Buffalo National River News

Elk Rut Underway, Fall Color in a Month

2011-09-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Fall Color Along the Buffalo River Trail

Fall is a great time to visit the Buffalo National River. Summer heat is now giving way to fall-like temperatures.

Two reasons to visit (among many) are fall color and the annual Arkansas elk rut, natural events that draw thousands to the region.

This year fall color could be outstanding. Drought conditions often precede exceptional years for fall color. All of the roads around the Buffalo National River are very scenic during fall color. The Boston Mountains are the highest range in the Ozarks. Visitors are treated to mountain vistas as well as exceptional river scenes, both from the access areas, and along the river hiking and riding trails.

Another marquee event is the annual Arkansas elk rut. Elk mating season begins in mid-September. Thousands of people travel to the upper Buffalo River area to see elk and hear them bugle. Best viewing times for elk are mornings and evenings, with longer viewing during cold weather.

Boxley Valley Bull Elk with His Harem, Fall 2010

By far the best place to view this annual event is in Boxley Valley, just south of Ponca. In the farm fields along the valley, visitors witness the struggle for domination between herd bulls. Bugling is common, especially from mid-September to mid-October.

No visit to see the elk is complete without visiting the Ponca Elk Education Center in Ponca. The center features elk and nature exhibits and information about the elk locations in Boxley Valley. There is also a small store for souvenirs and nature guides. Kids love the center and its many hands-on displays. There are free posters and educational materials. The Center won a national award from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Visit their website, or call them at 870-861-2432.

For additional elk viewing information visit the Buffalo River Chamber of Commerce website, http://buffaloriverchamber.com and http://arkansaswildlifephotography.com. The Arkansas Wildlife Photography website features up-to-date information on herd locations in Boxley Valley, along with advice on elk viewing and elk photography.

Fall Events Calendar
There are two major events in the upper Buffalo River region each fall.

First is the Ozark Mountain Artists Tour, held September 16-19th in Newton County. For more information check out the tour website, http://ozarkmountainartists.com. The tour features 25 artists at various location in the county. There are demonstrations, studio tours, and art for sale. There is no charge for the event.

Second is the annual Color Fest, put on by the Ponca Elk Education Center each October. This year's event will be held on October 28th and 29th. For more information call the Elk Education Center at 870-861-2432.

Both of these events fall within the elk rut in Boxley Valley. Plan to come and combine each event with watching the most-watched wildlife in Arkansas.

Arkansas Elk Rut Begins in 3 Weeks

2011-08-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

Elk in Boxley Valley near Ponca, and the middle river area of the Buffalo around Bear Creek are now staging to begin the annual Arkansas elk rut three weeks from now.

Rutting Bull & Cow Elk near Lost Valley Hiking Trail

The rut is by far the biggest event of the elk season. Beginning in about mid-September bull elk join the cow elk herds to begin the mating season. Bull fights are common early on, and peak from about the end of September to mid-October, although fights can occur later and often do.

Viewing is very weather dependent. Fall weather generally mean longer morning and evening viewing times. On cold fronts viewing can be all day long. In hot weather spells, elk will leave the fields shortly after the sun hits them, and they return at 5 or 6PM until dark.

Bugling is an unforgettable experience. It peaks right along with the rut. Bull elk bugling can take many forms, but most commonly it is about territoriality. Raspy, hoarse bugling often signals a challenge and a potential bull fight.

Visit http://arkansaswildlifephotography.com for up-to-date coverage of the annual elk rut. On this site you will find galleries of past ruts and updates on elk locations and new pictures. In depth coverage begins starting August 29.

2011 Buffalo National River Region Wildflower Season

2011-02-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

This has been a weird last month. Very heavy snow storms topped off by the last one -- a real monster for around here. We have at least 15" of snow on the ground, and it may be more. Our county has been declared a disaster area. It will probably be at least 3-4 days before we can go anywhere.

Rest in Peace Old Friend

I am sorry to report that my signature black and dirt jeep with the generic white labels is dead. On Saturday the 5th I lost control of the old girl, did a "360", stuck it in a 4ft ditch, and slammed it into a stone bank. Pretty much trashed it. Estimated repairs are $7000, so it is off to the bone yard.

Miraculously I came out of that crash with only one bruise. Perhaps it is because I rotated the jeep clockwise as recommended by the sign -- I did stay well below the recommended 50 MPH though. By the time I popped up and out of the jeep, there were two trucks volunteering to help. As amazing as this place is, the people are still better. They got the jeep upright, positioned it off the road, and then gave me a ride home. My thanks to the Davidsons of Elk Horn Road for their help.

As hard as it seems to believe wildflower season is now less than a month off. I spent some time looking at the shooting dates of last year's photos. Wildflower season begins in the first week of March if it follows last year's patterns. If you don't live near wildflowers you can rely on the blooming date of daffodils to signal the onset of the 2011 wildflower season in the Buffalo National River region.

