What's With All The Elk?

Today we've watched at least 20 elk stroll through The Orchard Compound here in Hobart. They didn't come all at once. They were in groups. At one point we had an even dozen out there.

We also saw two groups of deer follow the bigger guys. One group had a collared deer we've seen many times before. This last group decided to stay awhile.

But I wonder where they're all headed? They come out of the Cedar River Watershed and wander off toward the north/northwest. But everything up that way is populated. Do they go back into the watershed or maybe into the Taylor Mountain protected area about three miles from us? Or do they all come back this way after we go to bed?

One of our cats watched them for awhile. She and our other cat see all sorts of critters stroll through. She she wasn't impressed.

I just keep asking why not one of those big guys couldn't have dropped an antler or two on their way through. They've all dropped them now. Maybe next year.