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Bull Elk enjoys the bachelor life at high altitude

October 4, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

Well, he may not be enjoying being a bachelor but this big guy found himself alone and without a harem. He was hanging out in the rarified air near the top of Trail Ridge Road which reaches an altitude of 12,183 feet. There were actually three bulls up there, one did have a nice little harem of a half dozen ladies all to himself.

The annual rut is winding down now and it is showing on the males. It was clear that they were far less active than in recent weeks and seemed to be less likely to challenge other bulls.

An Elk bull in some beautiful early morning light at high altitude.  (© Tony’s Takes)
An Elk bull in some beautiful early morning light at high altitude. (© Tony’s Takes)

Bull Elk shows the little ones how to do it

September 28, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

While there were no battles on the evening I took this image, it was certainly obvious the Elk rut was in full swing. This bull had gathered himself 30 or so cows and calves in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. He was unchallenged and made lots of noise to make sure it stayed that way. Here he stands over two calves as he bugles, perhaps teaching them how to be top dogs themselves in the future. 😉

A bull Elk bugles as two calves look on in Moraine Park.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A bull Elk bugles as two calves look on in Moraine Park. (© Tony’s Takes)

Elk bulls in battle royale

September 20, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

With fall quickly approaching, rut season for Elk is here and with their hormones raging, battles between the males are getting more intense. I was extremely fortunate to witness one duel and better yet, get pictures of it.

Two bulls had their harems gathered at opposite ends of a small meadow and while you would think they would be content with what they had, one was not. He started approaching the other group which enraged the second bull. They met in the middle of the meadow, initially circling at a distance, clearly sizing each other up.

Slowly they approached each other, raising their heads to the other, keeping close watch. Suddenly, their heads went down and they charged! Back and forth they shoved, swinging their massive antlers trying to stab their opponent and push them down. Dirt was flying and the sound of the clash added an audio component that really helped drive home the point that these are massive, powerful animals.

For a time, it looked like it would be a draw but the bigger, second Elk fended off the challenger, chasing him away. Adding insult to injury, he took the other bull’s harem of 20 or so cows and added it to his own leaving the challenger with nothing for all of his work. I cannot begin to describe how exciting it was to witness this.

While I have seen Elk challenge each other, those never resulted in any actual physical contact. I had never witnessed a fight like this one and still get giddy when I think about it. So much fun!

Taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Scroll down to view the complete battle series.

Elk bulls go head-to-head in Rocky Mountain National Park during the rut. (© Tony’s Takes)
Elk bulls go head-to-head in Rocky Mountain National Park during the rut. (© Tony’s Takes)
Elk bulls battle
Elk bulls battle
A bull Elk scopes out a nearby competitor
A bull Elk scopes out a nearby competitor
Elk bull calls out his challenger
Elk bull calls out his challenger
A bull Elk scopes out a nearby competitor
A bull Elk scopes out a nearby competitor
Elk bull calls out his challenger
Elk bull calls out his challenger
Elk bull calls out his challenger
Elk bull calls out his challenger
Elk bull calls out his challenger
Elk bull calls out his challenger
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
The two Bulls circle, sizing each other up
Elk bull reminds his harem who is in charge
Elk bull reminds his harem who is in charge
Elk bull prepares for battle
Elk bull prepares for battle
Elk bull reminds his harem who is in charge
Elk bull reminds his harem who is in charge
Elk bulls approach, prepare to engage
Elk bulls approach, prepare to engage
Elk bulls approach, prepare to engage
Elk bulls approach, prepare to engage
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
Elk bulls battle for supremacy - and the ladies
The victor!
The victor!
The victor!
The victor!
The losing Elk bull stands alone having lost his harem
The losing Elk bull stands alone having lost his harem

Elk doe plays shy

August 24, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

Waking early one morning in Jasper National Park, I emerged from my RV to find this beautiful lady right there. She was cautious and moved around to the opposite side of a tree but was also curious and hungry. Sticking her head out from the other side, she continued to graze and I of course watched while enjoying a beautiful morning in the northern Rocky Mountains.

