Utah’s warm winter has forced the state’s popular elk-viewing wagon rides in Hyrum to close this weekend as the Hardware Ranch elk herd heads to the hills weeks earlier than usual.
Wagon rides through the meadows of the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area will end Saturday, Feb. 10, according to the state Division of Wildlife Resources. Rides had been scheduled to continue until Feb. 26.
“They’re moving to the hills above the meadows,” Hunt said. “And they’re acting anxious to move to even higher county.”
State wildlife managers grow hay in the meadow in summer and harvest it to feed elk in winter to keep the herd from foraging in Cache County’s farms and neighborhoods.