Insider Tip. Listen for Bull Elk Fights

Everyone imagines that bull elk fights are something you just run into. The truth is if you are paying attention, you can hear bulls getting ready to fight long before they lock up.

Here is the setup:

1. You hear lots of loud bugling. Usually all the noise is from the herd bull who is attempting to warn off the challenger bull who he knows is nearby. Bugling becomes more frequent, and if you listen closely you can hear the two animals trading bugles, I call this "Counter-Bugling"

2. Counter-Bugling will get pretty intense. You can hear the bugles getting raspy and growly and deeper, less melodic. Sometimes the bulls are right next to each other bugling in each other's face. The herd bull will now be in a rage, and you can tell easily. I have seen the herd bull froth at the mouth at this stage.  

If you hear this kind of bugling get to the location it is coming from. The stage is set for a bull fight. Usually you will find the bulls facing off when the noise starts toning down. Then there is a transition to the bull fight.  They may lock up right away, if they do you can hear them for quite a distance. In Boxley Valley this can be well over a half mile. 

I listen in 2 ways, generally when I drive the valley I have my radio turned off and the windows rolled down. I both look and listen intently in placed where I pull off. I am listening carefully to the bugling as above, and for the clatter of antlers. When I stop and shoot I continue to listen carefully. I always move to counter-bugling, especially if it is raspy.

This is the first engagement in a bull fight, I call it the "run along"
Note the herd bull is bugling angrily. From here they will face off
and lock up.  This is from 2008.  

When you are working elk use all your senses. A lot of conversation will result in missed opportunities. You are a hunter, not a visitor to a zoo. Stay alert. 

10/28/13 Elk Herd Location Map & Report

There were 2 herds in the Ponca fields this morning, and a 3rd small one in the south end by the Upper Wilderness Trailhead. Lots of bugling. I thought a fight might happen but it did not. The table is set for one, and it should be a few days. Lots of energy.  The more active herd was jammed right into the cane line on the north end, and they did head to the river for a few shots for the photographers present.

The small herd on the south end is very different and kind of placid. Still, if you have not seen elk, they were quite visible and perfect for elk watching.

Ponca Fields are Setup for Bull Fight Any Time

Late this evening of the 9th we heard a number of  challenger bulls closing in on the current herd bull in the Ponca fields.  There seemed to be as many as 3 or 4 challengers in the area, more than a few attacking from the river.  They were all still bugling after dark.

If you want to see a bull fight, this is as good a setup as I have seen in the #1 bull fight field in Boxley Valley in 2013.  Any time now.

Predicting Bull Elk Fights: Lesson #2 -- Location, Location, Location

Lesson #1 was about listening for sound clues about bull elk fights.  Lesson #2 is about using history as a guide to where fights occur in Boxley Valley.

I have been chasing elk and bull fights since late 2006, but really hit the ground in 2007.  Over the years my obsession with elk photography has led me to focus on bull elk fights, and elk crossing the Buffalo National River as subjects.

The map below shows the 3 main places I have observed bull fights over 5 years.  Fights do occur in other places, but these are the 3 top fields.  I am certain that habitat is the determining factor that has moved them to the top of the rankings.  Here are the factors:

1. Field Size   Each of these fields is very large.  Large fields setup the conditions where 2 separate herds 2 bulls might graze near one another.  This proximity sets the table for a battle to unite the herds.

2. Attack Points  These big fields offer many attack points for maverick bulls. Behind and around them are major elk trail complexes exploited by bull elk to mount their challenges.

3. Food & Water  Each of these fields has water in the fields as well as the river behind them.  They also offer exceptional grazing with less (or no) competition from cattle.  Cattle and elk don't mix.

4. Large Bedding Areas   Each of these fields has large bedding areas right behind them, including areas across the river.  These are attractive to herds, and to their bulls.

What all this means is that bull fights during the rut are about habitat territoriality as well as the battle for breeding rights. These 3 fields are ideal locations for the rut offering plenty of food, water and bedding areas while the work of the rut is being done.  Pay particular attention to these zones in Boxley Valley and your chances of seeing a bull elk fight improve dramatically.

Updated Boxley Valley Map Showing Best Bull Fight Fields

10/29/12 Elk Herd Locations in Boxley Valley

Today's elk herd locations mirrored recent days with the exception of a new herd popping up in the Smith Creek field in the south end of the valley. 

Yesterday's bull fight is still pretty fresh. Viewing last evening was very good and there was a nice crowd. It is quite possible the loser of the bullfight in the Ponca Fields will come back for a rematch. I have seen this a number of times over the years. 

Great morning frosts and steaming breath shots. 

October 21 2012 Bull Elk Fight, Boxley Valley by Smith Creek

This bull fight was the first I have seen this year. The setup was ideal. Roughly evenly matched bulls were challenging a small herd bull for control of his harem. Note as you watch this fight, the satellite bulls are helping themselves to the cow elk.

