration area. My wife and I lived in Jackson from 1978-1983. That vid was probably filmed ~ 15-20 miles north of Jackson, by Kelly WY. Those elk are probably headed for the National Elk Refuge north of Jackson.
I was by there two or three times through the years all during winter and parked along the viewing areas off HWY89 near the National Museum of Wildlife Art but never got to see them feed them, but boy seen a bunch of elk and bison from those viewing areas...
Had to watch that video again. I think elk are beautifu critters. Reminded me of two years ago when a fellow guide and I watched about 150 elk doing the same coming over the fence right in front of us and really sounding off. just an awesome sight.
Beautiful animals. Wife and I were there in the winter and took a ride near the herd as they were being fed. Makes me wonder why it’s so hard to draw an elk yak in Wy.
