10/15/14 After Storms, Elk Returning to more normal Pattern

This morning the elk were in the Ponca Fields. Last night a good sized herd bedded down near the access road to the Ponca Access. I saw them about 7AM when I went through the area. If you like to float we now have a rare fall opportunity in the upper river, contact one of the outfitters listed at buffaloriverchamber.com for more information. Elk viewing in the Ponca Fields should be good all weekend. There are 2 bulls with that herd, they are close in size so they could fight anytime. The weather is ideal, after a couple of warmer days temperatures are turning down to the 60's beginning Sunday through Friday the 24th. 

This weekend the 17th and 18th  from 10AM to 4:30 each day is theColor Fest at the Ponca Elk Education Center. After taking a year off, I am doing a free photography workshop at 2PM both days. Please call the Center to reserve your seat. See the flyer below. The timing for Color Fest is ideal, 10AM is about the time that elk viewing ends most days. 870-861-2432. 

October is kicking off with great elk viewing this year. There are 2 rutting herds in Boxley Valley, one on each end of the valley. Both herds have extra bulls hanging around so there is a lot of bugling. In both locations, there is the possibility of a bull fight. See the map below for the locations as noted by the dates. Tonight and tomorrow the weather is predicted to turn colder. The low Friday night will be 39 degrees or less. This cold snap should really kick the rut into another gear. This weekend viewing should be very good. 

9/28/14 Elk Herd Map

Tonight there were 2 good herds in the valley and a nice crowd. They were at opposite ends of the valley. Godzilla had his harem out tonight in the south end. At the other end of the valley a bigger cow herd was in the Ponca Fields.  I would say the Ponca Fields will be where the next bull fight will take place. That bull is kind of small. I saw quite a few bulls headed to the north end of the valley.  A couple of them were quite large and right on time. The only question about the fights is will they be in the daytime. Elk do fight at night and in very low light. 

12/31/13 Elk Herd Locations -- Otter in Mill Pond

Elk end the year in remote locations.  The bull herd that has been about a half mile north of the mill pond was visible today, but back against the cane line.

In the deep south end, the herd has shifted to the southernmost field south of the trail head. They have been moving around from the Smith Creek field, so I would expect they might be back there in a day or two.

The big news this morning was 3 feeding in the mill pond. I am pretty sure this is the juvenile group I photographed earlier in the year. This was about 8:30 AM if you are trying to get some otter shots, though otter are never very predicable.

There is also a bald eagle hunting the mill pond. This morning he was there for over 40 minutes rotating between different perch locations. All of them were close to the road.

10/28/13 Elk Herd Location Map & Report

There were 2 herds in the Ponca fields this morning, and a 3rd small one in the south end by the Upper Wilderness Trailhead. Lots of bugling. I thought a fight might happen but it did not. The table is set for one, and it should be a few days. Lots of energy.  The more active herd was jammed right into the cane line on the north end, and they did head to the river for a few shots for the photographers present.

The small herd on the south end is very different and kind of placid. Still, if you have not seen elk, they were quite visible and perfect for elk watching.

9/27/13 Elk Herd Locations

Elk herd locations are pretty stable, but more bulls are showing up every day.  The biggest herd is near the Ponca Access. That bull was skittish this morning and patrolling the cane line anticipating another bull.  There was a second herd down by 43/21 and a 3rd down by Cave Mountain Road.

Lots of elk watchers today including out of state people.  This year Estes Park was trashed by floods that have wiped out many roads.  Ponca and Boxley Valley are a great alternative to Estes Park and for many Estes Park fans much closer and lodging is very affordable here.  For information on lodging choices and prices, there is no better source than the Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce site a http://buffaloriverchamber.com.

9/25/13 Elk Herd Location Map

2 herds in the valley this morning.  The viewing pattern is pretty stable on opposite ends of the valley. There are at least 2 additional herds hanging around.

The new herd bull "Little Fork" showed up in the south end by the Buffalo River.

9/24/13 Elk Herd Location Map

Elk viewing remains very good with 3 herds in Boxley Valley from end to end.  See map below.  

New bulls are now arriving every day, signalling that we are steadily notching up in the rut.  There are also stragglers and maveric bulls here and there.  Things are very dynamic now and the pace of change is picking up. 

If you plan to visit, the next week or so is when the action really ramps up. I reviewed my records and bull fights are most common from now through the 2nd week of October.  Nobody can guarantee you will see a bull fight, but your percentages are the best during this period.  

9/22/13 Elk Herd Map -- First Reported Fight AM

Elk viewing was about as good as it gets this morning with 3 herds in Boxley Valley.  2 were down at the south end on opposite sides of the Buffalo River, fairly close together.  The 2 herd bulls, JYD and Hooks are likely to fight unless they space themselves some.  I would favor JYD in that fight, he is bigger and he is one of older herd bulls. Hooks is a relative newcomer as a herd bull, too small last year, not likely to survive the first round of fights, but we shall see.

There is a pretty large herd just north of the pullout.  There appeared to be 2 pretty good sized bulls with this one herd.  They spilled over into the pullout field.  Could be a fight there anytime as well.

First fight reported this morning at daybreak in the field just north of Smith Creek.  According to the observer, it was 2 5x5's hanging around JYD's harem.  Good news.

