Elk, Moose and Deer

The Devils Antlers

The Elk antlers here were unique. The one side had larger, thcker points. i was able to watch this elk for the entire rut season and he was very active. This was taken in Moraine Park in the early morning sunshine. There were a number of Elk Cows and Eik Bulls in the area but he was far enough away to allow me to get an isolated shot.

Oh Danny Boy!

A huge, 6-point Bull Elk in RMNP singing his song to woo the cows. He was a very active bugler this morning. He was without any cows and we active and ready for the rut. It was fun following him around this morning.

Bugling With his mouth full

The elk rut in middle of September in Rocky Mountain National Park at its peak. A huge, 7x6 pt Bull Elk bugling with some grass in his mouth he just ate. He was without any cows when this was taken but actively engaging to woo them closuer. Very active bugler.

Bull Elk Challange

Bull Elk during the rut work hard to gain and keep his harem. Bulls show off to intimidate other bulls to back off. But evenly matched bulls will fight. They lock antlers and ove one another to test their strength. One bull will give up and flee and the other chases the lower away. These two pushed each other without a clear winner.

Bull Elk Wading Thru The Big Thompson River

The End of August is the start of the Elk Rut in RMNP. The western edge of Moraine Park is where the Big Thompson River flows in RMNP. This large Bull Elk, on his way to Moraine Park, needed to stroll thru the river. I was following him and was able to capture his walk thru the river.

Sharpening The Tools

Every year the bull elk grows new antlers and every fall they scrap the velvet from the antlers to prepare for the mating season or the rut. One of the ways to remove the velvet is to scrap the antlers on a tree trunk or branch. This elk is rubbing his antlers on the aspen tree during the rut

Slough Creek Buddy

A couple day backpacking trip in YNP. We had a friend that stayed with us at our camping ground., a nice-sized Moose. I sat one morning watching and photography our buddy. The moose never bothered us and we didn't bother him.

Frosty the Bull Elk

It was a crisp cool morning in Moraine Park at the end of September during the Elk Rut. There was frost on the grass and even on the Elk. The sun had just came up. I had been following the Bull Elk watching him rub his anters on the trees and bugling to attract the female cows. The sunrising adding just the right lighting and when the bull elk turned toward the sun and got a spot of light on his eye, i quickly took a series of shots

Calling All Does

Another Elk Rut in Rocky Mountain National Park during the fall. A great time of year to be in the park and to see the Elk Rut where Bull elk call out to their mates and to their Does

RMNP Salad Bull

RMNP Salad Bull. This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park during the elk rut. The male Elk bugles to attract females. This elk had dropped grass off his antlers on to his head.

Fall Is Here

Fall is Here. The Colorado Elk rut runs parallel to the fall colors in the trees. In RMNP, the primary spot for elk viewing and photography is in Morraine Park. Here is a large bull elk responding to other bulls' bugling in the area. He had a rather large harem of cows that he was trying to protect keeping them around the trees. 1000

Bull Elk during the Rut

Every September, the Elk mating season is in full force. This bull elk (11 points) is on the lookout for female cows. This is a large bull and he will work hard in September to woo and defend a harem of cows. This was taken in early October but you can still hear the bugle of the elk to intimidate other bulls and to attract females.

North American Pronghorn

Pronghorns are native to North America and are the fastest animal in NA. They closely resenble the antelope, they are not of the antelope family. I was in Northern Colorado taking sunrise photos and this small herd of Pronghorns was just off the road. i have seen lots of pronghorn in western Rocky Mountain states but never this close. Typically, they scamper off when you get close. I took this photo while sitting in my truck so i wouldn't scare them away. These three were hanging out with each other and the just posed looking at me for this shot

Spike Elk on Trail Ridge

The Spike Elk is a yearling bull Elk. These two were part of a large group of Elk Cows just off Trail Ridge Road. They were very active and enjoyable to wach. There were some high altitude widlflowers in the area and i was able to get a shot where they were in a patch of wildflowers and looking straight at me.

Bugle Bully

During the mating season (or Rut), the male elk, the bull, bugles. This is attract females but more importantly to keep other bulls away from his harem of cows. This was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP, before sunrise. Shortly before this was taken, this Bull went after another Bull and sparred with him.

Grass Fed Bugle

the Elk Rut in RMNP is exciting to see. This Elk Bull is bugling with the Elk cows around. This harem was near one of the roads in RMNP with lots of cars stopping and people getting out of their cars to take photos. I witnessed a Bull Elk trying to keep his harem close by and a spotted an Elk Cow starting to lead the cows away from the road. I decided to move around the herd to an opening and they can walking toward me. i was surrounded by Elk when i took this photo. Fortunately, the Bull Elk was content to eat grass and bugle and not recognize me as a threat.