Gathering Of The Bulls

In the first week October 2010, making a second trip through the Black Hills of South Dakota, I had the opportunity to witness one of those "once in a lifetime experiences". Hearing the bugling call of the Bull Elk in the late evening, I decided to "siwash" out for the night. The following morning just as daylight broke, I was able to find the Elk herd just a mile from where I had camped. The herd was restricted to only Bull Elk. There were no cows or calves in the area. As the light increased, I was able to count seventeen Bull Elk, another dozen of so bulls were already moving into the dark timber at the edge of the meadow. The meadow was a large area, comprised of prairie grasses and scattered pine. The congregation of Bull Elk was comprised of a variety of age groups, from the young spikes to the older, Royals. A Royal Bull Elk are those that have a minimum of six points on each antler. The Bulls have a tendency to congregate just prior to the rut, normally in smaller groups than what I was witnessing. During these gatherings, the Bulls will engaged in "sparring matches"in order to determine dominance as well as checking out the competition when the "rut" commences in earnest. It is during this time, that the Bulls will engage in full combat to protect their herd of cows. This particular morning, I saw several sparring matches occur but I concentrated on the two large Royals that were testing one another. A smaller (five point) Bull looked on as if he was considering his chances at succeeding in a show down with the larger Bulls. My only regret was the poor photo lighting conditions of the early morning dawn, but to witness this spectacular event was more important at the time. Within thirty minutes of daylight, the herd slowly moved into the dark timber for the day. I remained in the area for the day, photographing Deer, Antelope, Buffalo, and Big Horn Sheep. I returned to the meadow in the evening to camp out once again, in hopes of witnessing a second gathering the next morning. Three Bulls moved into the meadow just at dark. After a sleepless night in anticipation of what I would see at daylight, I was disappointed as there were no Elk in the meadow. Although several Mule Deer were grazing in the area. Weather conditions in the area was very warm and extremely dry. The weather conditions were ideal for the infestation of flies. If you note, this infestation is seen in the hides of the Elk, instead of their sleek hair laying flat it is blotchy and ruffled. This is due to their rubbing on trees and bushes in an attempt to give themselves a little relief from the biting flies. The Bull Elk is a magnificent animal, to see one is always a thrill, but to witness what I was privileged to observed on October 8, 2010 will be a memory that will never diminish.

Two Royals And A Five Point

Initial Face Off Between The Royals

Five Pointer Checking Out The Competition

Five Pointer Decides Not To Intercede

Locked Up

Combatants Stop Long Enough To Notice Herd Is Moving Into The Timber

The Sparring Match Is Concluded

America The Beautiful

Where is the most beautiful spot in the United States? That is a question that I cannot answer. I have yet to find it! I have always been partial to the natural beauty of Alaska or the high country of Colorado. Then I discovered, regardless of the terrain that you are in, there is something unique and beautiful if you take the time to enjoy it. A classic example of that is the high desert of Nevada. A barren land, of sagebrush, rocks, and rolling hills developing into mountains. Getting off the highway system and exploring this area, you will be amazed at just how beautiful it is. The Canyon Lands of Utah, the scenery changes dependent on the horizon of the sun or as simple as a passing cloud to change the lighting. As well, I saw some beautiful country in the prairie lands of Nebraska, occasionally the landscape being broken by an old farm house, of some farmers dream. On a recent 14,000 mile trip, I did not take many landscape pictures, however, the scenery I saw remains imprinted into my memory.

First Picture On My Trip Mount McKinley (Denali) Taken From Cantwell, Alaska

Canadian Rockies ~ Jasper Provincial Park

Canadian Rockies ~ Jasper Provincial Park

Grand Canyon ~ Arizona

Grand Canyon ~ Arizona

Grand Canyon ~ Arizona

Colorado River

Canyon Lands ~ Utah

Canyon Lands ~ Utah

Canyon Lands ~ Utah

Canyon Lands ~ Utah

The last two pictures above were taken from atop the range of mountains that separate Colorado and Utah. This particular drive was one of those that I had to ask myself, "why am I this far off the main highway?" But the one lane, sand and rock based road was easy driving and no traffic to be concerned with. A beautiful area as you can look for miles across the plateaus.

Bird Shots

During the past year, I have taken hundreds of photos of a variety of birds, predominantly of the American Bald Eagle. Perhaps, the most memorable photo, other than those of the Eagles, was taken of a pair of Swans on a small lake on the Old Denali Highway in Alaska. The photo was taken just at daylight as the sun was starting to reflect on Mount McKinley. Bald Eagle and Sea Gulls In Flight ~ Cook Inlet, Alaska

Lessor Canadian Goose ~ Anchor River, Alaska

Wild Turkeys ~ Montana

Canadian Geese ~ Nebraska

Sandhill Crane ~ Nebraska

Swans ~ Nebraska

Pelican ~ Nebraska

Pair Of Swans ~ Denali Highway, Alaska

White Fronted Geese ~ Anchor River, Alaska

Crow Feeding On Elder Berries ~ Anchor Point, Alaska

In Flight, White Fronted Geese ~ Anchor River, Alaska

Mating Rituals

During the time that I have spent in the woods, I have seen a number of Moose and even Elk Wallows, where they will "scent" their area. Both the Moose and Elk will "scent", but also urinate in an area to attract the female specie. When the female specie comes into season, upon finding one of these "scent areas" they will normally remain in that area until the male returns. The males can develop several of these areas and will travel back and forth between them. Although, I have seen the signs of "scenting"and the "wallows", I had never seen the males actually scenting.

During my fall trip of 2010, the majority of my trip was during the start of the rutting season. It provided me the opportunity to actually observe the "scenting" procedure of several species of our wildlife. If you are traveling during the rutting season and happen to see an antlered specie with grass or branches snarled in their antlers, it is very likely that they are scenting their area. Most antlered males will have scent glands not only on their necks but some will also have glands below the base of their horns. When rubbing, the scent from these glands are then transferred to a brush or tree that they are marking. Some species will also dig a urination hole in which they will urinate as an attractant to the female. The process of scenting also serves as a defense posture on the males part. Warning other males that the area is within his territory. This is typically when you see the head to head combat occur. I also had the opportunity to witness both Deer and Elk lock up in combat over their area. The antelope play a different game, when an intruder enters their area and Does are present, the dominant male will give chase and run the intruder out of his area.

"Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram" ~ Black Hills, South Dakota "Scenting The Bushes"

Bull Elk ~ Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

"Marking A Pine Tree"

Mule Deer Buck ~ Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Scenting The Sagebrush

I saw a good number of Antelope or Pronghorn's scenting and marking their territory. The one in this series of pictures allowed me to get in real close and observe him for a couple of hours. Part of that time he was off chasing other males out of the area, but always returned to finish his task as soon as the intruders were a safe distance away. I sat within 20 feet of him while he dug a hole with his front hooves, then promptly urinated in the hole. He was a busy buck and evidently very effective, he had already accumulated a dozen Antelope Does and four Mule Deer Does. Several other times I saw Mule Deer Does hanging out with Buck Antelope and even Bull Elk.

Antelope (Pronghorn) Buck ~ Custer State Park, South Dakota

"Scenting Small Pine Tree"

"Urination Hole"

"Scenting the Grass"