Saw some elk!

[Wingshooter]

I saw about 6 to 8 cow elk grazing on the side of I-75 South near Royal Blue this evening. A couple of them were pretty small (calves maybe), but the rest were pretty good size. They were near an exit, so I was able to turn around and safely get some pics. Most of them walked off, but a couple of them hung around for the photo.

I don't know how common they are to see along the highway right there, but this is the first time that I have seen them. It was an awesome sight, especially with the snow falling.

The quality of my cell camera is not good. I wish I would have had my real camera with me.

Two of them here (center and far left):

[Smith]

Awesome! Over towards Harrison, AR where my family is from I've heard them down on the Buffalo River bugling but haven't seen any yet.

[Guest Jamie]

Aw jeez.... as if the white tails and coyotes aren't enough of a traffic hazard, now we gotta look out for "Mooslettes" too???

J.

[Wingshooter]

Aw jeez.... as if the white tails and coyotes aren't enough of a traffic hazard, now we gotta look out for "Mooslettes" too??? :doh:

J.

Oh man, that would be some horse-sized road kill. When I saw them, I had two thoughts: "awesome! I have to get some pics" and "please don't jump out in front of me :nervous:"

[Guest Drewsett]

Awesome! Over towards Harrison, AR where my family is from I've heard them down on the Buffalo River bugling but haven't seen any yet.

You've gotta be kidding me. My wife's parents live in Harrison. Her father is a minister there. I've seen a BUNCH (at least 60 to 70) in a field at one time and a few (probably 20 or so) a couple more times. You see them out by Ponca and a few other places down on the Buffalo. People pull off the road all over out there and take pictures (alas I haven't had a camera any of the times I've gone). One really cool experience I got to see some bull elk fighting around mating season...the force of them hitting their heads together....their antlers rang like gunshots!

[Wingshooter]

I wonder how many permits TWRA will issue during the 2010 hunting season. If we get too many elk, it will drive the price down on ebay.

[dralarms]

Where exactly was this? I'm not sure where "royal blue" is.

[BrasilNuts]

Where exactly was this? I'm not sure where "royal blue" is.

About 45 minutes north of Knoxville on 75.

[enfield]

Neat!

They are HUGE animals - saw them at the Grand Canyon.

Good eating, too!

[Guest Traumaslave]

Where exactly was this? I'm not sure where "royal blue" is.

Just south of Jelico.

[ttocswob]

I've seen elk near there - off Hwy 63, a few miles west of I-75 toward Huntsville.

[Wingshooter]

Where exactly was this? I'm not sure where "royal blue" is.

I saw them in this area along 75 south.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=36.412925,-84.276509&spn=0.015369,0.038238&t=h&z=15

Well, I can't get the map to center in the right place, but that's close...

Edited January 5, 2010 by Batman

[oldogy]

Where exactly was this? I'm not sure where "royal blue" is.

Along I-75, MM 141-144.

oldogy

[Rightwinger]

Here ya go. Click the linky

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/pdfs/elkzonemap.pdf

[Wingshooter]

KY's herd is also doing pretty well from what I have heard. A friend of mine (KY resident) drew a cow tag this year.

I hope they continue to thrive here in TN. I was encouraged to see the younger ones.

[tennessee01tacoma]

In high school there were some that hung around frozen head area and we used to see them at the vocational school and some people even fed them. On several occasions I have seen them from highway 62 right in front of the vocational school around the state pond.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Neat!

They are HUGE animals - saw them at the Grand Canyon.

Good eating, too!

+1 enfield...very, very tasty!!! wish i had some elk steaks to throw on the grill right about now!!! yum!!!