Asserting his dominance and warning other males to leave his girls alone.
Although I've always wondered how many other large males hear the bugling, determine the direction, and come running.
You know, Charlie, I have always wondered that too. You have a big bull saying "Hey, hot women down here. All mine." And yet, it's rare another bull comes in.
I love the sound of a bugling elk - so piercing and erie. Hope to make it up the Cataloochee in NC in the fall to hear and see them again.
Thank you.
That the female's butt was in the shot was partly luck- true. But I was smart enough to see it and include it, although I cropped off part of the big guy's antlers (prime 400mm lens- film camera).
Fewer big bulls to challenge can mean any of several things, including hunters killing the biggest and best of them.
Charlie