I am looking out the window at hundreds of birds at my feeders due to the snow cover. You know the snow cover is heavy when you see red-winged blackbirds in droves at your feeder. I don't think there are more than 15 or 20 pairs of these birds nearby around ponds and runoffs. I have them all now at the feeder, plus other from more distant places.

Harbinger of Spring, Lost Valley

The first wildflower you photograph will likely be Harbinger of Spring (go figure). These tiny flowers are a bit difficult to find, the flower head is about the size of a dime and it blends real well with the cover on the forest floor. You will have to look close to see them. As I did last year, I will post flowers and shooting dates.

A few things to remember:

First, the wildflower season is long. To see the most species you need to get out about every week. Some species will bloom only about a week or so, take a week off and you might miss them for the season.
Second, the season will be different in different places. For example, Smith Creek Preserve will lag about a week behind Lost Valley. There are even timing differences within one area. Wildflowers teach you a lot about micro-climates and niches.
Third, some species are common in one place and rare in another. A good example is Dutchman's Breeches. They are rare in Lost Valley, but pretty common at Smith Creek Preserve.
Fourth, there are many places to find wildflowers up and down the river. Just about every hiking trail has spots where the flowers are pretty thick. There are differences between mountain top environments, and along the river and feeder creeks. Pay attention to roadsides as well. You will find wildflower hot spots everywhere.
Fifth, you can get great flower pictures with pretty ordinary equipment. Don't place limits on yourself because you lack this lens or that camera. Great photos are about composition, about light. Look for dramatic light, think in terms of shapes and lines. Look beyond the obvious, think carefully and pick your shots and angles. These habits will move your photos to another level.

Be safe. If you hike a relatively remote place like Smith Creek Preserve, ideally do it with a friend. Always let someone know where you went. If you have the bucks consider getting a rescue beacon. We can all be seduced into believing there is no danger in these beautiful wild places. That can be a fatal mistake.

Plan Your Buffalo National River Visit for Spring 2011

2011-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

Harbinger of Spring

It is hard to believe that the spring wildflower season is only about two months off now. A pretty reliable sign of the wildflower season is the first blossoming of daffodils. In about this same time frame, visits to local wildflower hotspots like the Lost Valley hiking trail, and Smith Creek preserve, will reveal the first wildflower species of the year.

In early spring, the famous Arkansas elk herd is still visible, and and until about April 1, big bull elk can still be observed in Boxley Valley fields.

Early spring is also generally the beginning of the waterfall season. This is highly dependent on rainfall, and currently the water table is very low after many months of very low precipitation. With only a couple of heavy rains, the situation will change rapidly. Visit http://arkansaswildlifephotography.com for continuous updates on all spring attractions.

Canoe Launch at Ponca Access

Spring floating can also begin about the same time. Kayakers track rainfall closely and they'll show up all spring to float the Buffalo especially the upper reaches of the Buffalo known as the Hailstone. Floating for regular people can begin in the spring, but most outfitters will closely watch water temperature and floating conditions to make sure it's safe.

In early spring, visitors can plan a stay that will include floating, photography, elk watching, and hiking. Conditions can vary a bit depending on weather, but spring is an outstanding time to visit, if the weather cooperates, it can be amazing.

Spring Offers Good Elk Viewing

If you plan to visit, now is the time to begin making cabin reservations. Spring is a busy time Buffalo national River region and cabins book up fast. take time now the plan your stay. Good planning will save you time and money when you visit.

Visit http://upperbuffaloriver.com for more information.

2010 Arkansas Elk Show Update & Celebrity Eagle

2010-11-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

The peak of the Arkansas Elk Rut is over now, but there is a lot of great elk viewing that remains for the year. There are still big bulls running herds of cow elk and this will continue until mid-December if past years are any indication. Bull fights are generally over, but sparring will continue until April.

Early mornings and afternoons after 3 or so remain the best times for elk viewing. The most reliable spot is in the middle of the Boxley Valley south of Ponca on highway 43 down by the 43/21 intersection. Lately there have been elk in the first field by the Ponca Access, just outside of Ponca.

In other news, Harley the radio-tagged bald eagle has been frequenting the Buffalo National River Watershed. Getting a picture of him would be a real trophy. He is covering an enormous area. On the website below you can find up-to-date maps of where he roosts every night. This is fun to watch.

http://www.theraptorcenternews.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Randy Mann and Tim Higgins for letting me know about this eagle. I will definitely be trying to get this picture.

Our bald eagle season is just starting. Locals consider the season to be from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day. Visitors to the Buffalo River Region will see many more birds than the permanent population. There is also the occasional golden eagle in the area. Definitely a trophy picture.

