Outrageous. They are stunning creatures.I don't blame the pony. We got nervous last summer watching bucks when one wasn't sure whether he wanted us to between him and a doe. After that we kept our distance. Those antlers are made for business. Do you ever find the fallen racks? That would really be something.
You live in such a gorgeous area and to look outside and see elk is amazing! What majestic looking creatures these guys are and the frightened pony shot had me laughing. Then I get down to the bottom of the post to leave a comment and the google ad is for Minnesota elk meat - almost choked on my coffee :) How do they do that?
Hi, Pamela; It was amazing to see them - especially because they paid us a visit last year, too. (At least I think they're the same bunch - what do I know??)
Thx, Sweet Bay & Kiki; My adopted horse is a city slicker. She's spent her whole life in a barn. So, she almost had a heart attack when she first saw them. Me, too!
Hi ! Those are wonderful photos. I suspect they not only come for the buffet, but have realized they can't be shot in town. The Elk meat that's sold online is farm raised, though I doubt that means much to the elk. Oh, and good luck finding a rack, those things are worth their weight in gold. I've seen them sold from $30.00 to $12,000 dollars. -your brother
Hi, Anonymous Brother :) You are sooo right. They come down from the hills twice a year -- to lounge in our backyards during hunting season [they are well-protected from those horrid hunter types.] And, then a smorgasbord of hay and oats in mid-winter is a fun time, too.
Ohmygoodness, Kate! What a sight! To be able to see that number of elk so quickly must be quite a thrill. I can imagine that your pony might have been a bit nervous. :-) Antelope (pronghorn) are quite different... but very pretty animals, too. :-) Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Carolina M. -- I am quite fond of your Smokey Mountains. I did my student teaching in Tennessee, hiked all over your neck of the woods while living there.
Horse Bella's thoughts on the elk were... "Put me in the barn! Right now! Hurry up! And, lock the door!" :)
Oh Beautiful! Those boys are lovely! My mare would have fallen onto the ground of a heart attack- she's horrified of cows, deer- pretty much anything bigger than a dog with four legs! Thank you for sharing those amazing photos!
Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your kind compliments. They are very big and they scare me, too, but they don't seem the slightest bit uncomfortable around people. In fact, the following day, quite a few locals came out to admire them. They seemed to enjoy the attention!
Hey, Bookworm! Regal is a fab descriptor. They were here last winter, much smaller in stature at that time. I'm amazed at how massive they've become in 1 short year...
How cool! My grandkids would be mesmerized by a sight like this. Actually, a neighbor who's a vet raises some elk here. But they're behind a fence of evergreens, so it's not often we get a close-up look at them.
I would love to see that. (well not the scared pony. poor baby)
ReplyDeleteOutrageous. They are stunning creatures.I don't blame the pony. We got nervous last summer watching bucks when one wasn't sure whether he wanted us to between him and a doe. After that we kept our distance. Those antlers are made for business. Do you ever find the fallen racks? That would really be something.
ReplyDeleteYou must be in the neighborhood of Jackson, WY. In my neck of the woods, those would be pronghorns.
ReplyDeletelove those two closeups of 'the boys'. fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThey are so huge -- I'd be a bit nervous too if I were that pony.
ReplyDeleteYour horse does look a well bit alarmed. :) Those elk are magnificent! Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteWow..so cool! Lucky!! Gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteKiki~
You live in such a gorgeous area and to look outside and see elk is amazing! What majestic looking creatures these guys are and the frightened pony shot had me laughing. Then I get down to the bottom of the post to leave a comment and the google ad is for Minnesota elk meat - almost choked on my coffee :) How do they do that?
ReplyDeleteHi, Pamela;
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing to see them - especially because they paid us a visit last year, too. (At least I think they're the same bunch - what do I know??)
Hi, Sukmandir;
ReplyDeleteI ride horses in that meadow all summer long but I've never seen a fallen rack. That would be cool...
Hi, Stan;
ReplyDeleteI'm about 4 hours south of Jackson. Around here it's just the big guys - elk and moose. I rarely see a deer or an antelope.
Thx, Caite;
ReplyDeleteI think they were on a mission to steal Bella's hay. She was more than happy to run far away from them! :)
Truth be told, Beth, I was as scared as Bella. I could have gotten closer but they are enormous! And, those horns are scary. :))
ReplyDeleteThx, Sweet Bay & Kiki;
ReplyDeleteMy adopted horse is a city slicker. She's spent her whole life in a barn. So, she almost had a heart attack when she first saw them. Me, too!
Yikes, Marsha! That's horrible. I'm turning those freakin' ads off right now! It's not worth the lame nickel Google pays me...
ReplyDeleteWow! That is awesome.. What nice looking animals!
ReplyDeleteAllison
http://wellreadreviews.com/wordless-wednesday-meme-2
Hi !
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful photos. I suspect they not only come for the buffet, but have realized they can't be shot in town.
The Elk meat that's sold online is farm raised, though I doubt that means much to the elk.
