Finding himself without a harem, this big guy was doing his best to lure the ladies. What is not to like? A massive, muscular frame, a beautiful rack and a robust call should do the trick!

This is one of my favorite shots from the rut this year in Rocky Mountain National Park. My daughter and I were out at dawn to capture the action, watching this guy and a couple of other big boys compete for the cows.

This bull was pressing the one that had a nice harem, getting closer, sounding off as he went. We were not in a good position in relation to the light so we were trudging through the grasses, trying to get ahead of it as it advanced but it was slow going.

When right alongside of it, it let loose with a nice bugle and I captured this shot. I really like the head-on light and the pose that really shows off the bull’s build.

It isn’t easy keeping track of the ladies. They can be quite fickle and there are always interlopers trying to steal them away. This #elk bull had himself a nice harem with eight cows and two fawns. Lurking nearby were two other bulls so he was making sure to keep a close eye on them and not let them stray.

Check this dude out! He was large and in charge this past Friday evening.

The weather was less than ideal with chilly winds and light rain falling so we were hanging out at our campsite staying dry. I had just poured my favorite adult beverage for the evening when I heard the unmistakable bugle of a bull elk and I could tell it was close!

Weather be damned, I grabbed my camera and ran out over the hill behind our campsite. There, I found this big guy chasing off a younger, less experienced bull. Size and experience took charge over youth and the senior bull made sure to give the departing bull a hearty bugle to let him know to stay away.

The rut is in full swing and having just spent three days in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, I took more than a few pics of the action. It is always the highlight of this time of year and tons of fun.

Ah yes, the rut is kicking into high gear and with hormones raging, the bulls are fighting for mating rights.

Two weekends ago we were in Rocky Mountain National Park and my daughter and I thought our morning photo excursion was done. As we were getting ready to exit the park, we came across three bachelor bulls.

They took turns testing each other’s mettle, going head to head and clashing. It was a lot of fun to watch them and you can then really get a sense for how big and powerful these guys are.

Quite the handsome fellow although he is giving me a look that I receive from friends and family a lot for some reason. 😉

The big guy had himself a nice little harem of a half dozen cows in Rocky Mountain National Park this past weekend. He was pretty relaxed, grazing and enjoying the quiet morning. However, he was always watching and ensuring the ladies didn’t stray too far.

The rut is gearing up now and he and the other bulls will be battling for mating rights over the coming weeks.

Heading to the Colorado high country in the late summer and viewing the elk rut is one of the highlights of my year. The bulls are crazed with hormones and ready and willing to take on each other.

They have, on occasion, also taken on stupid humans that choose to get too close and don’t maintain a respectful distance. Almost every year there is a story of someone being attacked by an elk and usually it is because the human did not stay back. Sadly, it is usually the animal that pays the price and is put down as a result.

On this day this past September, there was a herd of elk hanging out on the outskirts of Estes Park. One bull was large and in charge, garnering a lot of attention from folks. Most people kept their distance but one guy just couldn’t help himself and got within 20 feet with his cell phone to take a picture despite being yelled at to stay back.

The bull was clearly agitated having just laid down after having to fend off two competing bulls. The guy got his picture but not much more as the bull stood up and put his head down causing the stupid human to quickly backpedal.

While I suppose the guy thought those motorcycle leathers and helmet might protect him, I suspect if push came to shove, the antlers and hooves would win. 

One for Wapiti Wednesday.

With his harem under control and somewhat boxed in, this massive elk bull was able to lie down and take a much-needed break this past fall. The annual rut was in full swing and he had undoubtedly been keeping busy watching over the ladies and fending off competitors.

I was fortunate that this particular group was less than a mile from my camp near Estes Park, Colorado making for an easy walk and fun photo op. This guy easily had the most impressive rack of any bull I saw last year. He was definitely large and in charge.

Going back to the end of September for Wapiti Wednesday.

We were packing up camp on the west side of Estes Park, Colorado when I heard the distinctive sound of a bull elk bugling. It didn’t sound far so I took off on foot to see if I could find the big guy and sure enough I did.

Another bull had a harem of cows down in a valley on the other side of the fence you see in this image. This guy was on the opposite side of the fence, doing his best to lure away the girls with his romantic bellow.

Unfortunately for him, the other bull had good control of his group and they stayed put leaving this guy to make his calls all alone.

Sounding a bugle sure to bring the girls from near and far, this big guy was making sure they all knew who was in charge. He had a good sized harem in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park last month and kept them close. There was a much larger bull nearby and he was well aware of the threat of seeing some of them poached away.

The rut is now over and the big guys finally get a rest but now all must prepare for a long, hard winter at altitude. The monochrome grass in this shot really kind of makes the bull stand out in contrast while they entire scene is filled with complementary colors.

If you spent weeks on end running around almost non-stop defending your harem from would-be competitors, you would be tired too.

This big guy had a nice bunch of cows to help ensure his lineage carried on. However, not 100 yards away, were three interlopers, all too ready to steal away the ladies.

On this mild day in Colorado’s high country, the boys seemed willing to take a break from the action and get some much needed rest. The big guy was able to lie down in the forest and catch a nap while his harem grazed nearby.