There are plenty of reasons to visit now. There is still some nice fall color here and there but it is highly variable. Hiking is outstanding with cool temperatures and relatively few bugs. Horsemen also love this season. There are hundreds of miles of hiking and riding trails in the Buffalo National River. This is prime time for hikers and riders.

2010 Fall Color Coming on Strong Now -- Peak in One Week

2010-10-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

In the last week, the transition to fall color has accelerated and it appears now that peak color is only a week or so off. Indeed, in the last week it seemed like a gear shifted and you could see the change day to day.

Fall color fans can bet safely that next weekend will be very close to peak. Mountainsides have changed from green to mixed yellows, and the red species are showing more red each day. In my front yard I have two black gums, the reddest of the red trees, one is red, and the other is deep claret on the way to red.

Fall Color Reflection at Big Bluff 2009

We are at 2,150 feet. Fall color dynamics vary a lot according to location. At river level it is different than it is at altitude. We change sooner presumably due to cooler temperatures. Wet places change later than dry places. This year's drought is the worst in many years. It will be interesting to see how it will play out. It is likely that we will have "leaf off" sooner, but that is speculation. My guess is that drought-stressed trees will lose their leaves in any heavy wind.

Without question, roads along the Buffalo River corridor are the best places to see fall color. Highways 7, 43, 21,16, and 74 can be organized into loops pretty readily. The mountainous areas offer the best vistas with big changes in contour from mountain bluffs to the hollows. Newton and Searcy Counties offer the very best fall color.

Center Point Trailhead in 2009 Color

Every color tour should include a leg through Boxley Valley. Currently the famous Arkansas Elk Herd is at peak rut. Huge bulls with harems roam the valley at the ends of the day. For the best chances, the couple of hours after daybreak, and couple of hours before sundown are the best times to see the elk and hear the bulls bugle.

Boxley Valley Bull Elk October 15, 2010

For the adventurous, hiking the river bed in the Upper Buffalo River area is easy now with very low river levels. This is a great way to experience the river, and pools of reflected fall color. Primitive campers will want to consider camping on a gravel bar. Nothing compares to the brilliant canopy of stars on an Ozark night.

Fall Color 2009 on the Buffalo River

If you visit next weekend, on the 22nd and 23rd, the Ponca Elk Education Center will be putting on its annual Color Fest. This is local art show that includes demonstrations. There is a free elk photography workshop by elk photographer, Michael Dougherty. No trip to Ponca is complete without visiting the Center. In addition to its outstanding exhibits and gift shop, it is the hub for local information not only on elk, but other wildlife and the surrounding attractions.

2010 Elk Rut at Peak, New Viewing Locations

2010-10-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

The "Boxley Beast" Herd Bull

The elk rut has been going strong now for about two weeks, and is at peak now. Visitors can expect a good show for at least another month. As we enter November the elk rut will be technically off peak, but elk viewing will still be very good. My best bull fight was shot the first week of November, so there is quite a way to go before things tail off significantly.

Yesterday cattle were moved into the first field just south of the observation pullout. This displaced two elk herds that had been there for about two weeks. From what I could judge, it appears that one herd went north and another appeared to be heading south. One thing we can be sure of is that cattle and elk don't mix. The elk will go somewhere else. Time for a new pattern. These movements are pretty standard.

I expect to see a herd take up residence in the first couple of fields near the Ponca Access. These are traditionally strong fields and have elk only when cattle are not present. Herds that visit these fields also occasionally visit Steel Creek during the week when there are few campers.

Remember to be safe. I have many new elk photos posted on my photo website, http://arkansaswildlifephotography.com linked off the galleries section. I just started a third elk gallery on the 2010 rut. It has been a pretty good year for shooting.

2010 Arkansas Elk Rut Underway

2010-09-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

It is time to declare the 2010 elk rut officially underway. In the last few days to a week, for the first time the huge bull elk of Boxley Valley in NW Arkansas have migrated to herds of cow elk to begin the annual mating ritual. Only a few of the cow elk are now estrous, but that is enough to kick off the annual show.

Currently there are two herds of cow elk with herd bulls in Boxley Valley. For a few days now they have been centered from the mid valley area all the way down to the south end of the valley just north of the trail head to the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. Elk will move around, often migrating at night.

Visitors to the valley should check all of Boxley Valley from the Ponca Access to the south trail head before choosing where to watch and photograph the elk. Newbies often park at the very first elk they see (or have ever seen) and miss much better viewing just a short distance away. Failing to check the valley before setting on your viewing location could be the difference between seeing a bull fight or missing that rare opportunity.

