Tilting massive antlers, an elk calls out with an eerie screech that slices through the hazy stillness of dawn.
kAm}@E E@ 36 @FE5@?6[ 2?@E96C 6=< ECF>A6ED 2 D9@CE 5:DE2?46 2H2J] %96:C 3F8=:?8 6?5D :? 2 9:44FAA65 49F4<=6[ 2?5 E96? D:=6?46 D6EE=6D @?46 282:? @G6C E96 >@C?:?8[ 3C@<6? @?=J 3J E96 86?E=6 DH:D9:?8 @7 E2== 8C2DD 2D E96J C@2>]k^Am
Bull elk seen on Heartland Elk Guest Ranch.
kAm(6=4@>6 E@ E96 H:=5D @7 ?@CE96C? }63C2D<2[ H96C6 :E’D ;FDE 2?@E96C 52J 2E w62CE=2?5 t=< vF6DE #2?49]k^Am
kAm“(6 =@G6 E@ H2E49 WE96 6=<X :? E96 DF>>6C[” qC6?52 w2>:=E@? 3682?] “%96 >@>>2D 2?5 323:6D H:== E2=< E@ 6249 @E96C =:<6 4C2KJ @? E96 H2J E@ E96 H2E6C[ 2?5 E96 =:EE=6 @?6D A=2J 2?5 CF? 2C@F?5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 567:?:E6=J ?@E J@FC ?@C>2= C2?49 @A6C2E:@?]”k^Am
kAmqC6?52 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 $92?6 2C6 E96 >2?286>6?E E62> 369:?5 w62CE=2?5 t=< vF6DE #2?49[ H9:49 :D D6EE=65 2E E96 E@A @7 2 E:>36C65 42?J@? 23FEE:?8 E96 D@FE96C? D:56 @7 E96 }:@3C2C2 #:G6C :? '2=6?E:?6[ }63] u@C D:I J62CD[ E96 w2>:=E@?D 92G6 H6=4@>65 A6@A=6 7C@> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ E@ E96 C2?49[ H96C6 3FD:?6DD :D 32??65 2?5 C6=2I65 6?E6CE2:?>6?E :D E96 @?=J :E6> @? E96 286?52]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 A6@A=6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp ?2E:G6 @7 !=2:?G:6H[ }63][ $92?6 92D =@?8 925 2 A2DD:@? 7@C 2?:>2=D 2?5 E96 @FE5@@CD]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 9:D 62C=J J62CD[ $92?6 @3D6CG65 E96 :??6C H@C<:?8D @7 9:D 8C2?572E96C’D 72C> ?62C rC6:89E@?[ }63] w6 H2D 962G:=J :?G@=G65 :? uup[ C2:D:?8 C233:ED :? 2 “8C@H J@FC @H? 28 3FD:?6DD” AC@;64E[ 2?5 6G6? >2?2865 9:D @H? =2H?\>@H:?8 D6CG:46]k^Am
kAm{2E6C 62C?:?8 9:D 568C66 :? 3:@=@8J 2?5 H:=5=:76 >2?286>6?E[ 96 H@C<65 :? E96 }63C2D<2 v2>6 2?5 !2C<D s6A2CE>6?E 2?5 E96 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46 s:DEC:4E 367@C6 E96 >2CG6=D @7 w62CE=2?5 t=< vF6DE #2?49 5C6H 9:> =:<6 2 D:C6?’D 42==]k^Am
kAmxE E@@< G6CJ =:EE=6 A6CDF25:?8 7@C qC6?52 E@ ;F>A @?3@2C5[ 2D H6== — E96 s@F8=2D[ (J@] ?2E:G6 H2D 2=C625J H@C<:?8 2E E96 6=< C2?49 7@C :ED AC6G:@FD @H?6CD[ FE:=:K:?8 96C 568C66 :? 9@DA:E2=:EJ E@ 2DD:DE E96> H:E9 >2?286>6?E @7 E96 423:?D 2?5 8F6DED]k^Am
kAm“xE 7:E FD D@ H6==[” D96 D2:5 @7 E96:C 564:D:@? E@ =625 E96 C2?49 2D 2 E62>] “q6EH66? @FC 568C66D[ 2?5 H6 92G6 EH@ =:EE=6 3@JD[ D@ :E 82G6 FD E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 36 9@>6 H:E9 E96>]”k^Am
The Hamilton family — Shane and Brenda with their sons Mason and Carson.
