I don’t rely on friends and or colleagues giving me information about where the wildlife is or the best spot to get a picture of a sunrise. I learned many years ago, if you want to get into nature photography, then you need to get out. Now, I get a great amount of knowledge from my friends and or colleagues about the native flora and fauna, which I put toward the stories that go with my images. But to get the pictures I want. It’s simple, the more I stay out the more pictures I came back with. It’s a good thing I love exploring the mountains.
During the rut season, I like to get pictures but also learn what’s going on. Several times I had gone out to see this bull and its harem. I learned quickly its routine and was able to locate the harem. On this occasion I found them in tall grass, most still resting and few were eating. I kept my distance from the group and made sure I could easily back-out if needed. The male now and then would look toward me, but for the most part he went about his business. He was pretty laid back for a dominant male during the rut season. And I think it was the same male last year in the same area, the behaviour was the same. He did not tolerate any male elk of any age near his harem, otherwise members of his harem could wander off as far as a couple of hundred meters away. Also, he rested a lot when he was not battling small trees, it’s a great way to practice in case he had to battle another male. Many of the trees show the scars in the valley, form not only elk, but from other males of the deer family as well.
The rut season is still on, adding more chapters to this year’s drama and I getting a few more opportunities to learn and to take pictures.
