Each Fall, the elk come down out of the mountain pastures, cross the Snake River in front of the Grand Tetons and head for the National Elk Refuge outside Jackson, Wyoming. As they cross the Antelope Flats, they must run a gauntlet of death as hunters line up to intercept the herds.
The hunt takes place at dawn and dusk…..perfect timing for me to be shooting sunsets and sunrises across the Grand Tetons! Inadvertently, I become mixed up in the hectic drama of the annual ritual that is all around me.
Trucks prowl up and down the back roads hoping to intercept a herd. Once the prey is spotted, the hunter must dismount and fire from a position at least 10 feet from the road as per state law. (Some buildings on Mormon Row can be seen in the distance to the left of the truck.)
Apparently, it’s not as easy as one might think. For all the shooting going on, I never saw one animal fall.
The elk, fully aware of what’s going on, are tense and nervous, unlike the elk back in Yellowstone.
Frustrated hunter watches as elk run out of range.
Enterprising cowboys position themselves at turnouts along the roads and await a cell phone call. They will drag a kill off the Flats for a negotiated fee. Cowboys with cell phones… who knew….WHO KNEW!!! We’ve obviously come a long way since Roy Rogers!!
The carcass is dragged out on a makeshift trolley.
One hunter is successful and field dresses his kill.
Whatever your view on hunting, the Wyoming Department of Wildlife considers the hunt a major element in wildlife management and was hoping for a very successful harvest. In their opinion the herds must be knocked significantly back for the long term health of the overall elk population.