11/16/11 Pattern Shift -- Elk Herd Locations

As I predicted, a herd did show up in the Ponca fields this AM. Pretty Boy and his harem returned after a brief stay up the bluff to the west. This morning they put on a nice show. There were also 5 satellite bulls hanging around the edges hoping for a wayward cow to join them.

The herd behind the mill pond continues to be very reliable -- easily the most reliable herd over the last week or so. I do expect them to move into the field adjacent to the south. When they do, there will be much better viewing for this particular herd.

On the south end, the Beast and his harem were out early AM, but gone quite early too, just after 7AM. No doubt we have a nocturnal grazing pattern with this herd. This weeks much cooler weather, beginning Monday night, should make a big difference in the quality of elk viewing there as the week goes on.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I saw a bald eagle flying over the field at the south end. The unmistakable brilliant white head and tail was a treat. It is early for the annual migration, but we do have some eagles that live here all year.

Fall color continues to advance. It is great to have some color show up in elk photos. This is clearly not peak color, but it is the color I prefer. To me fall color is like makeup, it should add dimensionality to a photo but in my compositions it is not really the point of the photo. The point is always the power of the composition and color is only one part of that. The photo is the whole package.

10/15/11 Elk Herd Locations & Looking Ahead

Despite cooler weather, elk were leaving the fields this morning at 7:30AM. For the last few days we have had brilliant nights under bright moonlight and sometimes this seems to stimulate a strong nocturnal feeding pattern that can shorten the morning viewing. The advice I have given repeatedly to get to the valley at daybreak for morning viewing could not have been more true today. At least at the south end, those coming even at 7:30AM might think the elk were never there.

The Boxley Beast has returned to the south field. Probably he has been working a few fields from there south with his harem. Earlier in the month he disappeared for a couple of days into the upper wilderness. This absence was much the same pattern.

A second herd behind the Mill Pond has been there for a few days. There are also some satellite bulls just south of this herd that are in the 43/21 field along the cane line. Unless you have a long lens or a spotting scope, these animals are a little far away to enjoy.

Mid-valley a good sized herd was out this morning. I expect this herd to be moving north. This is just a hunch based on the movement of cattle grazing nearby. A pretty good crowd enjoyed these animals this morning.

Be sure to check the entire Boxley Valley when you visit. The north fields closest to Ponca, extending from the Ponca Access to the first field south of the observation pullout are all now vacant. My point is that elk respond to these opportunities, and these fields are now primed for a herd or two. I predict one will pop in anytime. There is room for more.

Looking Ahead to Next Week
Monday night cool weather returns, and with it, prime elk viewing will probably return. From Tuesday through next weekend the highs will be in the 60's. That is prime elk viewing weather, it doesn't get better than that. Look for steamy-breathed bugling, and steadily improving fall color. A great time to be in the Buffalo National River region. Peak fall color is just about here. Be here now.

Elk Returning -- 10/14/11 Herd Location Map & Report

This morning I found the Boxley Beast and his harem in the field just south of Smith Creek. My conversation with visitors from Missouri indicated that he and this harem were just north of Smith Creek last evening. The really good news is that they are rotating back north, presumably in search of more food.

Otherwise, Boxley Valley is largely unchanged. There is a herd behind the mill pond, and straggler elk elsewhere in the mid-valley area. These herds will become more visible because there is simply not enough forage to stay in one place for an extended period of time.

The Ponca fields were vacant this morning. I thought it was possible that the herd would be back. I am certain they are up the hill from those fields and they will return soon.

What about this weekend?  My guess is that the viewing will be good, and depending on how the elk move, it might be very good. If you are on the edge of coming, check out my blog entry tomorrow morning for an update. If you are coming, or if you are already here, the viewing action is at the south end of valley from the trail head to about a half-mile north.

10/13/11 Elk Herd Locations & Update

The elk herd pattern remains about the same. I did hear bugling up on the north end of Boxley Valley near Ponca. I suspect it signals that a herd was on the move back to Ponca fields, but only time will tell. 

