by Merle Ann Loman | Apr 29, 2009 | Bitterroot, hunting/fauna/flora, i Spring
Right click the photo and choose “view link in new window,” it is worth the view of the elk in the trees!
We woke up to snow today. We were hoping for cooler weather to keep the snow in the mountains but this is a bit much. Like Jack said, “It isn’t going to flood in April this year.” The cool weather this spring will help the snow melt in an orderly fashion, if it warms up enough to actually melt!
Today we took a hike when it was the warmest, about 47 degrees. At the beginning of our hike, we saw a herd of elk. What a nice start. Then we hiked into a bit of a snow flurry.
by Merle Ann Loman | Apr 28, 2009 | Bitterroot, Friends
I am a bit behind on blogging some photos sent in by friends. Here are two photos from Billy Burk of Pueblo, CO. He is coming up to fish with his (and our) friend, Jeff in June. They are thinking they will fish on the Big Hole.
Billy’s message:
Attached are photos of a recent catch, close to home, on the Arkansas River, and Walter the Wapiti; finally mounted on the wall in our living room. He was harvested from Jeff’s Dad’s ranch in western Colorado last October. Take care and God Bless…………..Billy Burk
by Merle Ann Loman | Dec 7, 2008 | iiii Winter/Snow
To see all my “Elk Blogs” click on the “elk” hotlink in the “Labels” area at the footer of this blog entry or on the Label section on the right sidebar.
It is December in Montana. Deer and elk hunting season is closed except for a few districts that have been extended, the closest for us being south near Dillon, MT. Click here for a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks link.
The strange thing is how warm it has been. We have had moisture, but in the form of rain except for some snow at high elevations.
Instead of cross country skiing, Jack and I are still hiking for fitness and recreation. I am uploading a few photos/slideshows of game we are seeing on our hikes.
We see elk mostly on the way to our hike. They have lost security in the mountains (new roads, new construction, much hunting pressure) and oddly seek security in the open, private pastures and ranches. Good for viewing, not so good for hunting. I imagine they eat a lot of grass and hay the ranchers probably need… There are about 9 spike bulls in this group. This means they have no brow tines and are young, not mature bulls.
Mature bulls stay away from cows and calves most of the year. During calving season, the cows are scattered widely in small groups. I see them on my hikes in the mountain drainages above these ranches. That is when thermal cover and security from the forest (not the open fields) is important to these elk. Once the spotted calves are able to walk, the females will then assemble into larger groups. It is common to see 30, even close to 100 elk in herds near here from July until calving season. Elk are shy and very suspicious of human beings unless accustomed to them since birth as in the case of this herd. They are still suspicous and wiley, but know they are relatively safe near ranches.
Click here for a great Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation article.
For larger views, click on “View Album.”
Click here for information about Downey Woodpeckers.
by Merle Ann Loman | Nov 24, 2008 | hunting/fauna/flora, iii Fall
Above is a photo of an elk herd (actually only part of the herd) that hangs on private land during hunting season. They are so much fun to watch as they move from field to field just on the edge of timber and Forest Service land.
We are still hunting for my whitetail doe and/or buck and of course for the elusive elk. It is fun, but we would love for it snow so their behavior was a bit more predictable and we could see tracks. It is our privilege to hunt in these beautiful mountains and be able to experience the wonderful sights and sounds as the sun rises and the day begins.
Here is a slide show of a few of our hunting photos. We did an eastern Montana antelope hunt in October. Jack went back in November and bagged a 4×4 whitetail buck. He didn’t get any photos on that trip. It was rainy and mucky.
If you click “View Album”, then “View Slide Show” and slow the photos down to 5 or 6 seconds – it should show in full screen mode.
by Merle Ann Loman | Jun 24, 2008 | hunting/fauna/flora, ii Summer
Wapiti is a Native American word for elk. We love elk and that is why we called the fishing business Wapiti Waters.
Because I work in our home office, I couldn’t go fishing today. But, I did take my usual fitness break and go hiking. Sweathouse Creek is very near our Chickadee Lane home (5 miles west of Victor, MT). I am lucky because there is access to many ridges with elk, deer, moose, turkeys, and lots of beautiful flora as well. Today I had the priviledge of seeing a small herd of elk, mostly cows with calves. My trusty chesapeake female saw them at her favorite watering hole and came running back to me. Just before she did, a cow that was bedded down caught my eye because she “twitched” her ears….here is a photo. Click on it to open it full screen.
Click the title above to see more. I had a little difficulty focusing while containing my dog and trying to stay calm myself. I hope you enjoy them. Get out, get fit and get to know your resident wildlife!
My faithful companion, Bela (the chesapeake) enjoying herself at the end of our hot hike!