Photos courtesy Shane and Brenda Hamilton
kAm}@E >:DD:?8 2 362E[ $92?6 A:4<65 FA H96C6 9:D H:76 =67E @77[ 2 ?@E6 @7 6I4:E6>6?E :? 9:D G@:46]k^Am
kAm“%@ 36 23=6 E@ 92G6 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ DA6?E E:>6 @? 2 `[d__\24C6 C2?49[ H:E9 7:D9 A@?5D[ 42?J@?D 2?5 EC66D[ 9:<:?8[ 9F?E:?8[ 7:D9:?8 — :E 92D :E 2== C:89E 96C6[ :E’D 2 A62467F= 42=> A=246 E@ =:G6[” 96 D2:5] “%92E’D E96 <:?5 @7 =:76DEJ=6 H6 H2?E65 E@ =:G6]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 C2?49k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm~? :ED DAC2H=:?8 `[d__ 24C6D @7 =2?5[ w62CE=2?5 t=< vF6DE #2?49 @776CD E96 F=E:>2E6 56DE:?2E:@? 7@C 28C:\E@FC:D> 6?E9FD:2DED]k^Am
kAm#2?49 8F6DED DE2J :? @?6 @7 E96 7@FC CFDE:4 =@8 423:?D @? E96 >2:? D:E6[ H9:49 :D DFCC@F?565 3J E2==[ =FD9 EC66D 2?5 6=< A2DEFC6\25;246?E]k^Am
kAm%@ ECF=J 9@?@C E96 C2?49’D >:DD:@? 2>:5DE E96 H:=56C?6DD[ E96 8F6DE 423:?D 2C6 7F==J F?A=F8865 — ?@ A9@?6D[ ?@ E6=6G:D:@?[ ?@ :?E6C?6E[ 2?5 5F6 E@ E96 C6>@E6 =@42=6[ =:>:E65 46== D6CG:46] vF6DED 2C6 492==6?865 E@ :8?@C6 E96 42== @7 E649?@=@8J[ 2?5 6?4@FC2865 E@ D6EE=6 :? 7@C 2 BF:6E[ 4@KJ C6DA:E6 7C@> 3FDE=:?8 4:EJ =:76 @C D6E @77 7@C @FE5@@C 6IA=@C2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“*@F 92G6 E@ 8@ @FED:56 2?5 6?;@J ?2EFC6[ 2?5 J@F D66 :?4C65:3=6 G:6HD[” $92?6 D2:5] “(96? A6@A=6 4@>6 96C6[ E96J’C6 @FE @7 E96:C 6=6>6?E] %96J 7:?5 E9:?8D E@ 5@[ 2?5 E96? E96J =@G6 :E]”k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 52J[ $92?6 2?5 qC6?52 244@>A2?J 8F6DED 2=@?8 E96 D9@CE ;2F?E E@ E96 6=< A2DEFC6D] %9@F89 E96J 42?’E E@F49 @C 7665 E96 6=<[ $92?6 D2:5 A6@A=6 2C6 2H65 3J E96 D:89ED 2?5 D@F?5D 2D E96 2?:>2=D >62?56C E96:C H:56 DH2E9 @7 24C6286[ 2?5 G6CJ 6286C E@ ECJ E96:C 92?5 2E 2 3F8=6 @C EH@]k^Am
kAm“(6 42? <:?5 @7 A=2J H:E9 WE96 6=<X E92E H2J[ H6 E2<6 A6@A=6 @FE 2D E96J 42== 2?5 E2=< 324< E@ E96>[” $92?6 6IA=2:?65] “xE’D 2? :?E6C6DE:?8 :?E6C24E:@? H:E9 E96 8F6DED] |@DE A6@A=6 92G6?’E 962C5 :E 367@C6]”k^Am
A cow calf pair of elk roams the Heartland Elk Guest Ranch.
kAm%96 w2>:=E@?D =:>:E 4=@D6 :?E6C24E:@?D H:E9 E96 6=< E@ <66A E96> 2D H:=5 2D A@DD:3=6[ 2D E96 6=< 2C6 2=D@ 92CG6DE65 7@C >62E] %96J 3FE496C 23@FE D:I 4@H 6=< 2 J62C[ D6==:?8 E96 >62E E@ 36 FD65 6I4=FD:G6=J 3J %96 vC6J !=F>6 C6DE2FC2?E :? ~>292[ }63]k^Am
kAm$92?6 25565 E92E E96J’G6 @?=J 9@DE65 @?6 3F== 9F?E D@ 72C[ 3642FD6 E96 3F== A@AF=2E:@? :D DE:== J@F?8[ 3FE E92E 2D E96:C 96C5 4@?E:?F6D E@ 8C@H 2?5 286[ E96J A=2? E@ :?4C62D6 E96 ?F>36C @7 9F?ED] p?5 E96 96C5 :D 7=@FC:D9:?8 F?56C $92?6’D 86?6E:4 >2?286>6?E — 96 C@E2E6D 2 ?6H 3C665:?8 3F== :?E@ E96 @A6C2E:@? 6G6CJ EH@ J62CD E@ C67C6D9 E96 86?6E:4 >2<6FA 2?5 >2:?E2:? E96:C ?2EFC2= 492C24E6C:DE:4D]k^Am
