Herd Bull "Chaos" Rutting by Smith Creek

It's pretty late but the herd bull "Chaos" was rutting this morning. You can see the sod tossed to the right, and grass on his antlers. His herd was down by Smith Creek this morning and had roughly doubled to about 50 animals overnight.

Late Rutting Bull by Smith Creek

Herd Bull "Chaos" by Beech Creek

This morning a new herd popped out from the outback. This second tier bull is one I call "Chaos". He is atypical x 3, absolutely the oddest rack I have ever seen. In this picture he is "nose up" preparing to turn the cow in the foreground to the right. This is an absolutely standard rut move -- herd compaction. I doubt there is more than one cow in his harem that is estrous, if that. Note the mud on his rack --  another marker of his rutting behavior.

So what is going on now? We are at the very end of the rut. The big bulls are gone, and the second tier bulls have taken over. This is in keeping with the very end of the rut. There will be some breeding that goes on, but this is the very end of it all. Calves sired in this period arrive in August.

What Lies Ahead
Great elk viewing and photography is far from over. Bull elk retain their antlers until the end of March. All-bull and all-cow elk herds will be very visible in the winter and often all day, although I prefer morning and evening photography.

Many of my very best pictures are from this period. The very first elk crossing I ever shot standing on the Ponca low water bridge was shot on December 28 and it made the cover of the state elk brochure. What I am saying is don't dismiss the period from now until the end of March, it can be amazing.

Herd Bull "Chaos" at Sunrise by Beech Creek

Winter Bull Elk Pictures -- Post Rut Bull "Box" at 43/21 Intersection

"Box" is not my favorite bull, he is a second tier bull with square looking antlers. This morning he and 2 buddies were real close to the fence just north of the 43/21 intersection. This picture took me 35 minutes and a tiny fraction of a second. 

I spent some time lining Box up in front of the tree in the background, then spent more time waiting for him to pick up his head. Patience is a big deal if you want to get the best poses. This is a "field shot", but it is at an angle to grab an interesting background. If you want to take better pictures, don't neglect to pose the background. It places the animal in context and is more interesting visually. 

35 Minutes and 1/500th of a Second

Droopy and Backhooks -- The "Ugly Rack Society"

This is the year for oddball bulls.  I saw Droopy and Backhooks when they were in velvet and thought these weird guys deserve one another. They were always together.  The "Ugly Rack Society".  So odd.

Droopy and Backhooks -- The "Ugly Rack Society"

Bull Elk Prepare for Next Hunt

A number of bulls have not been seen this year so far. There are many different explanations, but many were seen in velvet and seem to be hiding in the woods, or perhaps they are in disguise. 

Rumor has it that Game and Fish has conducted top secret workshops for certain elk that show particular talent as models for elk tourism. Could this photo be of one of these elk? 

Officials could not be reached for comment on this story. 

Will He Be Recognized?

Introducing 2013 Herd Bull "Little Tine"

This is 2013 herd bull "Little Tine".  He is easy to ID if you look at his left antler he appears to have a tine missing that would make him a 6x6.  There is a tiny tine there, you can see it in this picture. Not sure if it qualifies, but it does make him easy to ID.  

Little Tine put on the show just south of the mill pond this morning. He was quite close to the road, and finally waded into the spring in that field.  Photo conditions were tough, but it was possible to get some pretty good shots. It remains to be seen if he will make the final cut.  Like Pretty Boy, he seems not quite large enough.  He is a nice bull, even if atypical. 

Bulls in Velvet in Boxley Valley Fog

2013 will no doubt be the year of some odd looking bulls. I caught these guys in early morning in pretty dense fog. Not much of an image, but you get the idea.

August Bulls in Velvet

Introducing Two 2013 Bull Elk

People who read my blog know I name bull elk, something that some object to, but I get way more positive feedback than negative. Visitors like to ID the bulls as a sort of "bucket list".

The most interesting and eccentric bull for 2013 I call "Droopy". His left antler swoops down more than any bull I have seen.  Last I saw Droopy he was still scraping velvet. He will be in the fight this year for a harem.  I wonder how he will fare with that left antler. (Look at those flared nostrils -- he was tracking.)

Below is Twinforks. Look for his forked tine on the left side and a tipped eye guard. He is an easy ID. First rutting bull of 2013, waaay early.