Lost Harem (2009)

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” -John Muir

I was introduced to nature and its wildlife at a very young age accompanying my father and brother on ritual hunting, fishing, and camping trips. Certainly that experience aided in the outdoors becoming an enjoyable priority in my life, but I believe it goes far deeper than that; a calling, a fascination with wandering into the wild to observe and reflect. When you spend time in the peaceful wood and monitor its habitants as they’re unaware of your presence, it, for lack of a better definition, freshens the mind, cleans the spirit, and reminds you that you’re alive.

I’m only an 8 month transplant to the area with sole origins in West Virginia. Elk have always been a creature of allure for me and as they weren’t currently native to my eastern home, it topped high upon the list to view one. September is usually peak season for their rut, or mating season. The bull elk compete for the attention of the cows. Bull elk in their prime, 4-10 years of age, are large and dominant enough to claim a harem of as many as 25 cows. During this period it is more yielding to view these animals as they spend more time in the clearings and their attention is somewhat diverted.

However, it is also a very risky period to attempt an approach. Bulls, engorged with hormones, become protective of their harems from other bull elk and predators. Often, you will find two evenly matched bulls locked in battle as they wrestle each other with their massive antlers for dominance. If a human is mistaken as a threat or predator, they will not hesitate to administer a charged attack.

I paid a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park this September to witness the action. You don’t have to venture far from the droves of road spectators to get a great glimpse of these massive beasts naturally interacting within their habitat. I probably, on several occasions, crept a little too close than what’s considered safe, but I was utterly confounded by their size and beauty. This bull had strayed just a bit from his harem to chase another smaller bull away and was bugling back to his harem to follow. I was kneeling in pretty close and if you can believe it, captured this photo with a 50mm prime lens.