All of this is very standard. It is part of the annual elk rut, now at peak in Boxley Valley, near Ponca, AR. I have witnessed bull elk fights until mid-November. Bull fights can happen any time. I usually see about 3 a year, this was the first.

10/21/12 Elk Herd Locations

This morning there were fewer herd in the valley but the action and viewing was very good.

The herd to watch is the one located by the Upper Wilderness Trailhead in the south end of Boxley Valley. There was a real fight there this morning, and there are many reasons to favor a repeat performance this evening.

The other very active field is the Ponca field. This has been the most reliable field now for October.

There are many elk scattered elsewhere.

Listen to Locate Bull Elk Fights

It is now prime time for bull elk fights in the buffalo national river region. One of the very best ways to locate a bull elk fight is to listen for them.

There are two ways to listen for a fight. The first one is pretty obvious -- listen for the loud clatter of the antlers. A real bull fight can be heard a half mile away in Boxley Valley. It is quite possible you will not be able to see a fight you can hear after you relocate, but remember that bulls often fight over a large area. Last year when the Boxley Beast fought Godzilla, it started in the river and they moved into view in a few minutes. The fight continued for 15 more minutes in plain view.

The second tip is about the bugling. You may never read this insider secret anywhere else online. When bull elk get ready to fight, they "counter-bugle", meaning they are calling back and forth to each other, and it is clear that they are getting agitated. I listen for two patterns. First, the bugles are back and forth and become more frequent. Second, as the bulls get angry, their bugles get "gravelly" and rough. These patterns set the stage for a challenge and a possible fight.

Most people don't pay attention to what is going on. The key lesson here is to always be alert and use your ears as well as you eyes. If you do, your chances of seeing bull fight go up a lot. Once you see a real bull fight you will never forget it.

9/28/12 Weekend Elk Viewing Outlook & Map

Elk herd locations have shifted south in the middle valley locations -- see map below. This mid-valley location has at least 2 herds with herd bulls so it is a prime location for a bull fight and bugling. Be very careful parking in this middle valley area and get off the road outside the white line. There are blind corners and dips in this area. 

The 2012 elk rut is now on top of the plateau I call the "peak". It will extend through all of October before slowly sloping down until the end of the year. It is during this 4 week, prime time period that you get the most bull fights and most bugling. The first 2 weeks of November remain pretty good, but by then the tailing off of peak becomes evident. 

There are armyworms in a couple of upper valley fields now. With this damage, it is reasonable to expect that elk herds will remain in a strong middle valley to south end pattern for the remainder of the year. Hopefully there will not be much more damage. 

The 9/28/12 herd location map is below:

Current Elk Herd Locations

Witness Bull Elk Fights -- Get Your Timing Right

Late September 2008

Fall weather returns this weekend and the elk viewing should be very good. We are inching closer to the rut, beginning now just a little over a week off, and kicking in full gear in 2 weeks out.

During the first part of the elk rut the bull fights are especially fierce because it is the first time the pecking order is established. By the first part I mean the last week of September through the first week in October.

In 2007 during early October I witnessed 3 real huge bull fights at once in the same field at the same time. The stage was set by a huge dominant bull, the Boxley Beast, RIP, who had backed up his harem of 100 cow elk into the corner of a fence line. He was protecting them from 14 satellite bulls, a few of which were legitimate challengers.

October 12, 2007

The largest of the challengers engaged the "Beast" and an 25 minute fight began. Almost immediately two other fights began. I was alone at the intersection of highway 43 and 21 with three real bull fights in front of me.

The Beast won. But during the fight, other smaller bulls took all the cows he was protecting.

I will never forget that fight (and those fights). Six big bulls were clashing, spinning, grunting and spitting right in front of me and I was alone to witness it.

My point is this. If getting a bull fight is your objective, you need to do 2 things.  1.) Start visiting early in the rut, beginning in mid-September. 2.) Put in the time. Time in the valley translates to improved percentages for success.

Timetable for the 2012 Elk Rut

Real Bull Elk Fights Begin In Late September

Any time now bull elk will be scraping the velvet off their antlers in preparation for the 2012 elk rut. This blog and my website, arkansaswildlifephotography.com will cover the 2012 rut in-depth.

During the elk rut I visit Boxley Valley at least 4 times a week, sometimes 7. There is no substitute for being local, but my elk viewing and photo guides are a pretty good second choice. With them you can hit-the-ground-running when you visit for elk viewing. (See the map below for an example.)

I did report in this blog that I heard a bull bugle on two separate occasions in July. Truly, that was really an abberation -- a full month prior to when I usually hear the first bugle. That deranged elk was the equivalent of a person who yells fire when somebody lights a cigarette. I support his first amendment right to free bugling, but it does confuse things.

