Old Missoula

First Elk Brought Into Bitter Root Valley in Spring, 1912

By Mrs. H. R. Wollaston

The arrival of the first elk in the Bitter Root Valley, in the spring of 1912, was told to this writer by Clif Metcalf, a long-time resident of the Stevensville area.

The herd of 56 elk, mostly cows and a few bulls, were shipped from the Yellowstone Park area, said to be overstocked at that time. The only stipulation was that the receiving group pay for the expense of loading and shipping and that the elk be committed to an area suitable to their good welfare. The Stevensville Rod and Gun Club of that day sponsored the shipment which arrived via a branch line of the Northern Pacific Railway with 50 live and six dead elk in the two stockcar lot.

Personal Donations

Money to pay for the shipment was raised by personal donations and from dinners served by the wives of the members.

Preparation for arrival of the elk included the building of four and five foot extensions on the stockyard fences to prevent the elk from jumping out of the pens before they could be loaded into racks that would take them into the hills. The racks, to fit on horse-drawn wagons, were built of two-inch lumber, 8X16 foot in size, and completely closed in on all four sides and top.

Wagons Used

Several wagons were used in the moving process that took the major portion of the day to travel the ten miles into the Sawmill Canyon of the Burnt Fork area some ten miles southeast of Stevensville where the elk were unloaded.

“I hauled seven elk, the largest number in any one load,” Metcalf said. He told of how some 200 people had gathered in the foot hills to watch the unloading. “By the time we arrived the elk were nervous and on the fight and as we let the end gate down the elk jumped to the ground putting the run on those who had planned to herd them gently into the hills.”

Later the elk proved too gentle for their own safety coming out of the hills to graze with the cattle on the low lands where, although the season was closed for four or five years to allow the herd to multiply, some were killed out of season. But the killers were generally apprehended and the meat confiscated, Metcalf said.

En route to the hills with his load he told of overtaking a wagon hauling two cow and one bull elk. The wagon was driven by the late Joe Little, grandfather of Joe and Howard Little of the present day. One cow was down and as they attempted to get her to her feet the bull elk immediately jumped on her and killed her with his hooves. On the spot the meat was taken by the late Jim Sappiel, known in those days as “Old Indian Jim,” who set to work to turn her into “jerky,” the dried meat of his people.

From this small herd, and a second shipment that came into the Hamilton area at a later date, comes the large herds that roam the Bitter Root Valley today. Elk have been reported in the valley as early as the 1880s by Montana game officials.

This article was accompanied by 5 pictures. Two of these show elk as they were penned in the newly built fences. Three others show the wagons that were used to transport these elk. The following caption was under the three pictures of the elk wagons.

Horses and Wagons Used to Plant Elk

Clif Metcalf sits high atop the wagon used to plant the first elk arriving in the Bitter Root Valley in 1912. Two horses were used to pull away from the loading chute, but another pair was added before going into the hills. Sitting with Metcalf in the one photo is W. T. Caple. The large building in the rear is the former horticulture hall at Stevensville.