kAm':D:E@CD 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 86E 2 A66< 2E E96 72C>:?8 @A6C2E:@? @? E96 C2?49[ 2D H6==] p3@FE `a_ 24C6D :D D6E 2D:56 7@C E96 6=< E@ 8C2K6[ 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 E96> 8@@5 7@C286 <66AD $92?6 3FDJ J62C\C@F?5]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ ?2E:G6 2?5 ?@?\?2E:G6 8C2DD6D[ $92?6 92D E96 6=< @? 2 DEC:4E 8C2K:?8 C@E2E:@?[ DH2AA:?8 36EH66? @2ED 2?5 A62D[ 3C@>6 2?5 2=72=72[ 2?5 E96? CJ6 2?5 EFC?:AD] w6 2=D@ 4=@D6=J >2:?E2:?D E96:C H2E6C D@FC46D[ 6?DFC:?8 E96:C H2==@HD 2C6 FA E@ D?F77[ 2D E96J 2C6 E96 6=<D’ >@DE 677:4:6?E H62A@? 282:?DE 7=:6D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2=H2JD D@>6E9:?8 E@ 5@[ @? E@A @7 E96 EC@F3=6 J@F 4@>6 24C@DD @?46 :? 2 H9:=6[” $92?6 49F4<=65[ C6>2C<:?8 E92E H:=5 6=< @7E6? G6?EFC6 :?E@ E96 2C62 E@ 492==6?86 E96 C2?49 3F==D 7@C E96:C 4@H 96C5]k^Am
kAmw6 25565 E92E 2 H:56 2CC2J @7 @E96C 2?:>2=D EJA:42==J 8:G6 G:D:E@CD 2 3@?FD 6I9:3:E:@? 5FC:?8 E96:C DE2J — E96J @7E6? D66 EFC<6JD[ A@C4FA:?6D[ C244@@?D[ 566C[ 2?5 4@J@E6D H2?56C E9C@F89[ 6G6? E96 @442D:@?2= 3@342E @C >@F?E2:? =:@?] %96J 92G6 DF49 2 G2DE 2CC2J @7 3:C5D 2?5 7@=:286 :? E96 2C62[ $92?6 D2:5 E96 C2?49 @7E6? 9@DED 6286C 3:C56CD]k^Am
kAm~9[ 2?5 $92?6 ;FDE 92AA6?D E@ 36 2 366<66A6C]k^Am
kAm“%92E’D 7F?[ E@@[” $92?6 D2:5[ =2F89:?8] “xE’D 567:?:E6=J 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 36?67:E]”k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 2== E96 E:>6 DA6?E @? 4C@AD[ =:G6DE@4<[ 2?5 8F6DE 9@FD6 >2?286>6?E — H9:49 :D D@=6=J qC6?52’D 5@>2:? — E96 4@FA=6 DE:== 7:?5D E:>6 E@ 8:G6 E96:C 8F6DED 2? 6IA6C:6?46 23@G6 2?5 36J@?5 2== 6IA64E2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“%96 6=< :D E96 3:886DE 72D4:?2E:@?[ 2?5 E@FC:D> 86ED A6@A=6 96C6[ 3FE E96 C:G6C :D H92E 5C2HD >@DE[” $92?6 6IA=2:?65] “%96 AF3=:4 =2?5:?8 W7@C E96 C:G6CX :D ;FDE 36=@H E96 6=< C2?49 … D@ H6’G6 <:?5 @7 8@E E96 36DE @7 :E 2==] (6’C6 23=6 E@ 4FDE@>:K6 C:G6C EC:AD 7@C A6@A=6 … 2?5 H6 92G6 42?@6D 2?5 <2J2<D[ D@ H6 96=A E96> 86E @? E96 C:G6C 2?5 A:4< E96> FA 2E E96 6?5 2?5 E2<6 E96> 9@>6]k^Am
River tourism around the Niobrara River is another way to enjoy northern Nebraska while visiting the Heartland Elk Guest Ranch.
kAm“x E9:?< A6@A=6 C62==J 6?;@J :E 3642FD6 H6 42? 36 D@ A6CD@?2= H:E9 E96>] xE’D ?@E ;FDE 2 ‘4964<\:? 2?5 36 8@?6’ — H6 8F:56 E96> E9C@F89 E@FC:DE 24E:G:E:6D[ 2?5 H6’C6 ?@E 27C2:5 E@ AFD9 E96> @FE E96C6 E@ 4964< @FE A=246D] (6’C6 2=>@DE 92?5D\@77 E@FC 8F:56D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2=H2JD 5:776C6?E[ E96C6’D D@ >2?J 5:776C6?E E9:?8D E@ 5@] %96 52:=J 6IA6C:6?46 @7 H@C<:?8 96C6 :D F?:BF6]”k^Am
kAmz2EJ |@@C6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i<2EJ]>@@C6o=66]?6EQm<2EJ]>@@C6o=66]?6Ek^2m]k^Am
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