The big dance is beginning.  If you have traditionally gone to Estes Park, floods have wiped it out this year.  Time to try Arkansas.  We have arguably got the best elk viewing and photography in our multi-state region.  We are nearby and our lodging is cheap.  Visit http://buffaloriverchamber.com for area information and places to stay.  Buffalo National River is the best kept secret in the US.

9/21/13 Elk Return to Boxley Valley -- 4 Herds Today

Elk viewing covered the entire Boxley Valley this morning.  There were easily over 50 cars of wildlife watchers and photographers across the 4 locations in large print below.

The two best locations with the largest herds and bulls was just north of the Buffalo River in the south end of the valley, and just north of the elk pullout in the north end of the valley.

Remember the Ozark Mountain Artists Tour is this weekend. It complements the wildlife viewing. Go to ozarkmountainartists.com for more information and a printable PDF map.

9/20/13 Elk Herd Location Map

After a couple of day absence, the elk started emerging again today after last night's rain storms.  Probably the best viewing location is down by Cave Mountain Road, but the situation is very dynamic.  This is a different herd bull.

Elk love rain and cool temperatures.  These conditions should extend viewing times a lot during the next few days. The rut is revving up now as more cow elk become estrous.

Remember the Ozark Mountain Artists Tour begins today and runs all weekend.

9/19/13 No Visible Herds This Morning

Sadly, as I suspected there were no elk herds visible in Boxley Valley this morning.  There was the odd elk here and there, but clearly the elk headed for cover yesterday as it seemed.  That is the bad news.

Here is the good news.  After today we head into a cool weather pattern with 70 degree temps predicted for the weekend, with lows in one case of 48.  That will jump start the rut and it marks a return to close to seasonally normal temps.

Adding to the good news is the overdue mowing of Boxley Valley roadsides. Tall grass has blocked elk viewing in many cases, not to mention the chiggers.

My guess is that the weekend viewing will be good.  I will be checking and reporting tomorrow morning. Friday has predictions of thunderstorms that will clear out by Saturday.  Both Saturday and Sunday will have highs in the low 70's and lows in the upper 40's.

9/18/13 Heading for Cover

Sometimes you can predict the weather by the movement of the elk herds. Today might have been such a day.

I got down to Boxley Valley this morning just in time to see both valley herds travelling to the back fields (well out of viewing).  This could mean they are gone for just today or perhaps for a few days. Rain is predicted for Friday with an accumulation of .4 inches or so.

Anyway, I am not publishing a map today because it would be misleading.  Had I not got to Boxley Valley before 8AM, I would not have seen anything except stragglers.  For now at least, the two herd bulls and their harems are out of sight.

I will be checking again tomorrow AM.

9/15/13 Elk Herd Locations -- Big Bull in South Valley Area

Elk are at the opposite ends of Boxley Valley now.   A small herd is near the Ponca Access, and a good sized herd is down by Cave Mountain Road at the south end.  The herd at the south end has a nice 7x7 bull.

9/14/13 Elk Herd Locations

2 elk herds in Boxley Valley today. The big one was in the south end just north of the Buffalo River.  That herd included JYD, this year he is a 7x7 and is an early entry to the elk rut.  Many viewers and photographers were present from all over the state to take pictures.

Viewers were treated to occasional bugling.

9/13/13 Elk Herd Map & Weekend Outlook

Elk viewing was not very good this morning.  Despite cooler temperatures, the elk herds remain dug in close to the river or in the back woodlands.  One herd was visible this morning down by Smith Creek.

This welcome break from the heat will change elk viewing patterns over the next few days, possibly by Saturday or Sunday.  Only the elk know for sure.  I did hear some bugling this morning, but not as much as earlier in the week.

9/12/13 Elk Herd Locations & Weekend Outlook

This heat wave will finally break tonight, and cool weather is predicted for the weekend. The cold should change elk viewing for the better. Currently the herds are dug into the woods to escape the heat.  One herd has been visible in the Ponca area.

The 2013 Elk Rut Is Underway

September 9 elk herd positions below. The two current herds both have herd bulls. 

Friends the 2013 elk rut has officially arrived and the bugling has begun. Bugling will increase as more cows come into estrous. Peak bugling is a way off still. 

Expect the bull elk fights to begin anytime.  My guess is that bull elk fights are a week away and the majority will be in the following weeks. 

In my many years of following the rut, the most violent fighting is in the early period when the pecking order is being first established.  Roughly that would be from the 2nd week of September through the 1st week of October. This is your official heads-up.  The "big dawgs" arrive around October 1 as a rule. 

Elk Herd Location Map 9/4/13

A herd popped up in the mid valley area. Otherwise all the action is in the south end of the valley around the river and points south.  For today at least the 7x7 was not visible, but he will be back checking.

All the pre-rut behaviors are in place. Less than 2 weeks to the rut now.

9/3/13 Elk Herd Locations in Boxley Valley

Elk have shifted to the south end of Boxley Valley probably concentrated by haying in much of the north end of the valley.  I would expect this pattern to hold for at least a few days. 

As mentioned in my prior entry, there is a nice 7x7 running cows in the south end. He is a the second bull this year showing rut behavior. 

Elk Herd Locations in Boxley Valley 9/3/13