Late July through August is the time for the bison breeding season but when September comes around, it becomes the elk’s season in the spotlight. I was recently at Mammoth Hot Springs and watched as these two smaller bull elk practiced their fighting skills. It was actually quite interesting as the larger bull, on the left, would just lower his antlers and let the little guy do his thing. There was no aggression and was more like a training session, especially for the young bull.

That is until the big bull woke up and chased the two smaller guys off. He checked the females and then walked back to find a comfy spot to lay back down. The Park Service was signs all over warning people to stay back from the elk, but too many people ignore them and people do get injured when they get too close. Bull elk are very aggressive and unpredictable at all times but especially during the breeding season. I’ve gone back up a few more times but unfortunately the elk have been either among the buildings or in areas where it wasn’t great for photos.

This photo was taken this past Sunday. One bull was working a meadow to the north of the terraces but there was no parking and I wasn’t going to stop in the road even though several others thought it was fine to do so. Another large bull was resting down among some houses. I opted to go and walk around the terraces to shoot some landscapes but notice a couple of cow elk about to pass by this cottonwood tree in full autumn color, providing the only elk photos of the day.