Got close to some elk today

[WonkyWapiti]

Well as part of a study I have been tracking some elk and got to take some pictures today.  I had my camera and thought I would share.  This group was about 15 cows, 1 spike, and a bunch of calves.



This little one was hungry


I hope this one grows up to be a nice 7x7


At first I thought there was only 1 calf but there ended up being a ton of them just over a rise being tended to by a couple of cows.  I didn't want to get too close and get my butt kicked by mom.


I just love these summer coats

[coriantonk]

Great pics.  Thanks for sharing.  I really like the looks of the little spotted one.  Aint he cute 

[mkcj]

Very nice pictures

[Pathfinder101]

At first I thought there was only 1 calf but there ended up being a ton of them just over a rise being tended to by a couple of cows.  I didn't want to get too close and get my butt kicked by mom.
[img width=800 height=531]http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/6506/soccerelkjune2009263.jpg[/i

Elk have daycare....   

[zackmioli]

nice pics!

[tlbradford]

These are great.  Thanks for sharing.

[Ray]

Looking good. I like seeing the small ones.

[WDFW-SUX]

Grass fed prime elk steak.............

[tmike]

Very nice! What kind of study are you doing? Do those collars have anything to do with it 

[WonkyWapiti]

Yup those are telemmetry collars that we collared this winter.  That's a whole story in itself and one of the coolest things I have ever done.  I've been assisting with a study with the Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management Group attempting to ascertain elk population numbers and mortality rates in the greater North Bend area.

I'd heard stories about elk calves hanging out in "nursery groups" but I'd never seen it before this weekend.  These were some of the first real pics I've posted up here.  I'll try to get some more soon and post them up here.

[tmike]

Did your study have anything to do with the added Master Hunter cow hunts in that area. Just curious I didn't apply for one but I saw a pile of elk along the freeway in North Bend this winter. That's great your involved with that. Did you collar them with a helicopter? I helped a little with project CAT here in East King County with Rocky Spenser before his accident. That cougar study included the North Bend area or part of it.

[runamuk]

That is so cool.........thanks for sharing.  I love the little ones....

[Timmybob]

Great Pictures.....

Tmike: I didn't meet Rocky Spencer, But I heard he was a great guy.....Sorry to hear about him.,

[WonkyWapiti]

As a result of the group I am associated with (USVEMG) we were able to ask WDFW to add those master hunts and the special draws for the cow tags.  I wasn't lucky enough to get drawn.  We're also working to expand some elk habitat east of North Bend.  We did not use a helicopter to tag the elk, they were all darted from the ground.  We suspended tagging back in April due to the pregnant cows.  We hope to continue in the fall. 

[Timmybob]

Man, I bet that's cool going out and tagging elk with darts from the ground......Where do I sign up?