Elk Rut in Rocky Mountain NP

[terrib]

I spent a few days in RMNP to photograph the Elk during rut. The bulls were bugling and gathering their herds. Other bulls were answering the bugling but the only sparring I saw in the 3 mornings and 3 evenings we were out was between two satellite bulls and they were too far away for a good shot. Here are six of my images. If you are interested in viewing my other favorites, you can see them at the following link:Elk Rut 2014

#1 This image from the first morning is a bull that had a small herd of cows that he was defending from two sides. But the other bulls never got close. This bull had one errant cow that kept trying to leave and he spent most of his time rounding her up.



#2 This cow seemed to be unattached and wandered toward the herd from a distance. This is actually one of my favorite images. We fought dead trees cluttering up our background, especially interfering with the antlers of the bulls, but I liked the shape of this dead tree and waited for her to walk in front of it before taking the shot.



#3 This bull had a herd on the hill above this river and at least 3 other bulls surrounding him. Shortly before this shot, I was with a few other photographers down by the river until the bull decided he was coming down with us. We moved away to give him room to get to the other side to run off one of the other bulls.



#4 Later, several of the cows came down to the river to drink and feed.



#5 The last morning, I was able to get a shot of this very young calf. I fear it may be a hard winter for him since he is so young. But we got great enjoyment in watching him run around the rest of the herd bouncing and trying to get someone to play. The light was too low and he was too fast for me to catch any of the action.



#6 We had some beautiful light the last morning. This guy is bugling at another bull close by. Both had their own small herds. We watched them for over an hour until their cows led them each up into the woods.



As always, C&C is welcome. Thanks for taking the time to look!

[Geoff F]

All look good to me. Possibly a little bit of over exposure on the cow in #2 but nothing serious.

[bnnrcn]

They look great

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set, Terri. Nice light in the first and last. That really is a young looking calf for this late in the season. Well done.

[Shadowman]

Nice effort, most are well composed.

[terrib]

Thank you all for your comments.

[Montana Roy]

Beautiful, the first and last shots are my favorite, perfect lighting in both. I was supposed to be out photographing elk right now but it's decide to rain instead

[Mike Buckley]

Enjoyable photos and narrative. In the last one, seeing the length of the antlers compared to the length of the body makes me appreciate that the antlers are longer than I had realized.

[deetheturk]

Wonderful images Terri, very well captured

David

[KimC]

#1 is breathtaking...

[kaneohebud]

Hi Terri:
All well done. I love that season. You can't hear the elk bugling and not be moved.

[IzzieK]

Terri -- all beautiful shots and the narrative is great too...at least I do not have to guess what I am looking at nor stare at a blank wall trying to decipher the actions and the shots. Great shots especially #1 and the last one. Good light. Nice series.

[joebranko]

Beautiful shots and the lighting in the first and last was superb!

[terrib]

Thanks to the rest of you too for your comments. I agree, Bud, that it is wonderful to listen to them. It was a wonderful few days.

[rpcrowe]

Great captures! Did you ever use an elk bugle? Pretty easy to learn and quite effective drawing in the elk during the rut!

[terrib]

Thank you, Richard. No I didn't. In Rocky Mountain National Park it is easy to find the elk and they are doing plenty of bugling to draw in the others without my help. What is difficult there, but not impossible, is to find a herd without other photographers interfering with them or you. I'm sure I will go back but next time I hope to do more hiking to get away from the crowds. I want the shots just like everyone else, but I'm troubled by the impacts of all the people on the natural order of things and I'm trying to figure out if I want to continue contributing to that. But the reason I would go there instead of driving through the local forests (besides the higher success rate of finding a herd) is that I don't have to be worried about being shot by a hunter in the National Park. We have elk herds in the National forests very near where I live, but I'm not confident a bright orange vest would keep me safe!

[wtlwdwgn]

Excellent shots of the elk especially that last one. IIRC, it isn't legal to use a device to call animals in a national park. Besides, they're quite loud on their own.

[Wavelength]

Superb images...just amazed