Feeding the Elk

There is a major Elk Refuge at Jewel, OR in the coast range mountains about 60 miles from Portland. Through the Winter months they allow advance sign up to ride the Elk feeding wagon on the daily feeding run. They run these from December through February and they fill up all the available bookings in the first few days of sign up. If you show up early and there is extra room on the wagon and the people who have signed up for the day agree then they will take an extra passenger or two. This morning Ron Eggers and I decided to try our luck getting a seat on the feeding wagon.

On the drive out we stopped to take some photos of this equipment shed.

We arrived at the refuge a full half hour before the feeding wagon was to set out so we took a few photos of the elk herd in the meadow beside the visitor center. This young buck posed for me with the does and calves in the background.

The wagon rides are reserved by small groups, families, friends or co-workers. This morning the group was 8 people and the wagon will hold 15. It is the choice of the group whether they will accept outsiders. This group was happy to have Ron and I ride along with them.

Through the winter months the bucks hang out together and the does and calves stay together in a different herd.

The Beastie Boys

I hadn't realized how close to the elk we'd be so had a longer lens on than would have been optimal. At least I did get a few portraits.

Up close and personal

Here an older buck warns a younger rival to stay away from his hay.

Mine

Here one of the bucks looks up from his hay to check out the people on the wagon. As long as you stay on the wagon the Elk pretty much ignore you but we were told that if anyone stepped off they'd all scatter. These are wild animals.

Here another one poses for me. It was great fun.


On our way home we stopped to have lunch at a historic farmstead which has been made over into a restaurant. This is one of the old farm outbuildings.