Show SMOKEY SAYS By Ranger KARL H. H HAASER Recent storms have moved our elk as well weIl as many other wild animals into the low valley ranges The elk is considered by many to be the Utah hunters' hunters dream Unfortunately he is not in great abundance nor will he ever be Range competition with domestic livestock necessitates holding the elk population at or near its present level Once elk roamed most of the United States Today they are found mostly in the northwest portion of our country These animals weigh from to 1000 pounds An adult bull buIl will stand five feet at the ders Cows normally have one calfin calfin calf calfin in mid Elk calves are spotted spotted spotted spot spot- ted much like deer fawns at birth Bulls drop their antlers about the first of March and start growing new ones almost im im- mediately During mating season in September September Sep Sep- the bugling of the bulls breaks the normal quiet of our mountain forests The clear whistling sound starts with a alow alow alow low note rises to a high pitch then drops abruptly and breaks into a harsh scream followed by a couple of loud grunts Most of the elk found on the west slopes of our mountain during during dur dur- during ing the summer winter in Joes Valley and in the lower Muddy range near Emery Utah A few winter low on the west slope A watchful eye will observe these animals near the foot of our mountains |