11/13/13 Elk Herd Locations & Report

A pretty good morning today for elk watching and photography. With the colder weather there were few photographers and watchers.  The best shooting and viewing was early when the elk were closer to the fence.  JYD put on a pretty good show romping around close to the fence.

Good landscape weather too. Water-based compositions now have morning fog as an element. There are still plenty of colored leaves as well.

JYD November 2013

Nothing like the end of the rut to get big bull shots. A little steam too. He is still rutting and bugling.  I got within 30 yards of him today. Pretty much had the valley to myself this morning.

JYD November 2013

The Boxley Stud and a Shag December 18 Last Year

The best bull pictures are ahead from now until the end of March. This picture is from last year on December 18, over a month from now. As I have said a few times before, the best bull elk photography is ahead. If you want big bull pictures, it is easier after the rut starts winding down.

This particular shoot was one of my memorable ones, the kind of days you don't forget. Great light, great bull, and plenty of chances. The frost made getting details in his neck easy. I had the place to myself.

Remember this. The bull elk don't drop their antlers until around April 1. If you are serious about wanting some amazing elk shots we are now entering the very best time of the year. This will be when you get your trophy shots.

The Legendary Boxley Stud Bull Elk (and Shag Elk)

Herd Bull Tiny Forks Bugling at Surise 11/10/13

This is the herd bull "Tiny Forks" bugling in the field just south of the 43/21 intersection. This herd stayed in the field until about 8 AM. To get a good look at them you needed to arrive around 7 AM. 

Herd Bull Tiny Forks and His Harem

12/12/12 Picture of the Day

Prince by the Old Boxley Mill taken today.  Late season bull photography is far from done.

11/20/12 Image of the Day

Today is moving day. No point to do a map because it is already wrong. The herds that were in the north end of Boxley Valley are heading south. I caught them moving from one area to the other this morning, and along the way got real close to the Boxley Stud, this year's big bull. Here he is "winding" me as I lay on the ground in front of him about 30 yards away.

I expect the herds to move to the south fields today or tonight. They are outstanding for elk viewing. Only tomorrow will tell for sure. They have been in the north fields for a long time, they were overdue for a move south.

The "Boxley Stud" Winding Me

11/15/12 Picture of the Day

This was take a few days back. This monster bull elk is sniffing the air for an estrous female. The cow elk on the right is keeping her eye on him.

He remains in the rutting pattern, while some other bulls have transitioned to a post-rut pattern. These  seasonal patterns always blend like this. This bull, the Boxley Stud, is a 9x8, is a monster, and you can see him around the 43/21 intersection.

There is now a pretty large all-bull herd in the middle valley. Early visitors to the valley will often see these big guys grazing right along the road. This is a definitely a great wildlife watching and photographic opportunity.

November and December Elk Viewing is Outstanding

11/13/12 Picture of the Day

The biggest bull in Boxley Valley is the Boxley Stud. He remains an active rutting bull along with 3 others at different locations in the valley. To get close to this animal you need to get to the valley early. He may be out with his herd later in the day, but generally he will be far away from the road later in the day. This is a great 9x8 bull elk.

Herd Bull JYD (Junk Yard Dog) in Lost Valley 10/8

Another picture from tonight's shoot. This is a nice bull in a pretty nice setting. He should be there with his harem tomorrow too. Plenty of feed and water.

I believe the setting is key to a good elk photograph. These pictures are better than most field pictures, and you can get up pretty close compared to many areas.

JYD in Lost Valley 10/8/12 AM

JYD is the same bull I got on the 5th in a river crossing about a mile from Lost Valley. He is very active this year. If past experience in any guide, he will continue in the rut well into November. This year is he has a dropped eye guard on his right side, making him very easy to identify.

JYD bugling in front of the old Clark homestead 10/8/12 AM
His herd is to the right, moving to their bedding area. He is declaring his territory.

JYD Crossing the Buffalo River 10/5/12
The herd bull always follows the cows -- He is looking back for other bulls.

9/14/12 Bull Elk Fights are Beginning in Boxley Valley

The table is set now and the bull elk fight season has begun. After hearing reports of bull elk fights, we verified one yesterday down by Smith Creek. You could hear the unmistakable antler clashing of a couple of bulls.

In the field just north of Smith Creek there are at least 2 elk herds and a few bulls. There is a 3rd herd just south of the Upper Wilderness Trailhead. When rutting bulls stack into a compact area like this, there will be bull fights. Bugling is more frequent every day.

 One of the bigger bulls, Prince, has pulled into that field, a signal that the big boys are arriving now. If you want to see a bull fight, the next month will be the very best opportunity of the season.

Perfect viewing weather this weekend with cooler weather.

First Rutting Bull of 2012 -- Twin Forks

First Rutting Bull of 2012 -- Twin Forks

Twin Forks is the first rutting bull of the 2012 season. This morning he put on a good show for visitors to Boxley Valley as the 2012 elk rut kicked off. 

He is easy to identify. He right antler is split into two forks, each of which has 2 tines. This makes him a 7x6. He also has long eye guards and a narrow span between his antlers. This is the third year I have seen him. He has always been early in the rut, but until this year I didn't think he had much of a chance to be in the final group of 3 or 4 bulls that will rule the valley later in the rut. 

Typically the final group of herd bulls don't show up until around October 1, but there are no hard and fast rules. Twin Forks has "game", but will it be enough to hang on in the early fights? The other challenge he will face is enduring the whole rut, it is a long season. Many of the early dominant bulls get exhausted in the late rut and just walk away.

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.

11/4/11 Prince in Rut

Prince Rutting 11/4/11       Copyright Michael Dougherty 2011

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.

Prince, Boxley Valley's Trophy Elk

This is the best picture I have of the Prince of Boxley to date. This trophy elk is just amazing. His double drop tine with points is super rare.

This is a bull elk you will want to see. The double drop tines are so unusual that you should be able to ID him from quite a distance. He made this appearance last night just before sunset.

I hope to get better pictures of him this rut. This is a pretty good start.

Copyright 2011 Michael Dougherty, Arkansas Wildlife Photography

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