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 the visitor staging area at the Jackson Hole Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, visitors learn intriguing facts about the 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.
2009 ElkFest Schedule of Events
All 2009 ElkFest took place under bright blue Wyoming skies. Please make plans to join us May 22-23, 2010 for the 43rd annual ElkFest.
Saturday, May 16
7:00am Antler lots for B.S.A. Elk Antler Auction ready for viewing
7:00am - 1:00pm Food Court provided by Jackson Youth Baseball
7:00am - 1:00pm Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum booth
8:00am - 12:00pm Private Antler Sale north of the Town Square by Rotary Club, contact T.R. Pierce at 307-732-3050
8:00am - 5:00pm Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Great Elk Tour - the premier traveling conservation exhibit with some of the largest bull elk in the world! Sponsored by the National Elk Refuge
9:00am - 1:00pm Kids' Corner - including educational tables and games. Sponsored by Wyoming Game & Fish, Jackson Hole Weed Management and the National Elk Refuge
9:00am Registration for Boy Scouts of America Antler Auction begins
9:00am - 9:45am Free concert by Jackson Hole Community Band
9:00am - 1:00pm Elk Fest gifts - Purchase your exclusive 2009 Elk Fest t-shirts and ball caps. The Grand Teton Association sponsors the Elk Fest gifts booth. All proceeds benefit the National Elk Refuge.
10:00am - 1:00pm World Famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction
10:00am - 1:00pm Jackson B.S.A. Boy Scout and Cub Scout Expo
5:00pm Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Casino Games and Silent Auction begins at the Bar J Chuckwagon
7:00pm 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.
May 16-25
Mountain Man Rendezvous and Traders Row
9:00am - 6:00pm
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 contact Bud Mecham at 435-635-0322 or mpottery@infowest.com.
May 17-25
Antler Rendezvous
9:00am - 6:00pm
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 contact Joe Schloss at 307-733-4007 or jschloss1000@hotmail.com.
Sunday, May 17
Historic Downtown 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. For more information, contact Larry Jackson at 307-733-8888 or jxndrill@aol.com.
ElkFest 2009 10,317 pounds of antlers were sold at the auction averaging $8.52 per pound for a total revenue of $88,010. Click here for more information.
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