Oh, and good luck finding a rack, those things are worth their weight in gold. I've seen them sold from $30.00 to $12,000 dollars. -your brother
Impressive photos - and a nice punch line with the pony :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming to visit today - we always love to hear from first-time visitors!
wow i cannot imagine having that landscape outside my door...although i'm sure i wouldn't survive in you weather to see it lol.
ReplyDeleteso glad you dropped by my blog...i love your blog....your photos are awesome!
Hi, Anonymous Brother :)
ReplyDeleteYou are sooo right. They come down from the hills twice a year -- to lounge in our backyards during hunting season [they are well-protected from those horrid hunter types.] And, then a smorgasbord of hay and oats in mid-winter is a fun time, too.
Thx, Catsynth - I loved your photos, too.
ReplyDeleteShelle -- I am now, officially, living vicariously through you and your lovely, cultured, city slicker life. What? Me? Jealous?
Wowza! 'Em are some BIG elk! Gorgeous photos...
ReplyDeleteI love it! I was actually lucky enough to have a herd of elk migrate through (and live for one season!) on my property. I sure do miss them.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures!!! Poor scared pony. :) Happy WW!
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic winter shots of the "boys".
ReplyDeleteThx, Titanium - I loved the kayaking pics!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jennifer - I'd love it if they would stick around for a season. Though I don't think my horsie is of the same mindset. :)
Hey, Spice! You are raising quite the little rock star soccer player! Cute pic.
Ohmygoodness, Kate! What a sight! To be able to see that number of elk so quickly must be quite a thrill. I can imagine that your pony might have been a bit nervous. :-) Antelope (pronghorn) are quite different... but very pretty animals, too. :-) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIncredible shots!
ReplyDeleteWow - elk? We have them here in the Smokies. Poor pony! Wonder waht he thinks of the boys!
ReplyDeleteThx, Carver, Julia and Shady;
ReplyDeleteI've lived here for awhile, now, but I still marvel that such gigantic animals just stroll into the yard.
Fingers crossed they don't come back in summer. I wouldn't have much of a garden after they came to call!
Hi, Carolina M. --
ReplyDeleteI am quite fond of your Smokey Mountains. I did my student teaching in Tennessee, hiked all over your neck of the woods while living there.
Horse Bella's thoughts on the elk were... "Put me in the barn! Right now! Hurry up! And, lock the door!" :)
Beautiful pictures! I want to live there!
ReplyDeleteI linked to you in my "The Very Best Of Wordless Wednesday" post, http://www.goodbadandgottahave.com/2010/02/very-best-of-wordless-wednesday.html
Thanks for the link! Very kind of you!
ReplyDeleteHappy Wordless Wednesday. :))
These are great! I've always been an outdoors girl, and I love your part of the country. Happy WW and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh Beautiful! Those boys are lovely! My mare would have fallen onto the ground of a heart attack- she's horrified of cows, deer- pretty much anything bigger than a dog with four legs! Thank you for sharing those amazing photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing, gorgeous creatures! But imposing. I think I'd stick to rat wrangling. ;-)
ReplyDeletethose boys are gorgeous. if i were the pony, i'd be scared too.
ReplyDeleteUnimaginable as I am sitting here in my cozy house in nashville! gail
ReplyDeleteI love to watch the elk! Aren't those boys regal looking? They're just so massive, and proud.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
Thanks, Patricia;
ReplyDeleteWhile I sometimes miss the city life, I love it out here, too. There's always some fun thing happening in the great outdoors.
Hi, Topiary;
I think our mares are a lot alike. :) All of the horses were quite worried about their visitors.
Hi, Sparkle, Life, Gardening Tips and Gail!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your kind compliments. They are very big and they scare me, too, but they don't seem the slightest bit uncomfortable around people. In fact, the following day, quite a few locals came out to admire them. They seemed to enjoy the attention!
Hey, Bookworm!
ReplyDeleteRegal is a fab descriptor. They were here last winter, much smaller in stature at that time. I'm amazed at how massive they've become in 1 short year...
Wow Elk with headgear, lovely shots. Is that your house in the first photo?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melanie;
ReplyDeleteNo, no - that house is way too nice to be mine. That's the guy that hollers at us when we ride our horses through his property! :D
Totally awesome. Loved the way you arranged the layout, too. Left me smiling! The "boys" are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! My grandkids would be mesmerized by a sight like this. Actually, a neighbor who's a vet raises some elk here. But they're behind a fence of evergreens, so it's not often we get a close-up look at them.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate - Wow! Those boys are scary! I love the new look of your blog. How close did you get to those elk? Gloria
ReplyDeleteThx, Snowcatcher and Rose;
ReplyDeleteIt's a real treat when they migrate through this area...
Hi, Gloria;
ReplyDeleteBella (horse) and I were standing about 25 feet from the two big guys. The other 3 were smaller, maybe younger, and weren't as brave.
This looks like the part of Colorado where our relatives live. Those big boys look a bit scary. I would keep my distance.
ReplyDeleteJust scrolled up and see you are in Utah at 7,000 feet. I guess that is very similar to Colorado at 7,000 feet!