“Peak bugling season is usually mid-September to mid-October,” said Curtis Fowler, ranger at Land Between The Lakes. “This is one of the most exciting times to drive through the prairie. Late afternoon provides the best chance to hear bugling and see elk calves. Turn off vehicles at interpretive stops and listen for the unusual sound.”
Biologists introduced elk into the 700-acre prairie in February 1996. Currently around 55 elk and 59 bison make the prairie their home.
The Elk & Bison Prairie is open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk, and features a 3.5-mile paved loop with interpretive stops along the drive. Passes cost $5 per vehicle and can be purchased at the Elk & Bison Prairie entrance gate or at any Land Between The Lakes day-use facility.
Elk and bison are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Visitors should observe the Elk & Bison Prairie rules and remain inside their vehicle when these large animals are nearby.
Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area manages more than 170,000 acres in western Kentucky and Tennessee as part of the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture’s public lands program. LBL offers outdoor recreation, lake access, land management, and environmental education to over 1.4 million visitors annually. To find more information about Land Between The Lakes, log on to the official website at www.landbetweenthelakes.us or call toll-free at 1-800-LBL-7077 or local at 270-924-2000.