An Elk doe grazes behind a tree in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. (© Tony’s Takes)
An Elk doe grazes behind a tree in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. (© Tony’s Takes)

“And this is what I think of you tourists!”

August 6, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

A very large bull Elk sticks his tongue out toward some of the crowd that had stopped to watch it. We happened upon this big guy in Jasper National Park near Talbot Lake. For the most part he kept his head down and grazed but I managed a few shots when he would look up.

A very large bull Elk sticks his tongue out toward some of the crowd that had stopped to watch it. (© Tony’s Takes)
A very large bull Elk sticks his tongue out toward some of the crowd that had stopped to watch it. (© Tony’s Takes)

Elk calf stops mid-chew to check out the photographer

July 24, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

Back from a fantastic weekend in Colorado’s high country and while the primary purpose of the trip was camping with the family, I managed to find a good number of critters to photograph as well.

First up is this precious little one that provided me with not only a lot of pics, but also a huge smile on my face. So cute! This was taken just inside the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

An Elk calf chews on a leaf while keeping watch on the photographer. (© Tony’s Takes)
An Elk calf chews on a leaf while keeping watch on the photographer. (© Tony’s Takes)

Heads or tails?

July 12, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

Heads or tails? No reason to pick given the pose this bull Elk gave me. 😉

Taken early one morning along the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park on July 27. This big fella and two of his buddies were grazing alongside the road.

The Bow Valley Parkway has a reputation of being the wildlife ‘hotspot’ in the park. We however came away disappointed after having driven it eight times at all different times of day over a span of four days. A few deer and elk were all we were able to see. No doubt it is a matter of luck and timing but it sure was frustrating.

A bull Elk along the Bow Valley Parkway checks behind himself. (© Tony’s Takes)
A bull Elk along the Bow Valley Parkway checks behind himself. (© Tony’s Takes)

Elk calf stops to smell the fauna

July 6, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

It didn’t take long after arriving at our first destination in the Canadian Rockies to find wildlife. In fact, it found us. Nine Elk cows and four very cute calves came walking right through our campground. The ladies were certainly pretty but needless to say, it was the little ones that stole the show. This particular one proved to be the most photogenic of the youth giving me many fantastic poses including this look of it sniffing at the grass and a piece of wood.

A curious Elk calf investigates a piece of wood in Whistler's Campground in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. (© Tony’s Takes)
A curious Elk calf investigates a piece of wood in Whistler’s Campground in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. (© Tony’s Takes)

The lazy days of springtime

May 26, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

On an unseasonably warm day, these Elk bulls and about a half dozen of their buddies were lounging around in the West Horseshoe Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park. While they were here Saturday, most of the females I saw were in Moraine Park or migrating toward it. With the rut five months away, the boys clearly weren’t too concerned about what the ladies were up to.?

Elk bulls relax in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park. (© Tony’s Takes)
Elk bulls relax in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park. (© Tony’s Takes)
An Elk bull watches geese walk by. (© Tony’s Takes)
An Elk bull watches geese walk by. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wapiti Wednesday: Bull Elk gets some much needed refreshment

March 9, 2016 by Tony Leave a Comment

If you were this big guy and had been furiously guarding your harem of 15 or so cows from a few other bulls, you would be thirsty too. Taken in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Moraine Park area, this bull had lost a few females to other suitors but was overall doing a good job keeping the group together. After fending off a younger bull that tried to siphon some off, he took a break just long enough to grab a quick drink from the creek.

The annual rut is an extraordinary event and if you ever get a chance to see it, I would highly recommend it. Taken September 20, 2015.

A bull Elk gets a drink from a creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. (© Tony’s Takes)
A bull Elk gets a drink from a creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. (© Tony’s Takes)
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