Have you ever seen a living Rocky Mountain elk from just feet away? The majestic animals are usually shy of humans and can only be glimpsed through pine trees or on the run over sage-covered hills. But, in the winter these beautiful wild animals have learned that humans come in handy when food gets scarce or covered with snow.

For many years, the resident elk in the Elkhorn Ridge of northeast Oregon's Blue Mountains raided the haystacks around the edges of the Powder Valley each winter, taking hay that was meant to feed domestic cattle herds. A number of years ago, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife stepped in to help both the elk and the ranchers by purchasing hay and establishing feeding sites where the wild animals could be fed on a regular basis without disrupting the important local beef industry. The result is healthier elk herds and an amazing opportunity for humans to watch one of the west's most magnificent mammals - still wild the rest of the year, but strangely tolerant of people for a few short winter months.

At the Anthony Creek elk feeding site near North Powder, Oregon, T & T Wildlife Tours offers spectacular up-close elk viewing from a horse-drawn wagon, complete with expert narration about the animals, the feeding program, and the history of the surrounding area. The tours begin on weekends every December and continue through February. The wagon is fully accessible.   

For the holiday season, the elk viewing excursions are happening all week and they are a wonderful activity for visitors and residents alike. Normally only available Saturdays and Sundays, they also run every day between Christmas and January 3, including New Year's Day.

Currently, they are feeding about 183 head of Rocky Mountain elk at the Anthony Creek site.  About 10 to 15 of those animals are branch-antler bulls.  “The calves are now getting accustomed to our human interaction via the horse-drawn wagon full of people," said Susan Triplett of T & T Wildlife Tours, "and it appears that the youngsters are in great condition, and had very healthy summer foraging.” 

One of the ‘Old Gentlemen’ of the mountains, now a very big six-point bull elk, is back, and he is showing off his 2009 antler growth! “We have been watching Scoop Loop grow for at least the past 8 years, and this year he has added a good three to five inches in his antler span, making him one of largest bulls we have ever had on the site,” said Triplett, who, with Alice Trindle, has been offering the elk-viewing tours via horse-drawn wagon for 19 years.   

People who want to make the first trip, during which they actually feed the elk, need to get there before 10:30. There is often a waiting line for that trip, which leaves the parking area at 10:30. Although the promotional material says 11 to 2, if there is no one around at 1 p.m., they usually load up and go home. So, best bet is to time your visit to the site between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

If you haven't been out, I highly recommend it (and a repeat visit, if you have!). The site is beautiful and they do a fantastic job of talking about the elk. And, most of all, you will never have the opportunity to get closer to these majestic animals alive. Here is the T & T Wildlife Tours Web site, www.tnthorsemanship.com. Click on Wildlife Tours.