The annual ElkFest Elk Antler Auction in Jackson Hole has earned recognition as the world’s largest elk antler auction, drawing bidders from across the United States and beyond to bid on naturally shed elk antlers collected from the National Elk Refuge.
Held each spring on Jackson’s Town Square as part of the ElkFest celebration, the auction brings together thousands of pounds of elk antlers — gathered by local Boy Scout troops and volunteers — and offers them for sale to artists, collectors and craftsmen. In the record-setting year, 9,696 pounds of antlers were auctioned off, resulting in 164 registered bidders and total proceeds of $218,382, a figure that qualifies the event as the largest of its kind in the world.
The event benefits both the National Elk Refuge — which uses a majority of the proceeds for habitat enhancement and wildlife management projects — and local Scouting programs, with funds distributed to support outdoor education, camps and community activities.
More than just a record-setting sale, the Elk Antler Auction has become a beloved tradition in Jackson Hole, marking the start of spring and celebrating the region’s rich wildlife heritage and community spirit.