If you hear elk bugling, often that means there are potential challenger elk nearby. The call and answer of a herd bull and potential challenger is the first step that might lead to a bull fight. I call this "counter-bugling", and I rely on counter-bugling to alert me to potential bull fights. Bulls preparing to fight bugle at one another frequently and loudly. The tone of voice changes from melodic to raspy as they express building rage prior to the fight. Paying attention to this change in tone will lead you to potential bull fights that might be in the next field.

Remember to be safe. Bull elk pumped up with hormones during the rut are predisposed to fighting. Invade their space and you risk becoming an antler ornament. The animals are also on private land, so fence jumping is plainly the wrong thing to do.

This annual show is only beginning and will continue to November. Peak action is over the next month or so, but bugling will continue for some time.

Tips for Enjoying the 2010 Arkansas Elk Rut

2010-08-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

Bull Elk Are Preparing for
the 2010 Arkansas Elk Rut

The elk rut begins now in just two weeks. These tips will add to your enjoyment as you visit the Ponca elk herd in historic Boxley Valley. These tips should add to your elk viewing experience.

The best elk viewing is early and late in the day. Plan to visit early mornings and in the late evenings.
For a few years the best elk viewing has been in the fields near the intersection of Highways 43 and 21, just south of Ponca. Begin looking for elk in these fields, but don't rule out the entire valley.
Drive slowly in Boxley Valley. My recommendation is 40 mph maximum. Remember bull elk are in love during the rut, they are a bit more recless and if you speed you could hit one.
Be very conscious of safety issues. Tourists gawking at elk are often not very alert. Drive slowly, and watch for pedestrians.
When you stop to view elk, pull as far as possible off the road. In many places in Boxley Valley, there are wide shoulders that will allow you to pull completely off the road.
Respect private property. All the farm fields in Boxley Valley are private. Do no jump fences or block farm field entrances.
Remember that elk are wild animals. Both cow and bull elk can and will protect themselves and their young if they perceive you are entering their space.

During the peak elk viewing season, the National Park Service and the Newton County Sheriff Department enforce speed limits and trespassing laws. Tickets will be given for egregious parking violations in driveways and private lands. Let common sense be your guide. If anything seems wrong it probably is, and you could get a costly ticket.

2010 Arkansas Elk Rut

2010-08-24T03:21:00.000-07:00

Buffalo National River fans know that the Arkansas elk herd is the most viewable herd in the South. This amazing attraction allows visitors to view elk from the roadsides in Boxley Valley. It has increased in popularity every year as word has spread to across Arkansas and adjoining states.

Elk Viewers in Historic Boxley Valley. Note the people sitting.
they cannot be seen by oncoming traffic. Always stand and
get well off the road. Drivers looking for elk will not see you.

The good news is that the rut is now less than 30 days off. Big bull elk have pulled in close to the cow elk herds. They can be seen in Boxley Valley scraping velvet off their antlers in preparation for fighting just weeks away.

The peak of the 2010 rut is roughly from the last week in September through the first week in October. Like whitetail deer, cow elk return to estrous until they are successfully bred. These cycles extend the rut until late in the year. Bull fights, while less common, can occur even in November.

It is time to plan your visit to Boxley Valley for the 2010 Arkansas elk rut. In about a month, visitors will be treated to the best elk viewing of the year. The bulls will begin bugling in about three weeks. During the peak rut, evening bugling is quite common.

Plan on visiting often during this amazing time. If you are fortunate, you will see a bull fight. Mornings and evening
s are the best times for viewing and listening. Remember to pull over on the wide shoulders, out of traffic.

Elk Viewing Threatened by State Elk Plan -- A Call to Action

2010-08-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

Persons who love elk watching in Boxley Valley have reason for concern. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is rushing through an elk management plan for Boxley Valley that threatens a tourist attraction that brings thousands of visitors from all 50 states and many foreign countries. These elk tourists spend millions of badly needed dollars in the regional tourist-based economy, helping Arkansas hold the line during difficult economic times.

Anything that would harm or reduce elk tourism in the weakest economy in anyone's memory will spell the loss of jobs, small businesses, and revenues. Elk watching has continued to expand steadily, straight into a recessionary headwind. It must be protected and expanded. Elk watching is a major draw, one that seems recession-proof.

Above: Over 7,000 different people visit the Arkansas Wildlife Photography from all over Arkansas. The elk-centered site draws around 15,000 viewers from all 50 states, and 33 foreign countries who are deeply interested in the Arkansas elk viewing in Boxley Valley.

Local Concerns About the Elk

The AGFC has relied on testimony of a handful of farmers to frame a planned reduction of the elk herd in Boxley Valley. As one who spends hundreds of days a year in Boxley Valley, I can attest that claims of crop damage, fence breakage, and other elk-related problems are largely overstated. They are actually reduced compared to the past.

Two years ago a 300+ acre food plot was planted in the fields surrounding Highways 43 and 21. This food plot was planted for the elk, the same elk that are now fingered as a nuisance by local farmers. It was also planted with governmental subsidy.

