Look what I found

[Monsterbull]

Took a little drive this evening. Besides a few deer, turkey and racoon, I was surprised to come across these on Calaveras Road on the way to Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness. I had no idea there was a herd around here.

#1

[attachment=53014:100_Spike3.JPG]

 

[Monsterbull]

#2

These were down the road from the spike #1 (actually there was another spike with him, 2 cows and 2 new calves)

[attachment=53015:100_Herd1.JPG]

 

[Monsterbull]

#3

.....the bull

[attachment=53016:100_Bull1.JPG]

 

[Monsterbull]

#4

A better shot........

Question: Why is he already hard-horned?
The spikes and this big guy didn't have a shred of velvet on them. Do Tules drop their antlers earler, grow sooner, rub sooner?

[attachment=53017:100_Bull2.JPG]

 

[DFGELK]

It is not unusual to see tules out of velvet this time of year, most will still be in velvet but we always see some that are completely hard horned by mid July. He is one the early end of things but not to far.

Joe

 

[Kentuck]

THe other thing is the tule rut is only about month away.

 

[tmoniz]

Does the DFG know where all these Elk and such are?
I was driving up the 25 South of Hollister. Just North of the Pinnacles.
I looked to my left and suddenly hit the brakes.
Wife looked at me like I was nuts. Which she usually does and thinks.
A herd of Pronghorns.

 

[Monsterbull]

I did a little web search. Seems these elk have been in there since 1978 when some of the relocated Mt. Hamilton elk moved north about 20 miles to the San Antonio Reservoir. Been there ever since and are supposed to be about 150 head or so.

 

[barel74]

That herd of pronghorns has been down there for as long as I can remember. I mostly see them down towards Dry Lake, and the King City turn off.

 

[jvle95]

That elk herd has been in the Calaveras Rd area for several years. I take that detour every now and then on my way home to Livermore. I have seen some very nice bulls in there. I believe several years ago DFG caught some guys that had poached (thrill kill) one or two big bulls in that herd.

I was lucky enough to get permission to hunt pigs on a ranch in the San Antone Valley east of SJ several years ago and the that property held some very big bulls and I also saw two bonus pronghorns on the property. The land owner gets like 3 or 5 tags a year and they go for a premium. I have some pics but dont know how to post them.

Its great to see these animals so close to home.

 

[Speckmisser]

Haven't seen the elk in Calaveras, although I've been told they're in there. Cool that you not only got to see them, but got to see a pretty nice bull too.

I've been watching those pronghorn along Highway 25 for the past 10 years now. If you get a little closer to Priest Valley (off 198) you'll see some good elk too.

 

[WildlifeBranch]

On the pronghorn, we put those animals there in late winter 1990 I think.

Remember building holding pens at Camp 5, Carrizo Plain, and one other place in San Benito Co. I think.

Also, a couple miles south and west of Williams in the Valley.

We released about 50+ at each location; rounded them up by helicopter from the Likely Tables south of Alturas.

 

[wmidbrook]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Also, a couple miles south and west of Williams in the Valley.[/b]

....is that herd still in existance?

 

[2rocky]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wmidbrook @ Jul 8 2008, 09:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE

Also, a couple miles south and west of Williams in the Valley.[/b]

....is that herd still in existance?
[/b][/quote]
Yes you can see them in the alfalfa fields along I-5 occasionally.

 

[tmoniz]

I never even knew those Speed Goats were there til I spotted them a few years ago. I'll have to cruise back through and keep an eye out for Elk.
I did see a lot of Turkeys.

 

[AZ Jim]

Very cool !

Thanks for sharing !

I am suprised to see it out of velvet this early.


AZ Jim

 

[richardoutwest]

That is odd for us Jim, all the bulls last weekend here are still growing.

Nice pics!! I cant wait September 12th and it will be the "Running of the bulls, Arizona style"!

 

[buckspotter]

About 15 years ago, I saw a few pronghorns on the west side of I-5, just south of Willows. I thought it was a fluke or some animals traveling north from carrizo or something. A couple weeks ago, a buddy asked me if there were any antelope in the Valley near Sac NWR, because he saw a small herd.

I'm going by there today and look out into the rice on the west side of I-5 @ Sac NWR and see 4 pronghorn antelope standing on a rice check. Hope they have established themselves! I'm sure the Sac Valley was traditional antelope habitat

 

[7mm RM]

Great pics thanks for posting them. Going to Colorado for second season elk, looking forward to it, have not hunted elk since 83, they year before I left for the Navy...