Today's weather in Sisters
Local News
Current News
Sports & Recreation
Education
Business
Arts & Entertainment
HEALTH
HOME & GARDEN
Opinion
Editorial
Guest Columnist
Columns
Letters to the Editor
Submit a Letter to the Editor
Classifieds
Browse Classified Ads
Search Classified Ads
Place a Classified Ad
Calendar
Obits
Announcements
Announcements
Anniversary
Engagement
Wedding
Births
Pet Place
Pet of the Week
Submit Announcement
Subscribe & Support
Patterson elk move to New Mexico
By Jim Cornelius
, News Editor
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 5:59 AM
Patterson Ranch elk were famous for their magnificent racks.
photo provided
One of Sisters' most popular tourist attractions has moved away.
The elk herd that populated 363 acres on the Patterson Ranch at the west end of Sisters has been sold and transported to a new home in New Mexico.
The last elk left the Patterson Ranch Friday morning, September 18, according to Richard and Linda Patterson. The herd was purchased by elk breeders Don and Carol Ansley, Red Canyon Ranch, who own a large elk ranch in New Mexico.
"The rules of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife became too difficult to continue to raise these majestic animals," Richard Patterson said.
Debate over fencing requirements and other restrictions roiled through much of 2008 as some activists sought to end private elk ranching in Oregon.
"This was not an easy decision, since 20 years of breeding and caring went into making this one of the most important elk herds in North America," Patterson said.
Richard and Linda Patterson consistently ran about 300 head of Rocky Mountain elk (1,167 overall) on the property, mostly for breeding stock.
A Patterson Ranch bull went 499.5 points in the Safari Club International rating system - the second-largest rack in the North American Elk Breeders competition.
People use elk antlers for a range of decorative purposes. Some hang them above the mantle; some make furniture of all kinds from the shed antlers. While antler products are the main presence in the market, there is a growing interest in elk meat, which is often much leaner and healthier than beef.
Richard Patterson was a horse breeder specializing in Polish Arabians when the ranch was purchased in 1968. He moved out from Ohio in 1973 and brought the horses and some llamas with him.
Patterson was a pioneer in the booming llama ranching industry and for many years the Patterson Ranch was the largest llama ranch in the United States.
"The horses were sold in '89 and I thought a farmer needs two crops," he said.
So he started his elk herd. In 1990, the ranch produced its first calves.
Through his life as a rancher, Patterson has had 100 Shropshire sheep, 15 Shetland ponies, around 2,000 Arabian horses, 225 Welsh mountain ponies, 4,650 llamas, 20 dromedary camels, one Bactrian camel, 20 alpacas, 10 walleroos, 35 Watusi cattle, and 1,167 Rocky Mountain elk.
Patterson will continue to act as a breeding consultant for the elk herd now in New Mexico.
Asked about other plans, Patterson said, "Do I have to do something? I hope to relax for a bit."
Submit A Comment
Please fill out the form below to submit a comment.
*
indicates a required field
Comment
*
Your Name
Email
Phone
A comment must be approved by our staff before it will displayed on the website.
Submit
X
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Search only accepts letters and numbers.
THE NUGGET NEWSPAPER
442 E. Main Ave.
Sisters, Oregon
Office: 541-549-9941
Newsroom: 541-390-6973
Office Hours:
Mon. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tues. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Thurs. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 698
Sisters, OR 97759
Facebook
Instagram
Issuu
READ ONLINE
Announcements
Area Events
Arts & Entertainment
Business
Calendar
Classifieds
Columns
Current News
Education
Editorial
Health
Home & Garden
Letters to the Editor
Opinion
Obituaries
Sports & Recreation
ABOUT US
Advertising
Subscribe
Contact Us
Terms of Use
Privacy
AREA LINKS
Sisters Oregon Guide
Camp Sherman
City of Sisters
Sisters Chamber of Commerce
Sisters Public Library
Sisters Schools
Sisters Park & Recreation District
Deschutes County
Sisters Map
Road Report
Weather
© Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. The Nugget Newspaper, LLC
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##