2012 Rut Timetable in a Nutshell

• Mid-August -- Early-September -- Bull elk are scraping velvet. I have not observed this yet, but the bulls clearly have just about completed their antler growth. (Yes, I realize this is not really the rut, but it does set the stage and helps you understand the timing.)
  
• Early-September -- Often one bull will start rutting early. I have seen them "running" cow elk pretty early in September, but usually it is only one bull (maybe the whack job who is bugling early). There will always be early and late rutting. Don't visit expecting to hear bugling.
  
• Late September (The Big Dance Begins) -- By the 3rd week of September, the rut is on, and it is early peak. Bulls start fighting for domination, meaning breeding rights. The early bull fights are particularly vicious because the "pecking order" is being established for the first round.
  
• Late September to Mid-October (or a bit later) -- The Peak Rut -- Biologists don't like a peak rut identified, but if you want action, this is the very best chance to see great bull fights. Bugling is strong during this period, and best in the morning and evening.
  
• Late October to Mid-November -- Late rutting continues, but clearly the intensity of the peak has passed. I have filmed bull fights during this period, but by then the pecking order is long established, the they are rare. Is there much to left to see, absolutely yes. The viewing is great.
  
• Mid-November through December -- Bull elk continue running cows, we are in the 3rd estrous period now, and few cows remain to be bred. As we transition to late in this period, bull elk and cow elk segregate into all-bull and all-cow herds. This process blends with the end of the rut, and it generally is complete by the end of December. 

That is the timetable of the rut. It is not precise, and these stages blend together. In just a few weeks we enter the 2012 rut. For 3 months this is one of the great reasons to visit the Buffalo National River. We are the elk capital of the south. Stay tuned.

RIP Old Buddy

The Boxley Beast in 2010

I am sad to report that the Boxley Beast was killed in this year's elk hunt. This big guy furnished me with hundreds of hours of enjoyment, as he did thousands of visitors from many states. I photographed him over 5 years and have thousands of images of him. He is on my business card.

Killing him offered a fraction of a second's satisfaction to the hunter -- about the same time taken by my camera's shutter. The distinction, of course, is that I experienced thousands of those fractions of seconds across many years, and so did many others, many from other states.

The Beast was perhaps the biggest bull elk ever in Arkansas. He lost an eye guard in his famous YouTube fight with Godzilla. If he had not, his rack would have been the largest on record I am told in Arkansas. He lost that eye guard fighting the bull that ended up on the cover of the special elk issue of Arkansas Wildlife Magazine -- Godzilla. In what was probably his last real bull fight, he kicked Godzilla's tail. We have it on video.

The saddest part of the elk hunt is that in an instant it destroys wildlife watching resources that create tourism and jobs in our region. This is the elk version of killing the golden goose in an instant, depriving visitors from many states of outstanding wildlife watching for years.  It is plain wrong, poor policy, and not real hunting of wild animals.

11/12/11 Bull Fight Today, Herds Return on Cool Weather

Real bull elk fight today in mid-valley. Cool overcast weather provided outstanding viewing.

A fairly large bull elk herd was in the field by the intersection of 43 and 21. Right on time, this is the beginning of the transition to the post-rut period. Many of these bulls are satellites that have detached from the herds as fewer cow elk are estrous. Antler fans get a decent opportunity to get 8-10 bull elk in one group. 

We were treated to 3 herds in the mid-valley. Two herds were close together and that led to a bull fight between the herd bulls. Across 43 behind us another herd showed up and there was actually bugling across the road. A lot of bugling in this area this morning. 

The take away point from today is that the rut is still on and quality elk viewing is far from over. There were 3 herds, and 3 rutting bulls in a pretty compact area. I am absolutely certain there is at least 1 more rutting herd in the south end, but currently it is rotated to the back fields. 

Be very sure to check out the Lost Valley fields if you visit. The herd that was west of 43 this morning could end up there Sunday -- it is clearly setup based on this morning's herd locations. 

The updated map is below:

New Elk Video Posted on Bull Fights vs. Sparring

I thought it would be useful to put together a slide show to show the difference between bull elk fighting and bull elk sparring. I get asked this question all the time.

Very few people get the chance to see a real bull elk fight even though they happen often early in the rut. When people tell me that they have seen a fight I assume it is sparring. Sparring is fun to watch, but nothing is on the line with sparring bulls, it is almost something they do to combat boredom.

Here is the video. I realize the sound could be better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExKzToANycE

If somehow you missed it, the following is a video of a true bull fight in Boxley Valley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Pb_s1SG1o

10/8/11 Elk Herd Location Map & News

This morning there were two primary elk viewing herds, one just south of the Ponca Access, and a second bordered by Smith Creek on the south end of Boxley Valley. 

