12/28/12 Elk Herd Locations

Elk viewing remains good. The Ponca fields are empty now. It is not clear if that herd has moved to a back field, or simply headed north or south. Elk viewing is concentrated from the mill pond and points south. The best viewing is down by Smith Creek in the south end.

We are now clearly in the post-rut period and all-bull herds have formed. There is one that ducks in and out in the mid-valley area. Today it was not visible, but tomorrow it could be at roadside. A true big bull herd is further south. These big guys offer the very best of bull elk shooting when they are around. Photographers in particular will want to track this blog closely to learn when these big guys appear. This is the best bull elk shooting of the year and it will continue through March.

12/23/12 Picture of the Day

From now until April, big bull pictures are easier to get. This picture was taken 12/18. If you want trophy bull elk pictures, this is the season.

The Boxley Stud 12/18/12 

12/23/12 Herd Location Update & Holiday Outlook

Elk herd locations remains pretty stable. Today the big bull herd was not evident, but they are around and can show up any day.

Elk viewing is pretty much all day long now. Looking ahead to the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, if you visit, you will see elk. There are well over 100 in the valley now, varying from 4 to 5 herds depending on the day. The predicted very cold weather makes holiday viewing virtually a lock.

Happy holidays.

12/22/12 Picture of the Day & Herd Location Update

Bull Elk Just 3 Miles South of Ponca Near HWY 43

The elk herd locations are unchanged. One bit of good news is that the bulls have returned to the middle valley fields just north of the mill pond.

The picture right is one of them that was so close to the road I had to dial back to 200mm for this picture. These are good photo and wildlife watching opportunities.

There are now 5 herds in the valley. Viewing is about as good as it ever gets.

12/21/12 Elk Celebrate End Of World Delay

Elk viewing is very good now. There are 4 herds in Boxley Valley, and one bull in the Ponca Fields on the north end remains in a rutting pattern. Typically there is a bull or two that remain in rut until the first of the year.

The all bull herds were not out this morning. There are at least 2 in the valley now. One of them is the big bull herd, the other is second tier bulls. Catching these bull herds with a camera is the gold standard in bull elk photography. This is now prime time to photograph groups of trophy bulls together. The key is to get to the valley early. There are no guarantees, but when you catch the big bulls it is a real treat.

The 12/21/12 elk herd location map is below:

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 

12/18/12 Today's Picture

December remains outstanding for elk photography and this new patter extends all through the winter.  Today's picture is of post-rut sparring. Often it approaches the intensity of full-blown bull fights. The picture below is one such sparring session that took place on the edge of a herd of big bulls. These are pretty nice bulls.

Spirited Post-Rut Bull Elk Sparring 12/18/12