Antler Auction
Elk Antler Auction Attracts Worldwide Audience
Spring means the Jackson District Boy Scouts of America are
preparing for their annual Elk Antler Auction. As usual, it will be held on the Jackson
town square at 10:00 A.M. on the third Saturday in May. Drawing attention nationwide as the
largest auction of its kind in the world, buyers will gather from near and far. Registration
will begin at 9:00 A.M. Once a prime source for antler headed to the Orient for use
in medicines and aphrodisiacs, the auction now attracts craftsmen as its main buyers.
Last year's auction was attended by over a thousand people, with over one hundred
bidders from twenty-two states and one foreign country. more info
Antler Auction Listings: (add your listing)
Jackson Hole Pack Trips - A trip for lovers of elk
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Yellowstone Safari Company - see elk up close
If you love seeing elk antlers, you'll love seeing them in person. First-class, private tours in the park with experienced biologist-guides for once in a lifetime experiences.
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Elk
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The Boy Scouts began to gather antlers on the refuge in the late '50s with the auction beginning in 1968. In recent years, the demand for antler crafted items has lured craftsmen attempting to obtain some of the finest antlers around. Antlers are bundled together with these craftsmen in mind. Some antlers are bundled for those wanting to make chandeliers or furniture, while other are bundled for knife handles, cribbage sets and small craft items. antlers with large, rough buttons are coveted by craftsmen who carve them into belt buckles and bolos. The button is the base of the antler where it attaches to skull. The carved buttons look somewhat like ivory and are often very intricate and beautiful. Bundles at the auction range from a single matched pair to large trailer loads. Last year the Scouts gathered 9,355 pounds of antler for the auction. Average prices for antlers, sold by the pound, have increased tremendously over the years. They have gone from $.50 per pound in 1968 to the record high of $14.07 per pound in 1989. Last year saw an average price of $9.82 per pound.
At one time the auction was simply a fund raiser for local Boy Scouts. Now it is more of a service project with most of the money returned to the refuge to help with the elk winter feeding program. In this cooperative spirit, the refuge is able to provide excellent care for the herds that winter here, even in times of budget shortfalls and government cutbacks. Expect to see more cooperation between National Park and Wildlife Refuges and service organizations, business and private sector in these times of cutbacks. The Refuge donates the older, sun-bleached antlers to the town for repair of the four arches that serve as the distinctive entrances to the town square.
In a way, the elk help provide for their own care. In early spring the bull elk begin to shed their antler and begin the process of growing a new set. Refuge personnel, local Boy Scouts and Scouters all gather on the refuge to collect the new fallen treasure. It is important to remove accumulated antler in elk feeding areas to reduce damage to feeding equipment, to prevent trespassing by antler thieves and to prevent disturbance to the elk herds. At this point the work is just begun. Next comes the job of sorting and bundling the antler with all the different craftsmen in mind. Of course those people just wanting a matched set for their mantle can't be forgotten either. These are actually the hardest, since the elk don't drop them side by side. After the sorting and bundling comes the task of weighing, tagging, recording and loading the antler on trailers to await the auction.
When auction day arrives, the activity starts early. All the antlers must be moved to the square and the laid out for inspection, which starts at 7:00 A.M. The Scouts also hold their Expo on the same day, so the square is a beehive of activity. Deloney Street, on the north side of the square, is closed for the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole's independent vendor sales. Drawn by the large crowd looking for antlers, these vendors in the past sold their products from the back of pickups all over town. To create a more controlled situation, the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole took on the task of procuring the necessary permits and then sells space to these independent sellers to conduct sale in an orderly fashion.
Held on the east side of the square on Center Street, the Boy Scout auction starts promptly at 10:00 A.M. With up to four volunteer auctioneers taking turns at accepting bids, the approximately 130 lots of antler are sold at a very brisk pace, with the auction usually ending before noon. The highlight of the sale is the large bulk trailer, which last year weighed 6753 pounds. As the auction begins to wind down, the crowd moves into the square to inspect the Scout Expo, wanders over to the Old Timers' picnic dinner or begins to load their newly purchased treasures. With only the clean-up left for this year's work, the Scouters' thoughts turn to the tasks and challenges of next year's sale.
For more information:
Elk Antler Auction
Phone: (307) 733-5935
42F