There was a lot of bugling at the south end even though today it was socked in by heavy morning fog. Unseasonably warm temperatures cause the elk to leave the fields around 8AM. Current temperatures are about 8 degrees above seasonal normals. 

Last night the elk came into the fields at 5PM. In the evening there were a couple of more small herds than we saw in the morning session. 

I still rate the south field as the best place to see and hear the elk. The tall grass of the south field is better for photos. There are more satellite bulls around the south field and that stimulates more bugling. 

The Ponca field is good, and there is a decent bull there. I learned today that the Bubba Stud is hanging around in this area so there could be a bull fight there as well. Bubba Stud is a ferocious bull so it is worth keeping an eye on his movements. If the past is any indication, only the Boxley Beast can handle the Bubba Stud. 

Updated Herd Map & Narrative 10/5/11

Lots of bugling this morning, especially at the south end of Boxley Valley.

The map below lists 3 herd locations for today, but if the bugling is any indication, just off the map in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness there were at least two more. I think one would certainly be Maverick and his harem, the second I would not have a guess.

Pretty Boy and his harem remain in the second Ponca field. I believe they will be in that position for some time unless cattle are moved there to graze. This morning at around 7AM, he and his harem were pretty close to the fence.

In the south end the Beast continues his reign. Godzilla is running a small herd on the north end of the same field. Since these two have fought at least twice, I would think more fights are possible. There are many satellite bulls working these two herds. I have not seen Prince for a couple of days, but I am sure he is in that area.

I filmed my second river crossing today, but it was a small group. Beautiful setting. I hope to get at least some of it posted by the weekend.

Final 10/1/2011 Bull Fight Video

This is a REAL bull fight, not sparring. You can see the energy and the power of these two guys. Before they fought in the field in front of us, they fought in the river bed. I believe it was during this fight the Beast lost one of his eye guards.

Turns out this is about the longest bull fight on YouTube. Mandy and I edited the footage, added the sound back in with editing out some adult comments. This is Mandy's first video, talk about getting lucky with the subject. She did a great job -- it was the first time she used the camera.

I think the funniest part of this video is the satellite bull watching the fight. He got so excited he started bugling himself. As is pretty standard for one of these fights, the satellite bulls take all the cows, or at least many of them. 


This was taken in south Boxley Valley just north of Smith Creek. So far in 2011, this remains the best viewing field. There is no question it is the field where you are likely to see a bull fight. For the time being, these two huge bulls are quite near one another. I know of two fights between them, there have probably been more. 


Here is the direct link if you want to share this video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Pb_s1SG1o

The Boxley Beast vs. Godzilla Video

We are still hacking around on this video file, but I thought it would be best to just get it out there and put the refined version up next. You will get the idea.

This is what a REAL bull fight looks like. The Boxley Beast and Godzilla have fought at least two times that I know of. The share the same field most days down by Smith Creek. They don't like each other, and this rivalry sets the stage for a fight just about any day.

Enjoy. This is our first video. We had to turn off the sound because of all the chatter of people watching the spectacle. What you are missing is the crash of the antlers and the rage. These are huge bulls. It is amusing to watch the "spectator" bull. It is as though he was looking for pointers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J4VAf9SlQ4&feature=youtube_gdata

2 Bull Fights October 1 at South End

The 8x8 Prince of Boxley

Saturday night there was another bull fight in the south end. That is 2 bull fights in the same day.

The south end field north of Smith Creek remains the hotspot in Boxley Valley. Not only is it setup for bullfights during active periods, the Prince is there as a satellite bull.

This picture is from last evening. We went down to the valley yesterday twice. Everyone must see Prince. Even the fellow satellite bulls recognize that Prince is something special.

I will be updating the viewing map later this morning.

Boxley Beast V. Godzilla -- The Beast Rules

The Boxley Beast and Godzilla squared off this morning for a 20+ minute fight, starting in the river bed behind the field near Smith Creek, and resuming right in front of us. It was a rip snorting real deal bull fight. The two battlers are well matched but finally the Beast prevailed, but along the way one of his eye guards was broken off. Now he is a 7x7, no longer an 8x7.

This is the third fight in this field I know about in the last week.

As long as these two share the same field there will be fights. This is at least the second fight I know of between these two dominating herd bulls. So far the Boxley Beast has fought off all challengers. The rut is a long season and will continue at least through the month. Only time will tell if he can go the distance again this year and have a harem to the end.

I am working on an October map. It will be posted in a couple of hours. This morning there were elk only at the opposite ends of the valley. One herd near Ponca, and two in the Smith Creek Field (Godzilla's and the Boxley Beast's). While the Beast won the fight, Godzilla still is running a handful of cows.

Prince also made an appearance.

VIDEO. My wife Mandy cut her teeth on video last night, and this morning taped most of this bull fight. She is editing it now and it will be posted today. Visit later to see a video of the fight and the new October map.