Elk Antler Auction
The world-famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction is an fantastic time to celebrate nature, outdoor skills, ecological education and awareness.
Elkfest
Organization:
Dates: 05/19/2012 - 05/20/2012 update info
Time: 7:00:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM
Event Cost: Free
Venue: Elkfest in Jackson,WY
Contact: Cliff and Loretta Kirkpatrick
Phone: (307) 733-5935
Email:
Website: www.elkfest.org
Event Details:
Come and visit the world's best collection of elk antler. The antler are collected from the National Elk Refuge, which is adjacent to the Town of Jackson, then sorted, bundled, weighed, organized into lots and sold at public auction on the town square.
After the Auction on Saturday, come back to the Town Square on Sunday for the Chili cook off.
The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and the Howdy Pardners would like to invite you to participate in the eighth annual High Noon Chili Cook-Off. This year's event is part of the Elkfest weekend (Annual Boy Scout Antler Auction) and will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2010 from 12-3 PM. The chili cook-off will be part of a great weekend with fun filled events, so come get involved!
- The Jackson Hole Antler Auctiong takes place the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend.
- Elk antlers are collected from the National Elk Refuge then organized into lots and sold at public auction on the Jackson Town Square.
- Additional activities include live musical performances, a chili cook- off, and a mountain man rendezvous.
Overview: Each spring thousand of wintering elk on the National Elk Refuge shed their antlers before heading to their summer range. The antlers are collected by the Jackson Hole Boy Scouts and the personnel of the Refuge. The thousands of antlers are then auctioned off to be made into furniture, art, and jewelry.
Additional activities which take place during this event includes live musical performances, a chili cook- off, and a mountain man rendezvous.
When: The Antler Auction and related events generally takes place the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend.
Where: The antlers are auctioned on the Jackson Town Square. Other related activities can be found through-out the town of Jackson
Fee: There is no cost to attend the auction. Of course, if you bid on anything and you are awarded the bid – that will cost you!
Details: Starting in the late 1950’s, the antler auction has taken place every year. It is a way to reduce damage to feeding equipment on the Refuge and also to discourage antler thieves who may disturb the elk herds.
Each year more than 200 Scouts and adult leaders work for nearly 2,000 hours with refuge personnel in the antler project, which includes a litter cleanup campaign on the refuge.
A percent of the proceeds from the auction are donated by the Scouts to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service toward elk management and the winter elk feeding program on the refuge.
The antler arches at each corner of the town square in Jackson were originally built from antlers from the refuge.