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Hunting News Latest Hunting News Free-ranging elk seen in Panhandle
Hunting News Latest Hunting News Free-ranging elk seen in Panhandle 
| Free-ranging elk seen in Panhandle |
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| Written by Craig Nyhus | |
| Wednesday, 27 February 2008 | |
 Trey Trammell topped off a tough whitetail season when this 5x5 bull elk appeared in a canyon in the northeastern Panhandle. Trey Trammell was about ready to give up on his Panhandle deer hunt for the day. But a last look in a rolling canyon dotted with cottonwoods and cedars caught him off-guard. “The deer hunting was terrible; I hadn’t seen one all day,” he said. “I checked the canyon and four cow elk and a 5-by-5 elk came out.” Trammell grew up in Dalhart, and has hunted for years on his stepfather’s working cattle ranch in the northeastern Panhandle. “There have always been some elk in the Panhandle,” he said. “I’ve seen them since I was a kid. Some were brought in and some are in high-fence operations.” Trammell had seen elk in the area in past years, but didn’t think they were wild. “You can tell when you see the tame ones, they don’t spook when you drive by on the road. The wild ones high-tail it.” But he believes the elk he saw on that late December Saturday were wild. “I think these were free-ranging elk,” he said. “They were very spooky — they didn’t act tame.” Biologists have seen elk in the Panhandle over the years, but don’t think any herds are developing. “We get a few that trickle in from New Mexico, especially into Dallam County,” said Jeff Bonner, TPW biologist. “But most of the elk up here are what got out of high-fenced areas, or offspring of what got out.” Bonner said in Olchiltree County a landowner had a 1,000-acre elk farm. “He sold it and the new landowner put in a high fence next to a canyon. The elk got out and were in a wheat field the next day. Some wild bulls then joined the escaped herd.” Bonner said during aerial surveys for antelope some elk have been observed. “We saw some along Wolf Creek in Olchiltree County and five cows in Lipscomb County,” he said. “And I’ve heard people have seen a small group of elk in Oldham County west of Amarillo.” Some people know the elk are there first-hand. “Throughout the years there have been some roaming through the Canadian River breaks,” said Mike Castles of Wichita Falls. “No one has ever said that there is a residing herd. But a big bull actually treed one of the farm hands on an irrigation system at the Pitchfork a few years back.” It was difficult for Trammell to contain his excitement. “The bull isn’t a wall-hanger,” he said. “People travel a long way and pay a lot of money to get a bull elk. To get one at home and not have to pay is a pretty good deal — and the meat is great.” Trammell will keep an eye out for elk in future years. “After I shot the bull,” he said. “His granddaddy came out from behind the brush. I hope to see him again.” |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 February 2008 ) |
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