Citizens can view some of Missouri’s first free-ranging elk in nearly 150 years through a self-guided driving tour at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Peck Ranch Conservation Area in south-central Missouri.
Peck Ranch is in northwest Carter County and eastern Shannon County.
Over the past two years, MDC has been working with local communities, local landowners, conservation groups and others to restore almost 70 elk from Kentucky to a 346-square-mile restoration zone in this rugged area of the Ozarks. The heart of the restoration zone is Peck Ranch. More than a dozen elk calves born in 2011 and 2012 have added to the numbers of this once-native animal.
Fall offers a prime time to see bull elk bugling as they woo cow elk into small groups called harems. The best times to see elk are right after sunrise and right before sunset. MDC can’t guarantee an elk sighting, but the tour is a beautiful drive though fields, forests and glades where tourists can also see fall color, along with deer and other wildlife.
The tour route begins at the office and is marked along the way. Driving tours are open sunrise to sunset seven days a week, unless closed because of inclement weather. Driving tours will also be closed for deer hunting in the area Oct. 13-14, Nov. 2-4, Nov. 10-20 and Dec. 1-2. Gravel roads on the ranch may not be accessible to vehicles without adequate ground clearance. Some roads may be impassible at times due to high water at stream crossings.
People are invited to take photographs and get out of vehicles for better views, but should not disturb elk or other wildlife in any way.
For more information, call the MDC Elk Information Line at 855-C-MDC-ELK (855-263-2355).