Elk Rut Underway, Fall Color in a Month

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. 

Prime Elk Viewing Season Fast Approaching

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.