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The National Elk Refuge
On a cold, crisp winter day, visitors and residents in Jackson Hole can bundle up and enjoy a unique wildlife experience -- riding a horse-drawn sleigh to watch thousands of elk wintering on the National Elk Refuge. Through the sleigh rides and programs at the Jackson Hole Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, visitors learn intriguing facts about the life history of the elk and management of the Refuge. The Jackson Elk Herd is one of the outstanding natural resources of this country and comprises the largest, concentrated wintering herd of elk in North America.
Elk once ranged from eastern states through central and western North America. They grazed the open prairies, mountain valleys, and foothills. But as civilization pushed slowly westward, the distribution of these animals was rapidly reduced to the western mountainous regions. By the turn of the century, elk had disappeared from over 90% of their original range in the U.S.
The National Elk Refuge was established to preserve and manage habitat for elk wintering area in the valley and is operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It was created in 1912 as a result of public interest in the survival of the Jackson Elk Herd. The National Elk Refuge is one of over 540 areas within the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is approximately 25,000 acres and is devoted primarily to the preservation of elk winter range. Refuge lands represent about one quarter of the historic elk wintering area in the valley. In addition, the area provides habitat and crucial wintering areas for a variety of other wildlife including trumpeter swans, bald eagles, bison, bighorn sheep, mule deer, moose, coyotes, wolves, and a variety of ducks and geese.
Calendar of Events
All events on Town Square except where noted.
Saturday, May 22
7 am Antler lots for B.S.A. Elk Antler Auction ready for viewing
7 am - 1 pm Food Court provided by Jackson Youth Baseball
8 am - 12 pm Private Antler Sale north of the Town Square by Rotary Club, please contact T.R. Pierce, 307.732.3050
8 am - 2 pm Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Great Elk Tour is the premier traveling conservation exhibit with some of the largest bull elk in the world! Sponsored by the National Elk Refuge.
9 am - 1 pm Kids' Corner - including educational tables and games. Sponsored by Wyoming Game & Fish, Jackson Hole Weed Management, and the National Elk Refuge.
9 am Registration for Boy Scouts of America Antler Auction begins
9 am - 9:45 am Free concert by Jackson Hole Community Band
9 am - 1 pm Elk Fest gifts - Purchase your exclusive 2010 Elk Fest t-shirts and ball caps. The Grand Teton Association sponsors the ElkFest gifts booth. All proceeds will benefit the National Elk Refuge.
10 am - 1 pm World Famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction
10 am - 1 pm Jackson B.S.A. Boy Scout and Cub Scout Expo
5 pm Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Casino Games and Silent Auction begins at the Bar J Chuckwagon
7 pm Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Game Banquet Annual Fundraising Dinner at the Bar J Chuckwagon. For more information, call Chuck Teske at (307) 739-0951 or Michelle Kren at 307.203.2470 or mpkodiak2@bresnan.net.
Sunday, May 23
Jackson Hole High Noon Chili Cook-Off
Noon Teams compete to deliver the best tastes of chili in the West! Professional and amateur teams will take pride to serve you up some of the best chili to wind down the ElkFest weekend. Snake River Brewing Company will be on hand to help tasters refresh their palates with locally brewed beer samples! For more information, please contact Maureen Murphy, Events Manager, 307.733.3316x102 or mo@jacksonholechamber.com.
May 22-31
Mountain Man Rendezvous and Traders Row
9am - 6 pm Daily Traders Row, Candy Cannon, Bow & Arrow Competition, Hawk & Knife Competition, and Atlatl Competition at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Continues through Old West Days. For more information, please contact Ray Thompson, 801.809.4531.
May 23-30
Antler Rendezvous
9am - 6 pm Daily All kinds of raw antler, horns, and everything handmade with or from antlers and then some! Vendors showcase their wares at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Continues through Old West Days. For more information, please contact Richard Holman, rtolmanfamily@hotmail.com or 307.733.3086.
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