12/18/12 The Boxley Stud in Frost

Well, here is another picture from today. This is the Boxley Stud, the dominant bull this year in Boxley Valley. This post rut photo is a wall-hanger for me. Ripping sharp in morning frost, this is a typical December, post-rut, bull photo. This is in my top 5 pictures for 2012.

The Boxley Stud, 2012 Monarch of Boxley Valley 

11/25/12 Picture of the Day -- The Boxley Stud

This is the big bull hanging around the 43/21 intersection. He is the "Boxley Stud", and he is the biggest bull in the valley this year. In this picture, I was fortunate to get him quite close to the road. He, the cow, and the calf in the background sense an intrudcr so they paused their grazing to have a look.

 This Big Bull, the "Boxley Stud" is VERY viewable at the 43/21 intersection

11/14/12 Picture of the Day

I don't take too many of this sort of picture, but this big guy is just a beast. This is the Boxley Stud up close and personal. 9x8, a true trophy elk for a photographer. He proves that the best photography is still out there. I heard him bugle this morning a dozen times. Nobody told him the rut was over. He has me in his cross-hairs.

I am publishing the map less often now, about 3 times a week. Today the elk were in the same location they have been recently. Look at yesterday's map for details. Plenty of great opportunities for amazing photos.

Picture of the Day 11/4/12

There are many ways to take pictures of elk. Context is important, but there is also telling the story of a day in the life of an elk. Here the biggest elk in Boxley Valley, the Boxley Stud is bedded down for the morning with two cow elk, each with a calf.

This is a snapshot of bedding down after the morning grazing has stopped for the most part around 10 AM today. These elk will be pretty inactive until the evening grazing begins around 4 PM. This is a pretty standard pattern in the late fall. Just one month ago this bedding down was done out of sight at remote bedding areas.

The Boxley Stud & Harem Bedded Down 11/4/12

Shot of the Day 10/30/12

This is the Boxley Stud. He is rutting in the south end of the valley. Easily the biggest bull this year.

Taken in very tough conditions with the light coming straight at us. Fortunately these guys were in relative shade. I had to over expose 1 stop to open up the neck detail on these elk.

10/7/12 Elk Herd Locations -- Rut Hits Higher Gear

After a very cold night on the heels of a record setting cold day, elk were moving all around and you could feel the rut hitting a higher gear. In our visit this morning we saw two mating events. The main herd we watched in the Ponca fields had a number of satellite bulls around it. This is the herd that had been in Lost Valley. It may well return there if that bull is to keep his harem. Plenty of bugling. Bull fights possible any time in this field.

Else where in the valley the herd in the south end is heading north. I expect it to pop into the grassy field just north of Smith Creek tonight or tomorrow morning. There is a monster bull hanging around this are, probably the best bull in the valley this year, the "Boxley Stud". I believe he is a 9x7. Prince favors these fields too.

There are scattered elk elsewhere, including a few bulls that put on a nice show in the field just north of the 43/21 intersection. One of those bulls is a recently deposed herd bull and a pretty nice bull.

LOTS of viewing and photographers now in the valley, especially in the evenings. Drive slowly and watch for pedestrians. Traffic jams now from time to time.

Below is the map for 10/7:

Big Bull Stars of the 2012 Arkansas Elk Rut

It is time to start introducing of the big bulls of the 2012 elk rut. Below on the left is the Boxley Stud, an 8x8, and on the right, Prince, an 8x7 because of antler damage. Both are top rank bulls. 

The Boxley Stud was the premier bull in the valley in 2010, he returns after a one year absence with a much heavier rack, and at least one extra point. He also has a palmate feature (flat, palm-like) on his left antler. Palmate antlers occur primarily on older bulls. 

Prince (right) is bigger than last year, but still smaller than the Stud. Last year he was a nearly perfect typical atypical bull elk with symmetrical 8x8 antlers. This year due to damage during the velvet period, he is an 8x7 and not so perfect.

Both these bulls are trophy bull elk. Both have been photographed close to cow herds, but there are not quite enough cow elk in heat to bull them in just yet. That moment, the one that ignites Boxley Valley with bull fights will probably come in the next week. Experienced bull watchers can feel the tension building with more bugling, and more big bulls every day. 

These images are not very good because they are clips of a video taken this morning at about 250 yards. Both these bulls will be sought by photographers this year. My bet is that the Boxley Stud will be the dominant bull elk this year, but this is always uncertain. He may be the biggest bull elk in Arkansas at this time. 

Boxley Stud and Prince Bull Elk 2012

Boxley Stud and Prince -- 31 Total Points
Sparring in Boxley Valley 2012

11/4/11 Prince Classic Pose

The Best Arkansas Bull Elk Ever -- The Prince of Boxley Valley 

11/4/11 Prince in Rut

Prince Rutting 11/4/11       Copyright Michael Dougherty 2011

9/26/11 Report -- 2011 Elk Rut is Smokin'

The 2011 Elk Rut in Boxley Valley is really smoking now. The bulls have arrived and there are 7 herds with herd bulls going now. Of course, most of these are small -- a bull with a handful of cow elk. The big guy remains the Boxley Beast in the south end of the Smith Creek Field.

Visitors will find elk in all the traditional fields from one end of the valley to the other. This morning the bulls were bugling until 10 when I left. In the early morning light they were really bugling often.

Here is the lineup of  7 herds and bulls from North to South:

• Ponca Fields -- Junk Yard Dog (JYD) -- New arrival, he has nearly perfect rack that is kind of round. A great bull with a handful in his harem. He was a late bull last year. (Ponca Fields)
• Middle Valley Field -- Pretty Boy, an early rut bull from last year is in the middle valley field, not a great viewing spot. He is still a bit small, I expect him to be replaced. 
• 43/21 Intersection -- Many bulls and a small group of cows. No ID on the herd bull. 
• Moore Creek Field -- Small group of cows with no ID on the herd bull. 
• North End of Smith Creek Field -- Godzilla with a handfull of cow elk. 
• South End of Smith Creek Field -- Boxley Beast and a nice harem, probably the largest.
• Trailhead to the Upper Wilderness -- Maverick with a handful of cows. 

The conditions could not be better for viewing. My choice would be the south end by Smith Creek. I believe the traffic is lower there and there are plenty of animals and lots of bugling. Also, be on the lookout for Prince. He is a satellite bull to the Boxley Beast herd.

Be safe and drive carefully. The elk are moving around a lot and cross the highway more often in rut.

Introducing the Prince of Boxley -- A Bull for the Ages

2011 stunner, the Prince. In my many years of photographing elk in Boxley Valley I have never seen a bull like this one. 8x8 irregular, two drop tines. Nearly perfect symmetry. A must-see animal. This big guy is only a satellite bull now, but just imagine him in the next few years.  

He showed up yesterday, part of this second wave that has showed up this week. 

The Prince is a bull you will want to see and want to photograph. He has double drop tines each with two points making him an 8x8. This rack is very rare.  A trophy picture for sure. He looks like a statue outside of Bass Pro -- he is that class. 

I thought at first this might be the Boxley Stud, but he is too small and his eye guards are not quite the same. He is a year or two away from being a herd bull class animal. Let's hope with these great genetics he will breed a lot. 

He is currently in the south end as a satellite to the Boxley Beast's herd. He is too small to be a serious challenger but in a couple of years he may be the new ruler. 

The Prince of Boxley Valley -- A Bull Elk Everyone Must-See