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Hilary Jones and the Return of Arkansas Elk

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One of our favorite October traditions is heading to Newton County on a cool afternoon to watch the elk come out in the Boxley Valley. As the golden hour light hits the rising hills, these majestic animals wander from the woods to graze in the open pastures before settling down for the night. I guess technically it happens at dusk too, but I’m usually still in bed!

I still remember the first time I heard about elk in Arkansas. A co-worker casually mentioned, “You know, there’s a place about an hour from here where you can go see elk.” I thought it was a joke, like snipe hunting or the Gurdon Light. Surely, he meant deer or maybe a quirky roadside attraction, but curiosity won out. I packed my camera, took the Pig Trail on a Saturday, and waited until the valley came alive. And it did. The first bugle echoing across the mountains sealed my fascination.

If you’ve never seen this fall phenomenon, you’re missing out on one of the most unforgettable natural experiences in the Ozarks. But behind the spectacle is a powerful story of perseverance, teamwork, and one man’s commitment to restoring the elk to Arkansas.

What Is the Elk Education Center?

Located in Ponca, the Elk Education Center, operated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), functions as an interactive learning hub for visitors of all ages. Inside, you’ll find exhibits that showcase the history of elk in Arkansas, their habitat, and the conservation efforts that helped bring them back. Interactive displays, interpretive trails, and wildlife exhibits allow guests to learn not just about elk but also about the diverse biodiversity of the Buffalo River area.

It’s a perfect stop before or after an evening of elk watching, especially for families wanting to combine adventure with education. Recently, the Hilary Jones Wildlife Museum in Jasper partnered with the Ponca Nature Center to help preserve the legacy of the man who refused to let Arkansas forget its wild heart.

He was absolutely foolish enough to believe we could bring the elk back to Arkansas. No one else in the State believed it, but he kept doing it. And sure enough, somehow we had the elk come back to Arkansas.” -Bill Clinton of Hilary Jones

How Did Elk Arrive in Arkansas?

Long before settlements, eastern elk roamed much of North America, including the Ozarks. By the 1800s, overhunting and habitat loss caused their extinction in the region. Early reintroduction efforts came and went, most notably in the 1930s when a small group of Rocky Mountain elk was released in Franklin County, only to disappear within two decades.

It wasn’t until 1981 that a second effort gained momentum, thanks to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the National Park Service, and a small group of visionary local residents. Over the next four years, 112 elk from Colorado and Nebraska were released in Newton County near the Buffalo National River. This time, the herds thrived.

Today, Arkansas’s elk range covers approximately 315,000 acres, with around 450 to 500 elk roaming between Ponca, Jasper and the Buffalo River corridor. Their recovery stands as one of the most inspiring wildlife comeback stories in the South.

Read more about the history of elk in Arkansas and their journey from the Rockies to the Ozarks.

Who Was Hilary Jones?

Every great story has a hero, and in Arkansas’s elk history, that hero was Hilary Jones. Appointed to the AGFC by Governor Bill Clinton in 1979, Jones lived near Pruitt, close to the Buffalo River. He and a small group of friends, all elk hunters, cattlemen and conservationists, believed the region’s public lands and wildlife management areas could once again support elk.

After reaching an agreement with Colorado to trade elk for Arkansas channel catfish, Jones personally helped convoy stock trailers west to pick up the animals and bring them home. Despite skepticism and logistical challenges, the team persisted.

At his funeral service, President Bill Clinton reflected on the life of his commissioner and friend. I learned a lot from him about going to the sale barns and the country stores and remote places where most people never went, just to listen to people’s hopes and dreams and hurts and fears. And I learned what ferocious power can beat in the heart of any ordinary citizen who believes that he or she can make a difference. Hilary Jones always believed he could make a difference.”

What Has Helped the Population Grow?

Reintroducing the elk was just the beginning. Keeping them alive required teamwork among conservationists, hunters, tourists and landowners. In 1982, the first Arkansas elk calf was born, a year after the new herd arrived.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the National Park Service, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have teamed up with local communities to restore and protect the habitat of the Buffalo National River. Their cooperation remains vital for the herd’s success.

Equally important is the attitude of the local community. Residents of Newton County have welcomed the elk as both neighbors and natural treasures. This spirit of stewardship and pride has transformed the region into a leading wildlife tourism destination, maintaining a balance between ecological preservation and economic growth.

Elk hunting in Arkansas is now tightly regulated, with only a limited number of permits issued each year. Proper herd management ensures both population stability and habitat health, serving as an example of successful conservation.

Learn more about elk management in the Arkansas Elk Report.

How Can You Experience This Fall Phenomenon?

Although elk live in the Ozarks all year, fall is rut season, when bulls are especially active and easy to spot in the open fields of Boxley Valley. Their haunting bugles echo through the mountains, signaling dominance and the fight for the herd. The best places to see them are along Arkansas Highways 43 and 21 near Ponca and Jasper. Dawn and dusk are the ideal times to watch them grazing.

For the latest viewing tips, visit the Buffalo Outdoor Center in Ponca for local advice and maps. Patience is key; these are wild animals, after all, and every sighting feels like a small miracle.

Cover image used with permission from the Arkansas Departments of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

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Keisha (Pittman) McKinney lives in Northwest Arkansas with her chicken man and break-dancing son. Keisha is passionate about connecting people and building community, seeking solutions to the everyday big and small things, and encouraging others through the mundane, hard, and typical that life often brings. She put her communications background to work as a former Non-profit Executive Director, college recruiter and fundraiser, small business trainer, and Digital Media Director at a large church in Northwest Arkansas. Now, she is using those experiences through McKinney Media Solutions and her blog @bigpittstop, which includes daily adventures, cooking escapades, #bigsisterchats, the social justice cases on her heart, and all that she is learning as a #boymom! Keisha loves to feed birds, read the stack on her nightstand, do dollar store crafts, cook recipes from her Pinterest boards, and chase everyday adventures on her Arkansas bucket list.

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