Elk forced out of Turnbull finding new range

WILDLIFE — As hunters are going out scouting for the upcoming big-game seasons, they aren’t necessarily looking for elk in traditional places.

For instance, the hunting seasons conducted the past two years inside the boundaries of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge have spurred more of the elk to move out and set up shop in the scablands to the south, east and north of the refuge.

Last year, on Aug. 30, birding buff Mike Miller was suprised and pleased to capture the accompanying photos while hiking around the Oligher Ranch portion of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Telford Recreation Area.

First, the bull was bedded down in the reeds. When Miller surprised it, and himself, the elk trotted out through the sage.