This year's ElkFest antler auction on the town square in Jackson Hole will look a little different, and the reason is one that anyone who spent time outside this past winter already knows: it was remarkably mild. With warmer temperatures pushing elk off the National Elk Refuge earlier than usual, the annual shed hunt yielded far fewer antlers than normal. Scouts collected roughly a third of last year's total — the lightest haul in two decades. And yet, as Jackson Hole Friends of Scouting president Paul Vogelheim put it simply, "We're moving forward with this great tradition." Some things are bigger than a slow season.
Now in its 59th year, the auction kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. on the Town Square, with viewing of lots starting at 7 a.m., a performance by the Jackson Hole Community Band at 9, and a flag ceremony at 9:30. Despite the smaller inventory, Vogelheim notes there are some "good quality, very unique" antlers in the mix — including seven antler skulls and 11 matched pairs recovered by refuge staff along the northern boundary. Private sellers will be well-represented too, and with fewer antlers overall, competitive bidding could make for an interesting morning. Registration is open at ElkFest.org or in person on the Square.
The weekend extends well beyond the auction. Saturday evening, the Old West Hoedown at the Virginian Saloon runs from 7 to 10:30 p.m. with dance lessons and music by Possum Queen. Sunday brings the High Noon Chili Cook-off back to the Square, where guests can sample entries and vote for the People's Choice Award for $30 a ticket. The proceeds from the auction — which has historically raised between $200,000 and $300,000 — go largely to feeding the elk herd through the following winter, with the remainder supporting Scout programs. A leaner year at the refuge doesn't diminish what ElkFest represents: the Jackson Hole community showing up, season after season, for the place and the wildlife they share it with.
Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
