![Bull elk strikes a pose in the pre-dawn hour Bull elk strikes a pose in the pre-dawn hour](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2023/09-10-2023-RMNP-Elk/i-txpkkZn/0/e6a43015/X4/20230910%2006-46-25%200014-X4.jpg)
The sun had yet to come above the horizon on a mild morning in the Horseshoe Valley of Rocky Mountain National Park. A few bulls were vying for the attention of a half dozen or so cows with this handsome fellow being the lead. The others never really presented much of a threat but he wasn’t one to let his guard down, constantly circling the ladies while keeping watch on his competitors. Here, he raises his nose to take a whiff of the cows and in doing so, makes for a nice pose showcasing those massive antlers.