Just saw something just now I have never seen in mid-April, a 6pt bull crossed the road in front of me on my way home. Thought he would have lost his antlers by now.

Elk hold onto their antlers longer than many other "deer." When I lived in near the National Bison Range in the 1980s (which also has a bunch of elk) I often photographed big bulls in April that still had both antlers.

I saw these near Toston…

Dibs on the second from right.




P

Mild winter, I saw a bull today packing both sides. Last week I saw a bull moose still carrying both antlers.

I haven't been to the Bison Range since I was a kid. Any idea how it is these days. My Mom was born in Pablo and we used to go that way a lot as kids.

My 15 year old daughter was salivating over the thought of getting that elk. We reminded each other it was not hunting season. She and I are going on a guided elk hunt at Heron this year so maybe she can get her bull then.

Um August?

I have seen bulls with antlers in May.

lol. Exactly

I’ve never seen elk with antlers! ☹️ 😉 memtb

I've seen elk here in SE Oregon still packing in early May.
I also have a book on the history of Wyoming feed grounds by Ron Dean. Therein are mid-winter feed ground shots with velvet and hard antler bulls standing side by side. A lot of variation within the species.

A few years ago I saw a 6pt bull in Grand Teton NP with its antlers in mid May... that's as late as I've ever seen.

I have also seen them with antlers in early May.

I was surprised 3 weeks ago to see a mule deer still wearing his rack, near Roy.

Just a Hunter: My wifes great uncle was the National Bison Range Manager for MANY years and I always relished going there over the decades and photographing the Mule Deer, Whitetailed Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Antelope, Buffalo and especially the Elk.
I have some amazing pictures of those creatures.
THEN.... a while ago, someone got the "bright idea" to turn over the management/ownership of the National Bison Range to the Indian folks.
Well to make long story short my friend from Germany came over for a visit two Septembers ago and he wanted to tour Glacier Park and the National Bison Range.
Glacier Park went amazingly well but when we visited the "National" Bison Range I was devastated!
We did NOT see one Elk - did NOT see a Deer of any kind with horns (saw two Whitetailed Does) - did not see a single Bighorn Sheep - did NOT see any Antelope and there were just a paltry amount of Buffalo on the whole range!
I was so frigging mad I wanted to lash out at the Indian folks in the visitor center but that would have been bad form in front of my visiting German speaking friend.
I was "seething" as we drove out of the Bison Range and then, to TOP IT OFF, there was a cluster of Indian folks SELLING Elk, Deer and Buffalo "jerky" just outside the exit of the Bison Range beside the road!
FMB!
I hope our visit during the height of the Elk/Antelope rutting seasons was somehow an aberration but over the decades I am certain I have toured the National Bison Range at least 35 times and ALWAYS, prior to the "shift in management", saw an abundance of every one of the above mentioned Big Game species.
I hope someone has a better news "review" for you.
I know I won't be buying my way into that "range" again until the game herds are recovered.
Sad.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The lone bull (actually, the lone elk) on the Island just got his pic taken last week. He's pushing 15 years old now, and currently a touch grouchy for a couple reasons:

1. How come those cows don't write?

2. Has yet to drop his head gear.

No, Toston…

Basically the new ones push the old Antlers off.

End of march to the end of april is when most drop where I look. With outliers on both ends of course. But most will drop during that month.

Shrap thats some high grass for April😎

I’ve seen bulls with one or two antlers still attached in mid May.

If a muley or bull still has velvet on by mid/late October they got other health/genetics issues.

I saw a medium size 6 pt bull with velvet on Jan 1 at the Jackson Elk Refuge years ago.

LOL

LOL
I just talked to a friend who lives near there and he agrees with you.

Not elk, but I seen a few bucks with antlers on last week.

Almost all the elk I'm around drop in March. AFew younger bulls will hold on until about the 7th of April.

Heck, I'd swing through and squeeze the trigger reeeeaaaal slow.

It's climate change.....

VG - dontcha know AmerInds are natural and responsible super conservationists? Get with the program, man!

I've seen elk still packing horns on tax day while bear hunting. By the end of the month they have almost always dropped and by the end of May they can be a couple feet long.