The food plot has not increased elk numbers in Boxley Valley, it has shifted the elk from elsewhere in the valley to the food plot. Truth be told, the food plot has actually reduced past elk problems for farmers who graze cattle. Four years ago the elk were scattered across the Boxley Valley, in the last two years, the animals have shifted south to the feed plots, and in the fields further south, most of which are not in production.

The problems of the past are largely gone. Concerned farmers have little to complain about except memories from before the food plot was planted two years ago. They do not like the fact that Boxley Valley is a National Historic District and part of the Buffalo National River park. These frustrations get placed on the small Boxley Valley elk herd.

Farmers are frustrated by the occasional tourists that jump fences to get closer to the elk. That is an enforcement issue, not an elk issue. There is a need for beefed up enforcement during peak elk viewing periods, roughly from mid-September to mid-October. This is the peak of the annual elk mating season, the rut.

Peak tourism occurs each fall. For about 4 weeks visitors fill area cabins for the elk rut. From mid September to mid October, one month, tourists can witness the spectacle of the huge bull elk bugling and running cows in the fields by highway 43 and 21, the food plot area. Sometimes the herds migrate to other areas of the valley, but they always return to the food plot after a short time. During this period, the NPS and local sheriff should patrol Boxley Valley and keep things orderly, especially in the evenings.

At other times of the year, elk viewing traffic in Boxley Valley is steady, but not problematic. 95+% of the time, the only elk to be seen are in the food plot fields and mostly at the ends of the day.

AGFC is talking of a hunt to reduce the elk herd in Boxley Valley. This would be a horrible mistake for a couple of reasons. First, there are not too many elk, the claims of damages and problems are largely pre-food plot, and are greatly exaggerated. If anything, Boxley Valley elk numbers are down. Yes, they are down, not up. Sometimes there are a number of elk in the valley, but these are migrating groups and they soon leave. Often one cannot find a single elk the whole length of the valley. I would say on average, there are 30-50 elk in the Boxley Valley, and they are in the 300 acre food plot. This is hardly overpopulation.

I have never witnessed a single elk damage a fence. I have seen dozens of cattle do so. An elk can walk up to a 4 foot fence, pause, and jump over it without touching it. There is a reason elk-proof fences are built at 6 feet and up, elk don't think twice about 4 feet. They don't break them either. Cattle break fences all the time.

Another complaint is traffic hazards. One elk per year on average is killed or hit by cars in Boxley Valley. I would rate the hazard of hitting an elk roughly equal to hitting a whitetail deer. I have never had a close call with an elk in hundreds of visits to the valley. Elk do cross the road, but very infrequently, and that is no hardship on anyone. Elk don't bolt in front of cars quite like deer. I think this complaint is a non-starter.

Similarly, some have complained that tourists speed through Boxley Valley. People who speed in Boxley Valley are locals. Tourists go slow and take in the sights. I do see area residents travel Boxley Valley at over 60 miles an hour. Speeders are a hazard to everyone, tourists and residents of Boxley Valley alike. This is an enforcement issue. Tourists go slowly, and often stop and gawk. There is a need for more pullout areas.

What Course Should Be Taken?

What should be done if there are too many elk in Boxley Valley? (They are not overpopulated, but let's look at it for sake of argument.) There are two choices, kill them, or relocate them.

Option one, killing the elk takes a very limited resource, the elk, and provides a sporting experience for one person. Any hunt would be very small, so the number of hunters and any economic benefit they might provide would be say 25 elk killed, by 25 hunters, in one or two days. For sake of this example lets say they stay two nights in a local cabin = 50 cabin rentals.

This is a one time, every few year benefit because the herd is very small. Lets say we need a new controlled hunt every 4th year. Take the 50 divide it by 4, and the hunt yields 12 cabin rental nights a year.

Option two, move the elk and create another Boxley Valley-like elk viewing and wildlife watching experience. These same 25 elk, viewed by tourists actually multiply through natural reproduction. The resource is not exhausted, it actually bears interest. Again for sake of argument, let's say 12 net calf births a year. After 4 years, the population is roughly 60 elk, about the same population generally viewed in Boxley Valley. If promoted, these same elk draw thousands of tourists a year. Even if they stay only two nights each, that is a 4 year benefit of 1,000 elk viewing tourists is 1,000 times 2 nights, times 4 years -- 8,000 room rentals, or 2,000 room rentals a year.

This is the bottom line. If you take 2,000 room rentals (viewing) divided by 12 room rentals (hunting), you can see that the economic benefit of elk watching is 166 times greater. In dollar terms, at $100 a night cabin rental, it is $200,000 for viewing, vs. $1.200 for hunting a year.