It has been a few days since we have had a normal elk show in the Boxley Valley. Does this mean the rut is over? Absolutely not, this is just a mid-rut pattern of elk movement out of the valley and it is nothing to be concerned about. It is now a few days that the herds have been away. Past experience would indicate that the elk herds will be back any day now. 

These field patterns turn around very fast. The rain of the last two nights coupled with the cooler weather should be more than enough to cause the elk to move. If you will recall, the movement out of the fields was due to unseasonably warm weather -- that warm weather pattern has now changed. 

We are now at most only half way through the rut. Things will start to taper off at the end of October, but very good elk viewing continues until the holidays. I filmed a real elk fight November 9th a few years back. Some bull elk will be "running" cows until the first of the year. 

Don't be discouraged. This will change any day now and the big show will continue. There is not a chance that the rut is over. I will continue to report on elk viewing every morning. 

10/12/11 Elk Herd Locations -- Rain

Elk viewing remains below normal. Only two herds and they are back from the road and not very large. There is one herd in the mid-valley area, and a second larger herd behind the mill pond. Otherwise, there are not even very many stragglers.

Elk Watchers in the Middle Boxley Valley Area

Today's rain should stimulate some change. I believe the herds have moved out of the fields primarily because of reduced forage. We have had enough rain to stimulate grass growth. Equally important, the rain signals cooler weather for at least a few days, with a prediction for a couple of nights with temperatures dipping into the 40's. That could move more herds back into the valley. Only time will tell.

I will be monitoring elk conditions each day. I expect a turnaround soon because we are significantly below the multi-year norm right now.

A week from Saturday begins muzzle loader season for deer -- often this drives the elk out of the wooded areas back to the valley. We will see if this pattern holds up.

10/11/11 Elk Herd Location Map -- 4AM Report

I saw only one herd this morning in my survey. Today I had to get out very early, 4AM, due to other demands on my time. I know from many years of elk watching, that super early you will see animals along the roads grazing under the cover of darkness. They will generally be in the same fields after sunrise.

There is a herd in the mid-valley quite early, and there is a second behind the Mill Pond. Stragglers elsewhere. There is still pretty heavy fog in the early morning.

It is not unusual to have a pause like this during the rut. It always amazes me how great viewing can change overnight to slim pickings and vice versa.

I would not rule out seeing elk in the south field by Smith Creek or elsewhere -- they are just not there this morning. They do move around a lot looking for food, perhaps more so this year because of our drought conditions. These conditions would tend to put them along the roads because those areas have low grazing pressure at most times. Under the full moon, often they feed nocturnally so this can reduce viewing opportunities.

10/10/11 No Herds Today (mostly)

Sometimes the earth swallows up the elk in Boxley Valley, today was one such day. In my travel from Ponca to the Upper Wilderness Trailhead I only saw one herd, and it was moving south of the trailhead along the river into the Upper Buffalo Wilderness.

Otherwise it was only stragglers, the largest group of them were behind the Mill Pond. If you must come down to the valley this evening, I think your best chance to see elk would be around the 43/21 intersection fields. Next would be the field north of Smith Creek. I believe the herd is behind there up in a back field hollow.  There were a couple of stragglers in the field this morning. No ground fog, and no elk more or less.

As I predicted, the herd that was in the Ponca field so late in the morning was trying to move across 43 and apparently it did.

If I had to put my finger on what is going on it would be the warm weather, and the fact that this year's drought has impacted the forage. Elk movements have been different this year than in past years.

The good news is that this happened on Monday. The herds will continue to move around so we will probably have some back in the viewing areas by the weekend. They are no doubt nearby. Most of the haying activity should be completed by then. If you were planning to come tonight, I think there will not be very many elk to see. I would wait.

I will continue to keep everyone posted on the status of herds (or no herds) in Boxley Valley.