10/19/20 Elk Remain in the North End of Boxley Valley

Elk viewing was not good this morning in the heavy fog. The best prospects for viewing remain in the Ponca Fields, espeiially closest to the Ponca Access. Evenings will be best for photographers. It will take a couple of days for the elk to re-establish normal movements since the cattle entered the Ponca fields. Until then things remain pretty unpredictable. Fall color is a couple of weeks off to peak, if it can be predicted. This is the sweetspot of the year for hikers and horsemen due to moderate temperatures for as far out as it forecast. The trail-heads are very busy now.

10/18/14 Elk in Ponca Field Closest to the Ponca Access

Cattle grazing in north Boxley Valley have pushed the elk herd to the very north end of the valley closest to the Ponca Access. Heavy fog this morning made viewing difficult. They are bedding down on the north end and should return to the same field tonight. Until the cattle move, this will likely be their location.

Cows moved to Ponca Fields, Elk Will Move

Grazing cattle are now in the Ponca Fields, so the elk herd will move elsewhere. Possible destinations could be the northernmost Ponca field, and possibly Lost Valley fields, or some other place up river. Steel Creek could be in play. I will have a look tomorrow morning and report back. Elk hate cattle, this will change their pattern.

Elk Viewing Good in the Morning by Ponca before 10AM

Cold weather and no rain has the elk moving again. I think elk viewing will be good tomorrow morning until about 10AM in the Ponca Fields. There was evidence this afternoon that the elk were holed up behind the Bible Camp. They probably moved down this evening, or will tonight.

Bugling begins in Boxley Valley's 2014 elk rut

This morning the herd bull down by Smith Creek began bugling in response to a shag bull that was hanging around. I am sure this has been going on for a few days.  Boxley Valley had about 70 elk between 2 herds and a few stragglers. Be on the lookout for roadside animals in the south valley area.

September 2014 Elk Location Map

groups.  Viewing was good early, and later the herds bedded down in the fields in overcast, cool weather. The peak of the rut is ahead. Usually the biggest bulls arrive around October 1 as more cow elk go into heat.

12/25/13 Elk Herd Locations in Boxley Valley

There were 2 small bull herds and 1 small cow herd in Boxley Valley this Christmas morning.  All together there were maybe 30 elk in 3 locations. 

Merry Christmas everyone and best wishes for 2014. 

12/18/13 Elk Viewing Good, Bulls Close to 43

After a 2 week break due to snowy road conditions, this map reports December herd locations resuming on the 18th.  My guess is that these locations have been pretty good for the last week.

This morning some pretty nice bulls were close to the road at the 43/21 intersection. Got some pics, will post them today or tomorrow.

12/4/13 Ice Storm Coming -- No Elk This Morning

Wild animals will let you know when something is up. For 2 days now the elk have been holed up in the woods. Now we know why.

Driving conditions could prevent me from checking the herd tomorrow morning and maybe for a couple of days. It is not clear exactly when things will be getting bad Thursday, but if the forecast is only half correct this will be a tough storm.

On the mountain tops we really get hammered with ice storms. In 2009 we were without power for 8 days as I recall. Our 21 acres is only now recovering from that ice storm. Yesterday I bought 50# of sunflower seeds. The birds will need it for sure if the forecast holds.

I will be writing something for sure one way or another so check back.

2009 Ice Storm, Beautiful But Scary

2009 Ice at Sunrise

12/3/13 No Elk This AM

I did 2 tours of the valley this morning and there were no elk to be seen. This included a trip to Steel Creek. I did see some deer there. Today the animals seemed hunkered down.

12/01/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

December is getting off to a good start with an elk herd returning to the Ponca Access field. There was a pretty good crowd this morning, maybe 20 cars that got a good look at this herd for the couple of hours I was down there. Lots of bugling for this late in the season. This herd is still in the rut pattern.

Elsewhere in the valley there were some stray bulls.

11/29/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

Elk viewing was good this morning in the north end of Boxley Valley.  Many cars observed the herd near the Ponca Access.  Down the valley there were stray bulls but nothing much else to report.

Absolutely great hiking weather. The trailheads are loaded with the cars of hikers and some deer hunters at the end of modern gun season.  Orange up if you hike.

11/27/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report -- Elk Viewing Very Good

After a few day break due to pretty lousy weather, the elk were out today in force. I saw 4 herds this morning, 2 herds still in a rutting pattern, an all cow herd, and an all bull herd.  The elk are concentrated in the south end from just north of the mill pond to the Smith Creek field.

I expect this pattern to hold for a few days.

11/22/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

There were quite a few bulls scattered around this morning, but I did not see one elk herd. Elk are very reliable weather forecasters. My guess is that after tonight's miserable weather clears out, conditions are excellent well past Thanksgiving, though much cooler.

Only the elk know for sure.

11/20/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

Nothing to report this morning. No elk herds, and I only saw one elk the length of Boxley Valley. Gun season is still on and things are dynamic. Possible rain tonight and tomorrow could change things. This weekend's weather is predicted to be quite cold and sunny. This could change the viewing significantly.

11/19/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

The biggest bull herd in the valley showed up this morning, and there were no other herds. It is headed by Godzilla. Some of the past herd bulls are now satellites, and they seem headed to create an all-bull herd. There was pretty good bugling for November.

Whitetail deer are still running everywhere. If you visit, be alert for them.

11/14/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

The elk herds took a day off today, at least this morning. In contrast there were quite a few bulls at the roadside in the middle valley. These viewing conditions will turn on a dime so if you visit make sure you look at the whole valley.

11/13/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

A pretty good morning today for elk watching and photography. With the colder weather there were few photographers and watchers.  The best shooting and viewing was early when the elk were closer to the fence.  JYD put on a pretty good show romping around close to the fence.

Good landscape weather too. Water-based compositions now have morning fog as an element. There are still plenty of colored leaves as well.

11/9/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report -- Rifle Season Begins

Elk headed for cover early today roughly about 8 AM. The herd locations are pretty stable, pretty much tracking like yesterday. The movements out of the fields are pretty similar too.

Orange up if you hike -- modern rifle season opened today. Whitetail deer are running everywhere now as a result of modern rifle season.  Be very careful driving too. This morning I had 2 different close calls that would have been certain accidents were I not driving relatively slowly -- 40 mph vs. 55. There was a deer fatality in Boxley Valley this morning.

Sometimes deer hunting season drives elk herds into the fields. I would definitely survey the whole valley when you visit because things will be pretty dynamic for a couple of weeks.

11/7/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report -- Elk Return After Rains

Elk viewing was pretty good this morning, especially for those who arrived early. Viewing was pretty much done by the time sunlight hit the fields, so it is important to arrive as early as you can, ideally around 7AM, CDT or earlier.

The action has shifted to the south end now with a small herd at the 43/21 intersection, and a large herd with a huge bull with satellites in the south end of the valley by the Upper Wilderness Trailhead. This second herd has a couple of big satellite bulls as well as over 30 cows. Viewing was good last night according to a reliable report

Be sure to check the whole valley. The Ponce field could come alive with the weather change.

11/5/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

The valley was pretty quiet this morning largely due to weather. As I write this we are in a changing weather pattern transitioning from rainy weather to cool, clear weather on Wednesday.  In these conditions elk seem to move around a lot.

This morning there was a small herd at the 43/21 intersection and a handful of bulls were elsewhere. There are 3 active areas in the valley now and I recommend checking the whole valley when you visit. Viewing conditions are changing all the time now until we get into more of a settled weather pattern. Viewing times should lengthen with the predicted much cooler weather.