Posted September 12, 2024
Early days of the 2024 Elk Rut
Hardly anthing announces the return of fall like the sound of a bugling elk! Elk are usually visible in the golden meadows early in the morning before they slip back into the shade and darkness of the forests.
It has been cool in the mornings, but so far, not cold. Currently there are three or four small herds roaming the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Bulls bellow their haunting calls across the valley, making a morning trek to the park a feast for all of the senses. For me, it takes a 4:30 am alarm to make the winding canyon drive for the first rays of morning. As additional large bulls enter the region, I hope to see a few skirmishes, but it seems too early. Likewise, only a few of the aspens and cottonwoods are showing much of their vibrant fall colors.
Note: All of the photos on this page were taken with a Sony A1 camera and a Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens. All of the shots were captured handheld.
Without the threat of being hunted, most elk in Rocky Mountain National Park are very tolerant of tourists and photographers. This makes for outstanding opportunities to photograph the magnificent animals as they go about their yearly rut.