(This is a very conservative number, there will be many more than 1,000 elk tourists in another viewing venue. )

In these economic times, it is in everyone's interest to harness the enormous economic multiplier of elk watching vs. elk hunting.. In this economic context, we must err on the side of revenues, on the side of creating new attractions, and protecting jobs, businesses and tax revenues. It is in everyone's interest.

Excess elk should not be killed, they should be relocated to create more elk viewing tourism. If we create a couple of more Boxley Valleys, Arkansas can become a national elk viewing destination. We have 18% of the population of the US within two tanks of gas. Imagine the impact of making the Gene Rush WMA a second elk viewing destination on par with Boxley Valley. That would double the viewing opportunities, and could provide the basis for an expanded promotion of the wildlife viewing resource. You can only kill an elk once, but you can view them year after year, and sell rooms, meals and local goods to visitors year after year.

But what about the handful of Boxley Valley farmers? If they have problems, let's compensate them for those problems. In view of the conservative 166x multiplier of viewing vs. hunting, we can afford it. It is clear we cannot afford to drive the elk off and curtail elk tourism. Elk viewing tourism is the way to create serious tourism-based revenues.

We can also afford the improvements to Boxley Valley to make it tourist-friendly. Improvements to Boxley Valley will pay for themselves overnight. Truthfully, they already have as elk viewing underpins local tourism. Elk viewing is often the one factor that tips the balance in decisions to vacation in Arkansas vs. another state.

Business people use the concept of "strategic competence" as a fancy way of saying you should do more of what you are good at to make money. It turns out we are very good at attracting tourist to view our elk. The Ponca Elk Education Center is by far the most attended of any education center in Arkansas, it has grown every year. The elk website arkansaswildlifephotography.com attracts 15,000 visitors from 50 states, and 33 countries. It has grown 100% each year.

The bottom line is we are very good at promoting elk watching. We need to expand on what we are good at. We know that elk tourism it is already a major source of revenue for Arkansas tourism. With a little work and imagination, we can become the elk viewing destination for the South. In this economy, we have to do everything we can to build on our successes and attract more tourism. Our economic future hinges on making the right decision.

How to Stop the Proposed Boxley Valley Elk Hunt

Write Cory Gray at mcgray@agfc.state.ar.us to express your opposition to a Boxley Valley elk hunt. This must be done as soon as possible. His phone number is 877-367-3559. If you would, please cc: comptonphotographer@gmail.com so we can track emails to AGFC on this issue. We must act now, the future of elk tourism is in the balance. Comment closes in a few days.

2010 Arkansas Elk Rut Viewing Planner

2010-08-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

In just under six weeks, the prime fall elk viewing season will be in gear in Boxley Valley, in NW Arkansas. From the middle of September until around the first of November, the annual elk rut will take place.

The absolute best place to view the rut is along Highway 43. Prime times are mornings and evenings, but as the weather moderates, all day viewing is possible.

Fortunate visitors may witness a bull elk fight as pictured on the left. Dominant herd bulls weighing nearly 1,000 pounds vie for mating rights. This is the best time to see these majestic animals and listen to them bugle. Wildlife lovers come from a multi-state region to enjoy the spectacle creating income for cabin owners and local small businesses.

A growing number of photographers have learned that Boxley Valley is one of the very best places to get "lifetime" photos of elk. The unique geological characteristics of Boxley Valley traps the herds between two bluff lines. They pasture in the fields fairly close to the road. To get the very best photos, a long lens is required. I recommend 400MM if you can afford it, or at least 200MM with a multiplier. High megapixel cameras enable photographers to crop for "digital zoom" and achieve decent results. Tripod or monopod use will enhance results for most, but personally I opt for a high ISO and leave the clutter behind.

The Arkansas Game and Fish is now creating its elk management plan. One of the concerns to be addressed by the plan is the Boxley Valley elk herd that some local people assert has become too large. I spend more time observing the Boxley Valley elk herd than anyone. If anything, there are fewer animals than in years past, plus they now concentrate in feed plots around the intersections of highways 43 and 21, and therefore affect farmers elsewhere in Boxley Valley less than in the past.

I believe the bottom line is that local people want to hunt the Boxley Valley, not to control elk, but just to kill elk as a game animal. The arguments they make have little basis in fact and must be examined in the larger context of what is good for tourism. Newton County cannot afford to have elk viewing harmed by a hunt in Boxley Valley.

Decisions are weighed on competing frames of reference. There are competing frames of reference here. One is the concerns of a handful of farmers who would like to see the elk herd driven from Boxley Valley. The larger frame is what driving the elk from Boxley Valley would mean to hundreds of Newton County residents who derive their incomes from tourism.

If you look at the numbers, there are a handful that want the elk gone, and hundreds of residents who depend on tourism for their livelihoods. In 2009 Newton County had a 9% increase in revenues, while its neighbor, Boone County had a revenue decline of 10%. The difference is tourism, and a huge part of Newton County's tourism is the elk herd, specifically the viewing of the elk herd in Boxley Valley.

