Much taller and heavier than deer, with a dark brown, shaggy neck mane
contrasting with the tan of the body. Large, round, cream-colored
patch on rump. No antlers on females (cows). Running or galloping type
gait.
A large number of these majestic animals are present in the region. In
late June when snows melt from the high country meadows, bands of cows
with their calves, may be found grazing in high valleys near timberline,
or in the open tundra country above timberline. Cow elk usually bear a
single calf each year. The characteristic white spotting on young calves
usually disappears by mid-August, whereas deer fawn spots persist into
the fall season. Occasionally, a bull will mingle and wander with a
band. Large summer herds are often seen on the distant tundras from the
Trail Ridge Road above timberline. Hikers have recently reported
abundant elk in the extensive, isolated areas north of the Mummy range.
The elk remain above 10,000 feet usually until the first week of
September, when they migrate to the lower timber and valleys. This is
the start of the mating (or "rutting") season, when the bull antlers are
being polished and hardened. The challenging "bugle" of the bull elk can
then be heard ringing out in a soul-stirring manner. The bulls at this
time engage in a series of minor skirmishes with one another, for the
purpose of dominating a group of cows (a harem) during the rutting
season. Sometimes these meetings develop into mighty battles, with these
large, antlered beasts weighing up to 700 pounds apiece, pushing and
gouging with their antlers and striking at each other with large front
hoofs, until the vanquished flees. This is illustration on a grand
scale, of nature's way of providing the strongest animals for breeding
and continuation of a strong stock.
Beaver Meadows and Horseshoe Park are particularly good places to view
elk in the fall, from an auto. These cautious animals have excellent
hearing ability and an exceptionally good sense of smell. They can
detect a human a half mile away in proper wind, and once alarmed will
retreat immediately to the wooded slopes. At the height of the rutting
season, however, the elk are less easily alarmed. When elk can be seen
from road parking areas, it is best to remain quietly in the car, as the
gasoline odors seem to overpower any human scent they might obtain.
Whatever the season, elk are most easily observed when they are feeding,
either in early morning hours or at dusk. Often they can be
"spotlighted" from the highway after twilight either on the tundra or in
the valleys.