National Elk Refuge Celebrates 100 years

with 

Elkfest 2012

by Cynthia Vannoy-Rhoades, Staff Writer, Wyoming

This year, I was fortunate enough to be in Jackson during Elkfest, on May 19. This year was the celebration of the Refuge’s Centennial as well.

Elkfest is a time for residents and visitors alike to  celebrate nature, outdoor skills, hunting and ecological education and awareness. This year is the 45th Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction the premier ElkFest weekend event that showcases shed antlers collected from the National Elk Refuge. The antler auction is held each year on the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend.The first Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction was in 1968. Since then several groups joined the activities on that day and in 2002 expanded to what is now known as Elkfest, that is all about elk.

Jackson, Wyoming

Noted for the Grand Tetons, great skiing, wonderful views, proximity to Yellowstone...

and elk.

Antlers and more antlers

I spoke with Lori Iverson, Outreach and Visitors Services for the Elk Refuge, who gave me a brief rundown of the history of the refuge. In August of 1912,an Act of Congress appropriated money for the purchase of lands and maintenance of a winter elk refuge, which created the present day National Elk Refuge. The Refuge is approximately 25,000 acres and is devoted primarily to the preservation of winter range for wintering herds of elk and bison. In addition, the area provides habitat and crucial wintering areas for a variety of other wildlife, including trumpeter swans, bald eagles, ravens, bighorn sheep, mule deer, moose, coyotes, wolves, and a variety of waterfowl.

Iverson added about the auction.  “We, (the refuge staff,) start gathering antlers about the second week in March, when the elk start shedding them.  We do that in part to keep from damaging them, or having them damage tires on the vehicles.  We pick on Saturday for the Boy Scouts to come to the refuge and gather up the sheds.  The scouts put in about 2000 man hours cleaning the sheds off the refuge.”

Lori said that 20% of the proceeds go to the scouts, and 80% to the refuge for various projects and maintenance of the refuge.

  “This year the money will go towards an ongoing irrigation project, some of the money came from the recovery act money, and the proceeds of the auction will help with that. Money is also used for seeding, irrigating, and purchasing necessary equipment to carry out the work. The funds also pay for seasonal laborers required of the Refuge’s extensive irrigation program."

Author posing with Elk antlers near piles of sheds

Though the total number of antlers sold was down, the price per pound was notable. Bidders paid an average of  $12.15 per pound at Saturday’s auction, or $2.81 per pound higher than the $9.34 average over the last 10 years. Because of the higher average price per pound, Saturday’s sale yielded a total of $90,469. During the past decade, the amount generated from the auction has averaged $76,941. This year, a total of 93 bidders registered for the auction, compared to 130 registered during the 2011 sale.

Lorraine Vannoy checks out some sale items

“The bidders sometimes represent other buyers, some resell the antler in the raw. Then there are those who are looking for just the right antler for making furniture, light fixtures, jewelry and other crafts from them. Others just want a nice rack for hanging on their den wall.”

Antler arch

Money raised at the auction is used for long-term projects that will help the elk for many years.” Iverson said. “It is used for improvements to the habitat like growing more natural grasses, improving irrigation on the refuge and purchasing equipment used for this type of work. It also helps pay for summer workers who spend the summer irrigating the fields to help grow grasses the elk can eat during the winter.”

The National Elk Refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System,  created by Theodore Roosevelt, who designated the first wildlife refuge in 1903. Today more than 150 million acres are a part of the wildlife refuge system.

The National Elk Refuge is adjacent to the Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and preserves and protects wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Simply put, the refuge manages for "wildlife first." Consequently, the refuge offers fewer recreational opportunities than its federal neighbors in order to carry out this mission.