In this economy, Arkansas cannot afford to reduce tourism. Not at all. While I feel sorry for the rare problems a handful of farmers may have with elk, I am much more concerned about throwing away a dependable state-class tourist attraction that results in revenue for the county government, and jobs for hundreds of local residents.

Newton County is one of the poorest counties in Arkanasas, it cannot afford to lose tourism dollars. Tourism dollars are the life blood of Newton County and it appears that these revenues are shielding the county from the deep recession impacting everywhere else, like Boone County. Elk viewing is one of the cornerstones Newton County tourism, it should be expanded by relocating elk to more areas if anything.

Under no circumstances should elk viewing be curtailed in Boxley Valley, it should be expanded. Elk viewing often tips the balance for tourists who consider alternative destinations for a vacation. We cannot afford to lose our standing as the Elk Capital of Arkansas, our jobs and economic future depend on protecting elk viewing tourism.

Prime Elk Viewing Season Fast Approaching

2010-07-27T03:45:00.000-07:00

Late August is the beginning of prime elk viewing season, and it extends nearly until the end of the year. It has distinct stages. Preparations are now underway for the elk rut just 6 weeks off.

Bull elk are now nearing the end of the regrowth of antlers for the 2010 season. This new growth continues until about mid-August when they begin to "scrape" the velvet off their antlers in preparation for the rut. Viewers will see ribbons of half-scraped velvet hanging from their antlers until the process is complete. Newly scraped antlers are bone white and quickly season to a deep brown by the end of August for most animals.

The annual elk rut is one of the biggest tourism shows in Arkansas. It begins roughly the second week of September, peaking roughly for the two week period from the last week in September to the first week in October, when the bull elk battle to establish breeding rights. Aside from the traditional two week peak period, the rut may extend until the end of the year. Cow elk that are not successfully bred return to estrous. Typically there is a second estrous, and some animals will enter a third estrous.

Visitors to the elk rut will hear bull elk bugling, and if they are fortunate, will witness an actual bull fight. Viewing is most popular late afternoons and evenings in Boxley Valley. Elk herds range up and down the valley from Ponca to the trailhead to the Upper Wilderness, but the greatest concentration of elk in recent years has been in the fields near the highway 43 and 21 intersection.

The definitive resource for elk viewing information is at http://arkansaswildlifephotography.com. This site offers up-to-date information on elk viewing, as well as many galleries of elk photography from past years.

It is time now to book a room if you plan to stay in the Ponca area. The best single source for lodging information is upperbuffaloriver.com. Staying in Ponca or Jasper puts you just minutes from the elk herd in Boxley Valley. Area cabins are now booking up fast for the fall season.

Volunteers Needed for Buffalo River Cleanup, Sunday, June 13th

2010-06-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Buffalo National River can use your help. It is time to be a part
of maintaining this resource. The annual river cleanup is a great event,
one that anyone can participate in.

The Buffalo National River cleanup is divided by the three regions of
the river. Consider doing your part to make this event a success.

Below is the press release from the National Park Service:

National Park Service
Buffalo National River
402 N. Walnut
U.S. Department of the Interior
Harrison, AR 72601

870/365-2700

870/365-2701 FAX

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Caven Clark, Chief, Interpretation & Cultural Resources

Phone: 870/365-2792

Sunday, June 13th, the Buffalo National River Partners is sponsoring a
river cleanup on the Buffalo. Three sections of the river are being
targeted:

Upper Buffalo River from Hasty to Carver; meet at 9am at the Hasty put in.
The contact for the upper river is Aletha Petty 870-743-2639 or
aletha.jasper@yahoo.com

Middle Buffalo River from Bakers Ford to Tyler Bend; meet at the Tyler
Bend launch area at 9am. The contact for the middle river is Laura Timby at
870-504-1647 or ldtimby@ritternet.com

Lower Buffalo River section from Spring Creek to the Hwy 14 bridge; meet
at the Hwy 14 bridge parking area at 9am. The contact for the lower river
is Roy Stovall at 870-736-0505 or roy.stovall@suddenlink.net

Volunteers are also free to do different sections if they wish.
Participants should bring a Personal Flotation Device, water and a lunch as
well as some tools for extracting tires and debris from the river. A
shovel, pick or hoe, and a long handled grabber would be helpful. Trash
bags will be provided. A hat, sunscreen and good river shoes would also be
a good idea. Contact Laura 870-504-1647 if you have any questions or if you
wish to participate and do not have your own canoe.

NPS Seeking Input on its General Management Plan

2010-05-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

This is an important opportunity to provide input on planned Buffalo National River improvements in Lost Valley, Rush and Hasty Landings, and expansion of parking space at the Spring Creek Trailhead. The text below quotes their recent release.

