Hardware Ranch has long tradition of elk care, education
For 40 years Glenn Kuehl has been making the drive up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to Hardware Ranch to see one thing: elk.
“I started out when I was a kid with my parents and it’s just kind of an annual thing,” he said.
At Hardware Ranch in Hyrum there are hundreds of elk spending their winters grazing, relaxing and, most importantly, staying out of the valley and farmlands. The program was set up in 1945 by the Division of Wildlife Resources to keep the elk in one spot, safe, without becoming a problem to local infrastructure.
“It’s a great thing. They take care of our elk here and keep them from going down in the valley as much,” said Brad Rochell, a volunteer at the ranch. “There are still some elk that migrate to the valley, but the ones that they keep up here they keep out of the farmers’ field and out of the valley.”
The elk also serve as a fundraiser for the DWR. People can go four days a week and pay $5 to take a sleigh ride to see the elk up close. That tradition started in 1946, one year after setting up the grazing area. The funds raised by the rides go back into the state fund, and then they’re reallocated. But much of the funding for the upkeep of the ranch and the elk comes from sportsman’s dollars — from purchases of things like hunting tags and fishing licenses. However, they are self-sustaining in the feeding aspect by growing all of the hay the elk eat during the summer.
Now the elk are unaffected by the periodic sleigh bells and chatter of people as the tours weave around them. They just eat while a tour guide spins off facts about the elk and their habits.
The DWR also takes advantage of the time to tag the elk and observe the population.
“That’s part of the wildlife studies that the wildlife biologist will do and that helps them keep track of the elk,” said Rebecca Getz, a sleigh driver and guide for the rides.
Getz has been working at the ranch running tours for the last eight winters.
“It’s really more of a hobby job; it’s a lot of fun I get to be out here,” Getz said. “I get glorious sunshine on winter days, I get to be with horses and I get to talk to the public about elk.”
Years with more snow see more elk. Regardless of the number of elk, at least some people turn out for the elk rides, especially families.
“My favorite part is being up here with the horses and having the little kids come and be so excited to see the horses and see the elk. They are so enthusiastic,” Getz said. “It’s just a lot of fun to share it with them.”
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