The strangest sight while antelope scouting

[Troutslayer2]

I got a tag in central MT this year and took the spotter out trying to learn some new spots and maybe find some good ones. Seeing elk out here on the prairie, not a tree for miles in every direction is only slightly more common than seeing a unicorn - and 2 bulls - both pretty heavy antlered just making their way across this huge expanse of wheat fields. I had to take a photo or no one would believe me.

 

[cohunt]

We have plains elk here in co too, they just gotta have something to munch on and drink

 

[Crockett12]

Many years ago while hunting antelope in the SE Oregon desert, I saw a herd of elk running hell bent for leather on a dry lake bed from something! They were a long way off and I put the binoculars on them not knowing what they were and had trouble registering what I was seeing. I watched them run for a mile or so and they were indeed a herd of elk!

 

[swe123]

Elk are plains animals. They have been pushed to the mountains.

 

[carl1775]

Elk are plains animals. They have been pushed to the mountains.

That's a fact Jack!

Pretty cool picture, regardless.

 

[Troutslayer2]

The owner of the property I was on says he sees an elk maybe once every 5 years.

 

[jjmp]

Ausome picture thks ,Elk can smell growing crops on the wind and follow their noses , yes they were once plains animals and could be again with the right management . Thks

 

[cf1105]

Read "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose. It's about Lewis & Clark's expedition. Great descriptions of wildlife on the plains..elk...grizzlies..

 

[JustMe2]

Elk are grazers and deer are browsers meaning elk eat grass primarily and deer eat leaves and tree buds primarily. So you'd expect to see elk eating in meadows and prairies and deer eating in the forests.

 

[LongProng]

I know you're talking elk here, but I am always amazed at seeing / hunting Pronghorn. They are very out-of-place for North America with their closest living relative being the Giraffe. I would love to travel back in time and see how these guys got here.

 

[vancewalker007]

I got a tag in central MT this year and took the spotter out trying to learn some new spots and maybe find some good ones. Seeing elk out here on the prairie, not a tree for miles in every direction is only slightly more common than seeing a unicorn - and 2 bulls - both pretty heavy antlered just making their way across this huge expanse of wheat fields. I had to take a photo or no one would believe me.

It's not uncommon in Arizona. The last 2 elk I killed were out in big open areas in Arizona. Hopefully they will be back out there this year. , But you're right that most people think of them only living in the big trees.

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

I got a tag in central MT this year and took the spotter out trying to learn some new spots and maybe find some good ones. Seeing elk out here on the prairie, not a tree for miles in every direction is only slightly more common than seeing a unicorn - and 2 bulls - both pretty heavy antlered just making their way across this huge expanse of wheat fields. I had to take a photo or no one would believe me.

They may have come down due to some man made pressure. Maybe construction of those stupid energy fans or maybe even some illegal poaching. I have seen them on the prairie a couple of times and, It is very rare.

 

[skipglo]

I got a tag in central MT this year and took the spotter out trying to learn some new spots and maybe find some good ones. Seeing elk out here on the prairie, not a tree for miles in every direction is only slightly more common than seeing a unicorn - and 2 bulls - both pretty heavy antlered just making their way across this huge expanse of wheat fields. I had to take a photo or no one would believe me.

I have been told by our Fish and Wildlife department here in Alberta, Canada that we now have Elk in every hunting zone approx. 135 zones covering the entire province, from plains to coulees, to Mountains, all of it....and they don't seem to be wrong. I am seeing Elk the past five years just about wherever we look. It took 48 years of my hunting life to see this, but far less hunting pressure has allowed them to settle in!

 

[Deleted member 107796]

I like thinking about how many of these areas were like, back pre-1800s, like our own Boulder county, where there is evidence of a buffalo run in the cliffs along the creek and many indian camps. We always heard of the rare elk seen on the eastern plains but now it's maybe even rarer than the unicorn sightings.