A drunken Montana man made a fool of himself when he tried to impress a potential love interest by climbing a Wyoming landmark — only to be stopped by police.
The man was caught scaling Wyoming’s famous elk antler arches when the Jackson Police Department responded to a call at around 12:40 a.m. on May 13, the Cowboy State Daily reported.
The drunken is seen on top of the arch when a Jackson police officer arrives. @Mousie202/@Toursonofyellowstone/Instagram
The man — who was not identified by name but was from Montana — told police that he was “drinking” and got the idea to try the drunken escapade to “impress some girls he had just met.”
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Ruschill said the man cooperated and was given a “$100 citation.”
Photos shared on the Instagram page touronsofyellowstone of the inebriated romancer show the moment he was caught on top of the arches when police arrived.
Shockingly, he wasn’t the only one captured climbing the structure, as a woman in a white dress and cowboy boots was also snapped committing the act.
Social media users claiming to have lived in or are familiar with the area were stunned that the man thought it was a good idea — even if he was drunk.
The man — who was not identified by name but was from Montana — told police that he was “drinking” and got the idea to try the drunken escapade to “impress some girls he had just met.” @Mousie202/@Toursonofyellowstone/InstagramA woman in a white dress and cowboy boots was also snapped committing the act. @Mousie202/@Toursonofyellowstone/Instagram
“I lived there for a few years right after college and walked by there intoxicated on several occasions from the bars across the street and not once did me or my friends think, ‘Hey, anyone want to climb the antler arches?’” one user commented.
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“I have been to Jackson over a hundred times. Never have I ever thought – oh I should climb those horns in the park,” another shared.
“I live here and had not heard about this. Unless it’s today. I hope they were punished but I’m not sure what law they were breaking, unless it was drunk in public,” wrote another.
While many commenters were shocked by the drunken stunt, Ruschill said it wasn’t his first time seeing someone take on the horny task.
The Elk Antler Arch, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Universal Images Group via Getty Images
“I’ve seen it a couple of times in my career here, but don’t remember the last time we’ve written a citation specifically for climbing one of the arches,” he told the Cowboy State Daily.
However, what surprised the officer was how high up the drunken man got up the arches.
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“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody quite get up as far onto the top like this gentleman,” he said. “We usually catch them thinking about it, talking about it or just starting to climb,” Ruschill said.
“From the photos I saw on Instagram, this guy has made his way to the very top of the arch.”
The Jackson police officer said it wasn’t his first time seeing someone take on the horny task. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ruschill stressed that no one should attempt to climb the structure since it’s not only illegal but also dangerous.
“Our defendant is innocent until proven guilty. But in Jackson, it’s illegal to climb something that’s not meant to be climbed,” Ruschill said.
“It’s a long way to fall from the top of the southwest arch. Someone could get injured or killed doing such a thing. That’s the public safety message to this incident.”
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The Jackson elk arches were built by the Jackson Rotary Club in 1953 and comprise 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of antlers, according to Yellowstone Park.com.
They are the first of four stunning arches across the city, with the rest added between 1966 and 1969.
CASPER, Wyo. — Here is a list of those who filed for a divorce from Dec. 22 through Dec. 29. All filings are reported to Oil City News by the Natrona County District Court.
The log is not a comprehensive document and may not represent all of the divorces in Natrona County. The report excludes sealed cases and confidential parties.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently announced its plan to move forward in 2026 with developing Feedground Management Action Plans, a key component of the broader Wyoming Elk Feedgrounds Plan.
A release from the Game and Fish Department states that as part of the department’s statewide Chronic Management Plan, the Wyoming Elk Feedgrounds Plan was established to guide the department’s overall and long-term approach to elk management for the 21 feedgrounds across Wyoming. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the final draft of the strategy in March 2024, following close to four years of collaborative planning with more than 60 volunteer stakeholders.
The release notes that the development of the individual FMAPs is the next step in the process. The department will be working closely with stakeholders, as well as the public, to address key concerns and priorities.
“Game and Fish remains committed to the management of our state’s feedgrounds in an adaptable manner that utilizes the best science available,” said Game and Fish director Angi Bruce. “Supplemental winter feeding of elk has continued to grow in complexity. These plans will allow us to adjust to current and future conditions in feedground management.”
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Specific FMAPs will be developed for each of the six elk herds, as well as their corresponding feedgrounds in the Jackson and Pinedale regions. They’re intended to be a playbook of strategies guiding feedground management through biological, social, and economic factors. FMAPs are designed to be adaptable as on-the-ground-conditions change and science emerges.
In early 2026, draft FMAP documents will be shared during a series of public meetings. They will be presented to the Game and Fish Commission later in the year.
“The goal of the FMAP process is to ensure our strategies are not only sustainable for our agency, but supported and beneficial to the public,” Bruce said. “This is an important issue that has an impact on our state’s wildlife, business owners and residents in our state. Their buy-in and feedback will be essential to a successful long-term plan for feedground management.”
Times and locations for the public meetings will be announced in January on the Game and Fish website. More information on elk feedgrounds, as well as the Feedground Management Plan, can be found on the Elk Feedgrounds page at the Game and Fish Department’s website.
The biggest wind gust in Colorado history blew through Monarch Pass on Feb. 16, 2018, at 148 mph. Not long after that, I moved here, in part to avoid the hurricanes that were pummeling me back East. Now I experience Hurricane Sandy-adjacent conditions while taking mail from my mailbox on random Tuesdays in Fort Collins.
I liked to think that our National Weather Service would at least give me fair warning for wind events. But now the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder is being dismantled for parts.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
That very building got smacked with a 113-mph gust on Dec. 19, two days after Peak 6 at Brekenfridge was hit with a Polar Express clocked at 124 mph. If there had been any snow, I might have been skiing there, caught air off a mogul and landed at Arapahoe Basin.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Little known fact: Colorado’s breezes are actually under the control of the four Greek gods of wind, plus their local representatives. No wonder it’s so breezy here!
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Fortunately, electric company officials employ a four-part strategy when dangerous winds threaten.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Style-conscious Coloradans are learning to cope. (Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
No one is beyond the reach of wind. Especially not Denver Broncos field-goal kicker Wil Lutz.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
As concerning as our wind situation is, there is one consolation.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
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Peter Moore is an editor, writer, illustrator, ghostwriter, co-author, radio host, TV guest, speaker, editorial consultant, and journalism lecturer.
In his most recent gig he was interim editor-in-chief of BACKPACKER magazine. Peter…
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