Rutting Elk from Colorado!

sandrewson wrote in post #8747103
Tom,

We're thinking of taking in the rut next year in RMNP. It's a pretty big place. Do you have any recommendations on what part to head to for elk, or a suggestion on where to stay?

Thanks,
Sherry

I just stayed at the KOA campground in Estes Park, tent camping. I wouldn't recommend it unless you like the cold. It was in the high 20's and low 30's most of the time, at night. And 12" of snow was forecasted, but luckily didn't happen. The KOA does have small cabins that are about $55 a night. You can tent camp in the park, but there are no showers.

Most of the elk activity was on the east side of the park, at Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park, and Upper Beaver Meadows.

I very highly recommend this location and the time of year as an overall excellent wildlife experience.

update:
Just got back from the Park and it looks like the rut is pretty much over. Didn't see many animals (or people)...one small herd in Morraine with 3 bulls, no bugling or agressiveness at all. The guys were smoking cigarettes and swapping lies and the girls were knitting booties and picking out names. I would guess that the new fencing and being shot at has altered the behavior somewhat. I'm sure they got the job done but it wasn't as rowdy and concentrated as previous years.


....old

Beautiful series, Tom.

oldtimingman wrote in post #8748871
update:
Just got back from the Park and it looks like the rut is pretty much over. Didn't see many animals (or people)...one small herd in Morraine with 3 bulls, no bugling or agressiveness at all. The guys were smoking cigarettes and swapping lies and the girls were knitting booties and picking out names. I would guess that the new fencing and being shot at has altered the behavior somewhat. I'm sure they got the job done but it wasn't as rowdy and concentrated as previous years.


....old

This makes me glad that I was able to get there when I did. Thanks for all the great info, Matt. I think my timing coincided with the peak rutting activity, and I have your information and updates to thank for that.

Even though it may not have been as good as in previous years, the elk rut in RMNP was far, far more exciting than what I saw in Yellowstone, or in the Tetons. It seems the bulls in the Yellowstone/Teton backcountry were downright spooky this year. And the cow elk in those parks were nervous, too, and when the harem slowly moves away from you when you try to get close, the bulls follow right along, quickly moving out of camera range. There were a couple exceptions, mainly the two herds along the Madison, but by and large, the Yellowstone/Teton elk were far less cooperative than the Rocky Mountain herds. I plan to spend a week in RMNP again next year!

Fine work -- really evocative.

The rut is officially over or..."Save the smile big boy, the mood is gone"

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #8771187
It seems the bulls in the Yellowstone/Teton backcountry were downright spooky this year. And the cow elk in those parks were nervous, too, and when the harem slowly moves away from you when you try to get close, the bulls follow right along, quickly moving out of camera range. There were a couple exceptions, mainly the two herds along the Madison, but by and large, the Yellowstone/Teton elk were far less cooperative than the Rocky Mountain herds. I plan to spend a week in RMNP again next year!

Nice job, Tom. BTW, all the elk that I saw way up north were like that too(Glacier, Mission Mountains, etc). Spoke with some wildlife managers who indicated to me that poaching has been a big problem due to the poor economy, and that was one of the reasons for spooked animals in the nothern rockies this year. I wouldn't doubt it.