"The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated work on an Environmental Assessment (EA) and is seeking public and agency input for the proposed Facilities Improvements project to determine if the project could potentially result in any significant impacts to the natural or human environment. The EA will evaluate potential impacts to the natural, cultural, and human environment from construction and operations activities related to the proposed action and will be available for public review in the summer 2010. The NPS is seeking comments from the public and government agencies to help identify issues and concerns for the planning process and the EA analysis.

The purpose of the project is to improve vehicle and pedestrian access to the river at Rush and Hasty Landings, provide parking space at the Spring Creek Trailhead, and improvements to the Lost Valley Trail for hiker safety and to ensure compliance with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

At this time, we are initiating a public scoping period that will be open for 30 days. During this scoping period, the public is invited to identify any issues or concerns they may have with the proposed project so that they may be appropriately considered in the EA. Additional information may be found and comments may be submitted online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/buff or by mailing them to: Facilities Improvements EA at the following address:

Buffalo National River

402 N. Walnut, Suite 136

Harrison, Arkansas 72601"

Free Wildflower Photography Workshop

2010-04-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 17 at 1 PM, there will be a free wildflower photography workshop at the Ponca Elk Education Center in Ponca, Arkansas. The topic will be photographing Arkansas wildflowers and will be put on by professional photographer Michael Doherty who is focused on wildlife and outdoor photography in the upper Buffalo River region.

Interested persons should contact the Ponca elk education center at 870-861-2432. the class size is set for 20 pristine participants, and if more than 20 register a second session will be scheduled in our or so after the first. The goal is to keep the class size small so that there will be good interaction with the instructor.

Everyone is encouraged to attend. Ideally each participant should go to Lost Valley Campground, and spend the morning taking pictures of wildflowers. This preparatory exercise will get them in the frame of mind to think through the challenges they faced in the morning and relayed it to the instructional content presented in the afternoon.

The free wildflower photography workshop is a part of the ongoing educational programs of the Ponca Elk Education Center, a program of Arkansas Game and Fish.

Wildflowers Peaking Now At Buffalo National River

2010-04-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Plan to visit Buffalo National River if you are a wildflower fan. The wildflower bloom is now at peak and will last for a couple of weeks yet before beginning a slow decline.

Popular venues include the Lost Valley Campground and Smith Creek Preserve. A handful of early species are now past their blooming period, but just this week Phlox, Jack-In-The-Pulpits, May Apples, all the woods violets, Larkspur, Dogwood Trees, Red Bud Trees, and Crested Iris have started blooming.

Lost Valley Campground is a great venue for the entire family. The first half-mile of the trail is barrier free with two benches to rest on. This same section of trail has virtually every wildflower that is blooming everywhere in Lost Valley.

Of course, the wildflower story transcends Lost Valley. The entire Buffalo National River region is ablaze in wildflowers. Virtually every roadside, feeder creek, holler, and bank of the river is a part of the bloom.

For specific information and timing of the species as well as other Buffalo National River information, visit http://arkansaswildlifephotography.com. For floating contact Lost Valley Canoe at http://lostvalleycanoe.com. For lodging and outfitters, visit http://upperbuffaloriver.com, for an area guide and to stay just minutes from the river and all the famous attractions like Hemmed In Hollow, Steel Creek, Indian Creek, Lost Valley, and the Ponca Wilderness.

Spring is prime time in the heart of Buffalo River County, Newton County.

2010 Wildflower Season is Officially Underway

2010-03-28T10:49:00.001-07:00

It is time to visit your favorite wildflower locations at Buffalo National River. Local favorites include Lost Valley and Smith Creek Preserve. Less known wildflower patches exist just about everywhere it seems.

The Buffalo National River has many tributary streams. These have carved small canyons and hollers creating ideal wildflower habitats.

The annual wildflower bloom is most famous in the spring, but there are many different species throughout the year. The earliest species in the Buffalo National River show up at about the same time as the first daffodils. Some, like Harbinger of Spring are already declining. Others like the many trillium species are only now reaching peak.

With the weather now moving solidly into a late spring pattern, wildflower growth will be picking up steam. The peak show only lasts a few weeks. It is now time to make that spring hike or float and experience the beauty of the Buffalo National River, the jewel of the Ozarks.

Spring Weather is Coming to Bufflalo National River

2010-02-27T06:19:00.000-08:00

The weather has shifted in the last few days. Updated forecasts this morning predict 50 degree temps next week. Signs of spring are everywhere even though the official date is a couple of weeks off. We are getting close to the temperatures that will kick off the floating season.

Floaters, campers and cabin renters should be making reservations now before the warmer weather kicks in. My friends in the cabin and floating business say calls have picked up dramatically in the last few days.