JACKSON, Wyo. — On Thursday, Dec. 5, the National Elk Refuge (NER) released a biological update on ungulate movement, counts and forage.
Movement
According to the update, which was written by NER Senior Wildlife Biologist Eric K. Cole, the first major elk movement of the season occurred on Nov. 27 and 28. Approximately 1,500 to 2,500 elk moved through the NER and onto National Forest land east of the Refuge around this time period.
As of Dec. 2, no elk were observed on the south half of the Refuge and 27% of GPS collared elk were on that National Forest land mentioned above.
“With the NER elk hunting season still open, relatively little snowpack and winter range closures now in effect on the Forest, these elk will likely remain on the Forest and off the Refuge for the time being,” Cole writes.
According to Cole, the remaining 73% of GPS collared elk that have yet to migrate to the NER are currently located in Grand Teton National Park, the Gros Ventre drainage and private land southwest of the airport.
Counts
Cole conducts weekly counts of all ungulates in a standard 11,400-acre survey area, which roughly corresponds to the south half of the NER. Cole writes he observed the following as of Dec. 2:
- Zero elk
- Zero bison
- Five pronghorn (down from the summer high count of 13)
- Eighteen Bighorn sheep (all on Miller Butte, but additional sheep have been observed in Sheep Creek north of the Curtis Canyon Road since late October)
- Three mule deer
- Zero moose
Forage and feeding
The amount of forage, meaning grasses and other herbaceous plants, produced on the NER varies annually, Cole writes, and May to June precipitation along with NER irrigation activities has the greatest effect on the amount produced.
During the 2024 growing season, an estimated 16,500 tons of herbaceous forage was produced on the NER (long-term average is 15,950 tons).
Beginning in late December, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists and Cole will start measuring available forage on the Refuge to determine when supplemental feeding is necessary. More information about forage availability monitoring and feeding start dates will be provided in future biological updates.
