Rutting Bulls in Colorado - more pics added!

[Tom Reichner]

I spent the better part of last week down in Colorado photographing the elk rut.  It was a wonderful experience, with rutting activity basically going on all day long.  The population there is quite dense, which means that harems are close together and there is alot of competition between the bulls.  There aren't the huge B&C caliber bulls that can be found elsewhere, but these bulls are quite a bit of fun to "shoot", despite the moderate antler sizes.

I have many images which still need to be downloaded and processed, so I'll add more images to this post as time permits.  Here are a couple to get things started:

[WDFW-SUX]

Where abouts did you take the photos?

[popeshawnpaul]

Where abouts did you take the photos?

       


Amazing shots Tom.  They look like big bulls to me...   

[coop2424]

Nice picture can not wait to see the rest.

[WDFW-SUX]

kawuneeche valley, Estes park?...

[Tom Reichner]

Where abouts did you take the photos?

In the park - Rocky Mountain Park.  Most all of the photos were taken on the east side, as there was so much snow my first night there that they had to close the Trail Ridge road, so there was no way to get over to the west side of the park from where I was staying. 

The best locations were out in the flat in Moraine Park, as well as the swampy areas in West Horseshoe Park.  Unfortunately, they close these areas to hiking from 5pm 'till 7am each night.  So any evening photography must be done form the roadside   That's why I was glad to find the elk active throughout the entire day, so that I could get back into the backcountry for better photos.

Here's another pic:

[WDFW-SUX]

Nice work.. I have a place in Grand Lake and love going to look at them this time of year. My favorite is the Holzworth site just out of grand lake..

[Elkpiss]

They look like big to me too..

[Houndhunter]

seeing some of you photo guys pics is prob my fav thing about this site, very cool pics

[tlbradford]

Great shots Tom.  Thanks so much for sharing.  Is that snow or bugs in the second photo?  If its bugs, I hope you had a thermacell with you.  

Is that snow or bugs in the second photo?  If its bugs, I hope you had a thermacell with you. 

Nevermind, I read the caption.   

[mossback91]

awesome shots!

[bowhunterforever]

Awsome bulls and pics!

[MtnMuley]

Unbelievable pics as always!

[bow4elk]

Very nice shots!!  I've got 16 points in CO and can't wait to draw that oh so special tag.  I lived there a couple years in the 90's and spent some time in at the Park.  It's a great place for elk and sheep photography.  Some jerk shot and killed the local legend bull there a several years ago.  He was enormous!

[Ricochet]

Great work, Tom.  Sounds like you had a productive trip.  Keep 'em coming!