the Koyle Family: Hardware Ranch

Hardware Ranch provides a safe haven for the elk that used to come down the mountains to Cache Valley for the winter. Due to the population growth in the valley, it is no longer safe for the elk to continue all the way down the mountain. Hardware Ranch was bought to provide that winter refuge. (So there's your environmental awareness message for the day!) We went to visit the ranch. It was a fun family activity!

First we went to the visitor's center to get our tickets for the sleigh ride. They had alot of stuffed animals (not the cute kind) and we saw more pelts than I thought was strictly necessary. But it is also a hunting area (in season). (Oh, and please don't touch)

Then we went to wait for our horse drawn sleigh! The horses were HUGE!

Ya know, it's fun going out in the winter but it makes taking pictures of your kids kinda hard.

Now we were off to join the herd. The guide made sure we knew these were wild animals. Other than dropping hay and some occasional testing (for herd health) they don't mess with these animals. He said the antlers on the bulls drop off in the spring and then start to grow back at about 1 inch a day! So in 45 days you've got a full grown rack at...yep, 45 inches! He said the previous winters condition does to some degree affect the growth of the antlers but the main determination of size is genetics.

This guy (above) probably lost a fight (although most fight don't get very violent) The squeaking sound you hear in the video are the cows and calfs calling to each other.

Elk Butts. . .sorry, I couldn't resist.

This is a baby from last spring. The guide said about 80% of the females were pregnant now and would have a new crop of babies this spring up in the high mountains.