Late Fall Color on the Hailstone

Late fall on the Hailstone. Last week's peak color has become late color. I personally like it better than peak color, but that is completely subjective. 

Late Fall on the Hailstone

9/23/13 Walking the Wild River

Sometimes you get what you get.  I like black and white and intend to devote a year to it.  I call this image "Along a Wild River Pool".  This is classic Hailstone (the uppermost Buffalo National River).

I like to stalk elk along the river even though I often come up empty.  Pooled water and rock are inspiring to me and not a bad fallback.  So this is what I got today.  A study in light, texture, and reflections.  A nice break from antlers and fur.

A Wild Pool on the Hailstone

Cow and Calf Crossing the Hailstone

Today's picture.  The herds are still pretty loose because very few cow elk are estrous. This cow and her calf are on their way to the daytime bedding area on the other side of the Hailstone.  Other elk in her herd went to a different bedding area further north.

As the rut progresses, the herds compact and are closely controlled by rutting bulls. Just a couple of weeks from now, her herd bull will keep her and her calf close by to ward off competitor bulls.

Cow and Calf Crossing the Hailstone 2013 Arkansas Elk Rut

Today's Image, Cow and Satellite Bull in Buffalo National River

This is a classic ozark elk scene. This satellite bull is courting the cow in the river. According to the books, satellite bulls breed more than the dominant herd bulls. It is always great to get the animals in the river during fall color.

Satellite Bull and Cow Elk in Buffalo National River

10/10/11 Elk Picture of the Day

This bull is crossing the Buffalo National River in early fall color. He is heading for his bedding ground. These are the photos I seek as an experienced elk photographer. The challenge becomes telling the "story of the elk" in the best setting. Getting them in the Buffalo with a reflection is always a treat.

This is the biggest bull of a bachelor bull herd. They are not quite ready to compete in the rut so for now they are together away from the rut. In a year or two they will be in the fray. This bull has a distinctive forked tine on his left site. Should make him easy to ID in future years.