I have been running a lot this spring and summer, trying to get back into shape.  Anyway, about two or three times a week my route takes me past a lone bull.  Now, if you aren't from elk country, you might not know that bulls tend to head to the high country, as high as they can get, in early spring.  Not much to disturb them they stay cool, and there is less to tangle their sensitive growing antlers in.  Well, this fella must not have received that memo.


I first noticed him early in the spring and it must have been just after he dropped his antlers because for a long time I thought he was a cow elk.  I saw him chasing the real cows a time or two... And then his antlers began to grow!  It has been an amazing summer for myself and a handful of others who care to look around on their walks, bike rides and runs.  He is most likely in his third summer, not a monster yet, but a 5x6 with an atypical point on one side...



There's also a bachelor group of mule deer bucks that I "run into" a few times a month... two decent 4x4s and a large spike who seems to be the alert one of the group... but that's another story for another day!

Mike

Or he is avoiding the wolves.

Maybe he is one of those in the expression

" it's hard to be eagle, when you flock with chickens"

Maybe he hasn't noticed the others don't have antlers !

Or he just feels more dominant in the heard he is in, and that's all he needs.

Carl

Very cool Mike!

He got smart and decided to stay on private land and graze on the good stuff!

It's a miracle some bozo hasn't potshot him yet. Any day now he should start beeling rutty and become a real elk again. Good luck on your hunt this year, Mike. That guy should be an easy pack-out! (-:} dave

He looks lonely out there...   :(   ...engage in some cow talk with that boy.   :rolleyes:

Up here on the Salmon there are elk on the river bottoms year round. The bigger bulls like in your picture do though tend - tend- to stay up high.

I noticed the bull in the bottom picture does not have velvet- our elk and deer here have not lost their velvet yet.. as of yesterday... has it started there?

Tick tock tick tock - Saturday is opening day..

 

I've seen 15 or so bulls in the last couple of days.  ALL of them are rubbed and getting darker, 'side the spikes.

The bull I saw scouting  Saturday had rubbed his velvet off already.

oh - this weekend should be fun !!

Yeah, he is sans velvet, but the bucks are still carpeted.
Mike

That pic has me pumped Mike. Good Luck to ya!