Today there was only 1 rutting herd visible. That one in the Ponca Fields in the north end of Boxley Valley. There was little bugling, that bull is pretty secure at this time with few if any challengers. Elsewhere in the valley there were scattered elk from the Smith Creek field and north. Evening viewing should be pretty good. There were quite a few people in the valley elk watching. 

Safety Issue Alert: visitors should be aware that thick fog has a negative impact on their safety. This morning there were two people dressed in camo standing on the white line at the edge of the road by the 43/21 intersection. I did not see them until I was right next to them. Someone not looking for pedestrians could have clipped one of them.  NEVER assume you are easily seen on the roadsides. Also, if you are driving be very aware pedestrians and be on the lookout for them.

9/23/14 Elk Herd Locations

Danger in Boxley Valley -- Gawkers and Blind Spots

 These pictures are from this morning and illustrate what many of us fear about the way people drive in Boxley Valley.  The photos below were taken moments apart. The passengers in the car on the right are looking at the elk herd on the left as they pull off the road. They don't see the kneeling photographer on the left. He is blocked by the line of cars.  Just moments later they decide to pull over and could have hit the kneeling photographer.  It didn't happen, but I have seen this scenario a few times. There are 2 takeaway points here:

1. Photographers and pedestrians should take care to be visible. Sitting or kneeling creates a blind spot making them more vulnerable. Parents keep your kids close.

As they approached to pull off they double parked briefly

2. Drivers should not gawk at elk and drive. This "distracted driving" in area with many elk viewers when combined with "distracted parking" is very dangerous. 

These drivers are still looking at elk while pulling off

I have seen families with small children on the loose in the pull off zones. Kids are hard to see anyway and are unpredictable. It is essential for drivers to stay focused on driving and only look at the elk after they park. Driving in these areas is more dangerous than driving in a neighborhood. Speeding is a terrible idea in these areas.  I would say 25 MPH tops in areas of elk viewers. You don't want to be the person who runs over a pedestrian.

Roadside Bulls More Common Now -- Drive Carefully

Small roadside bulls like this one are feeding on the roadsides, and sometimes on the banks. Drive slowly in Boxley Valley. They are spooked now by the gun shots in deer season.

I shot this little guy at about 10 yards right out my car window. He seems pretty small compared to the full sized herd bulls, but he is still 5-600 pounds. Nothing you want to hit with a car or truck.

Small Bull Elk on Roadside 43/21 Intersection

Speed Kills

It is important to remind everyone that this time of year visitors to Boxley Valley should keep their speed down to 45 mph or below.

During the rut elk are not quite right. Hormones have a lot to do with it. They seem more agitated and more likely to run in front of a car.

This morning there was a close call. Elk were attempting to cross the road to get to their bedding area. They ran along a fence while being followed by elk watchers.  All of them jumped the fence quickly. An oncoming truck had to be flagged down to slow down or he surely would have nailed the bull trailing the harem.  See picture below:

Close Calls Ultimately Become Accidents -- Drive Carefully

In the fog, I don't like the odds of this kind of driving behavior.  There are people and kids around, and they are looking at elk, not traffic.  Drivers in Boxley Valley need to do their part to drive slowly and safely in the elk rut season.  A woman witnessed this and said to me "You know if I killed that elk or killed a person I would never get over it -- it would ruin my life". Exactly. Going slower costs 40 seconds a mile for 6 miles.  That is not too much to ask.

Important Benefit Concert Friday Night at Arkansas House in Jasper

Kids Injured While Playing on Rocks
Could Require Immediate Help

Friday night, October 21st at 7PM, the Arkansas House will host a benefit concert to support continued pay phone service at Steel Creek and Kyles Landing. Maintaining these pay phones has been identified as a priority safety issue by the Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce.

The pay phones were recently defunded by the National Park Service as it has attempted to cope with deep federal funding cuts. The Chamber is working to preserve these essential communication links for visitor safety through other means of financial support.

These pay phones are essential to visitor safety. Both Steel Creek and Kyles Landing are cell phone dead zones. Both are popular destinations for floaters, hikers, horsemen and campers. Without these pay phones, park visitors could not report emergencies to rescue teams in a timely manner because there is no cell service to these areas.

Each year Arkansas House does a benefit concert and designates 50% of the proceeds to a local charity. This year Arkansas House chose this worthy Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce safety initiative.

A Fall Can Lead to Life Threatening
Injuries in the BNR Near Steel Creek

Tickets for the benefit concert are $10 and may be purchased in advance at the Boardwalk Cafe, or on the day of the event. Arkansas House is located just north of the square in Jasper, AR. For more information call them at 870-446-5900. For directions and more information about Arkansas House, visit their website at http://arkansashouse.net.

Please come to the concert and support this important project.

10/7/11 Herd Map Update & Report

The herd locations are pretty much the same as they have been. There is a herd in the Ponca fields, along with stragglers around the edges of it. The Boxley Beast continues to occupy the field near Smith Creek.

Last night a small herd was also located in the field across from the 43/21 intersection. I don't show it on the map because it was not there this morning. I do expect a herd to locate in that field, but there is haying underway and it probably won't happen until the bales are removed.

This promises to be another great weekend for elk viewing. We are in the thick of the rut and elk are moving around a lot.

Last Sundays elk fatality reflects the movement of satellite bulls. Expect to see bulls anywhere when you drive Boxley Valley. They do graze along the roadsides and could bolt in front of you, especially if you are speeding. Remember to drive slowly and be observant. I recommend no more than 45 mph, but I often drive only 25. It is not worth the risk to go faster.

Elk Death on 21

Photo by Dan Davis

Nobody seems to get serious about driving slowly until the worst happens. This morning a bull elk was hit on HWY 21 near the old steam mill. It was very sad to see him laying on the side of the road, apparently with a broken neck, still breathing.

Remember that elk during the rut are skittish and amorous bulls wander in a state of distraction. Too often elk watchers are not much better.

There is not much to say that I have not said. There is never a time when it is safe to drive fast in Boxley Valley. The density of all wildlife is high, it is not just an elk thing. During the elk rut, conditions are more dangerous. There are plenty of deer, wild turkey, woodchucks, rabbit, skunks, coon and trumpeter swans. I have seen them all standing in the road, sometimes because some well meaning, but ignorant person has fed them or tamed them.

Another Fatality Along 43

If I could, I would reduce the speed limit in Boxley Valley to 45MPH. That is the fastest speed I recommend for safety. Faster than that, and your chance of hitting animals goes up dramatically because your braking distances go up dramatically. Highways 43 and 21 (basically the same road) are full of blind corners and dips that would block an animal from your view until too late. Elk or deer grazing in ditches can bolt suddenly in front of your vehicle. Is saving 2 minutes over 6 miles worth killing these animals?

Elk Graze Along 43 & 21

Pragmatically, even if you don't care about the animals, hitting a deer or elk can total your car, and occasionally somebody dies. This for saving 2 minutes. Do the right thing. Relax and enjoy one of the prettiest drives in Arkansas.

Drive carefully and be safe, especially during the elk rut, when elk and elk watchers forget about traffic and wander everywhere.