Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation members in the state of Missouri held their second consecutive Rendezvous (June 1-2) at the Peck Conservation Ranch near Winona. About 15 people took part in the Saturday morning projects which included cleaning trails and the archery range as well as the disassembly of a holding pen from the original elk relocation and release site six years ago.
It wasn’t all work for those on hand either. Some volunteers showed up Friday evening to set up camp before touring the Peck Ranch where they counted more than 50 elk in less than an hour before dusk.
After the work project, everyone got together for a potluck cookout that included some good homemade dishes and a few elk burgers too. As people enjoyed their meals, biologists from the Missouri Department of Conservation answered additional questions about the future of the Missouri elk herd, the tracking and collaring process with calves and what habitat improvements will be needed at next year’s rendezvous.
RMEF assisted with the successful restoration of elk to their historic Missouri range in 2011.
