Cherokee trout and elk

[Marty Queen]

As previously promised, here are some pix from my mini-vacation to the Rez in Sept.



This is the first day's mess of trout. kind of small but good numbers



Another shot of the first day's fish



Another mess. can't remember which day -- they all run together.



We were coming down out of Big Cove one evening and saw two cows and their calves eating some fresh grass off a mound of dirt that had been pushed aside from building the new schools in Ravenford.



They walked up on the mound to eat some more. you can see how pretty Big Cove is behind the elk.



Then this big mother walks across the road and starts eating a few yards from us. he is one of the original Cataloochee stockers (note the radio collar). This is a monster elk!!!

Fun trip. hope you guys enjoy the photos

[Breaker]

Marty those are some great pictures man and I had no idea we had Elk in NC!

[Joey Smith]

great pics Marty!....

[Marty Queen]

Thanks Mike and Joey!

Mike -- they're native to NC, but they were all killed out when the white man started hunting them. The wildlife people re introduced them a few years ago, and they are doing well. As you can see from the calves, they are reproducing. The bull was an original with the radio tracking collar, but all those others in the photos were born in the wild. We see them quite a bit in that area of the reservation, they like the flat ground and there is lots of food for them there. they are some majestic-ass animals for sure!

[nosajnamdeh]

marty what a mess a fish...man i love it in those hills...fished little buck last spring and caught trout till i got bored..and elk are awesome,i was so excited when i started hearing about the reintro prgms goin on in the east..im origionally from oregon and grew up around them..so i was happy to hear about it.. like you said most people dont know they once were like the buffalo around here..i acctually did a research paper on the subject..great pics..did you know there used to be a few on a farm just past the old glenwood school..its been a few years dont know if they are still there..

[Marty Queen]

Thanks Jason -- I remember seeing the Glenwood elk a few years ago, but I don't know if that farm is still there. I haven't been down that way in a while. give me a holler sometime and we'll go find some trout.