Checking the Herd

RMNP, Colorado

August 31, 2008

The rut is off to a slow and quiet start. Situations vary. It’s still summer and the weather is mild. Afternoon clouds threatening rain is always a welcomed sight out west. The family and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park to enjoy the sights. By the way all the photos posted were taken by kids. It’s never too early to enjoy a camera and wonderful subject like elk. My father introduced me to elk back in the 1980s and that sense of wonder and adventure stuck with me.

Still not sure why and I’m not complaining but sometimes big elk occupy a herd of their own very early in the season. That’s a benefit if that’s what you are looking for. However, there are a lot of missing elk at this party. Where are the satellite bulls for some healthy competition? Where is the aggressive bugling and wallowing? This bull is very nice but he won’t keep his harem for more than the next two weeks. He’ll be replaced by another bull equal to or slightly larger than he is. The rut is part endurance race and part strong man competition. Bulls that get to breed are both large, strong and can endure a constant defense. If they are not chasing bulls away they are trying to contain their wandering cows. Those that get an early start get a good harem. Only to be kicked out when a larger bull comes around. It happens a lot. If the incumbent bull is large and strong enough he’ll fight to keep his herd. But there is always a bull out there that is meaner and more aggressive. Those are the ones that keep their harem together. Often times this mean bull isn’t the biggest. That will make this fine 6x6 a satellite bull. There is often too much emphasis on the herd bull. We’ve seen more impressive satellite bulls that are much more approachable and responsive. What makes this an exciting time of year is it is the ONE time of year you get to see just about every bull in the woods. They all come out to engage in some role during the rut. We won’t see some of these bulls together again until the cold, short days of winter.

This impressive 6x6 was checking on his cows. This one cow pictured stayed bedded. They were very affectionate. Other cows he approached quickly got up and trotted away. They weren’t ready for breeding yet. But maybe this older cow is. They spent a couple of minutes smelling each other’s nose. This cow may be close to her estrus cycle. Cows come in to estrus for only one day so the bull must be very attentive. She will be ready for breeding up to three times during the rut. Every cow is different and on slightly different cycles. A bull with twenty cows could be very active. You may notice the young elk (he’s a 4x4) out in the willows eating. He was the only other bull in the area.

Look how healthy this cow is. Her summer coat is still on. It’s been too warm to trigger her winter coat. Her hair is well groomed. There are no signs of ticks. She’s just working on adding some layers of fat before winter really arrives. It has to be hard to find enough fattening food in such a dry climate. I always wondered what elk eat to get fat. I have had a lot of luck with donuts and pastries myself. Elk seem to love the short grasses no matter what. Whether they are feeding on the tundra or in a quiet creek valley short grasses are preferred.

It’s been a lush summer in the upper creek valleys. This will help the elk who will winter here.

These tall grasses grew up to three feet tall. It’s still very green in Colorado. Not every area is so green.

Future wintering ground for some hearty bulls. They should have plenty to nibble on until the snows cover this up.

A bedded cow blends in well with meadow grasses and rechews her food. It is a new moon and the elk will remain in this meadow all night. Elk don’t move much at night during a new moon. It is dark at night during a new moon.

Elk blend in well with their surroundings. How many elk can you find in this photo?

This calf is barely over three months old. She’s still drinking milk from her mother. This is her first year alive and it is a critical year for her. She can run fast and is playful. She could be a he too. We won’t know until she (or he) is two years old. Young bulls grow their first antlers – spikes - in their second year. Until then they all look like cows. A calf grows fast during their first year of life. They learn important survival skills from their mother. Like what to eat, where to summer, migration routes and elk routines.

Checking the cows. A bull checks his cows often. This bull didn’t bugle much except for a little around 530pm. He didn’t have any competition and his cows weren’t really moving.

Is this bull bugling? Nope. He’s smelling the air for the slightest hint that a cow is in estrus. But is makes for a decent photo. Click here to hear the sound of an elk bugling. Elk can smell with their mouth open like this and pick up the scent of a cow from a very long way off. If they can pinpoint a cow sound from over a mile and come within 20 yards of that sound they can probably do the same with their sense of smell. They have incredibly keen senses.

I hope you enjoyed the photos. The bugling season is here! It’s a slow start but that will soon change as we approach the middle of September. Stay tuned for updates this entire month.