The Great Outdoors: Now is Prime Time for Elk Viewing


Summer is a time for bulls to feed and rest and cows to take care of their young.

(Photo courtesy Elk Country Visitor Center)

 With September nearing, their thoughts turn to the mating season.

The bulls have rubbed the velvet from their antlers in anticipation of the fights they will have with other bulls.

Those fights determine how many cows will be in a particular bulls’ harem.

Obviously, the biggest bulls usually have the largest amount of cow elk because nature intended it that way, so the best genes are passed along with the hopes of a healthy elk calf being born and prospering.

There are times, though, when the biggest bulls don’t have the largest harems. Older bulls get to a certain point in their lives when they start to decline in strength.

Younger bulls that are beginning to reach their prime will start to grow bigger antler and bodies, which can help them outfight an older bull and take control of his cows.

Observing elk at this time of year is watching them at their most fascinating.

A mature bull works pretty hard to keep his cows together, so he can do all the breeding.

There are always younger, “satellite” bulls looking to get into the action. The “herd” bull has to fend off those attempts by the younger ones to keep his harem intact.

Fights aren’t that common, but to see one is to experience one of the wildest sights in the outdoors.

A bugling bull elk is certainly one of the top sounds one can enjoy while outdoors.

They can range from guttural and very throaty to the shrill and high-pitched. 

With the weather still warm this time of year, elk watching is best done in the first few hours of daylight in the morning and the last few hours before it gets dark. 

If you are really looking for a treat, get into the woods before it gets light or stay an hour or so after the sun sets and things get dark.

Elk do not care that it’s not light out and the cooler it is, the more active they are.

I remember one foggy, fall morning many years ago in September where a group of “teen-aged” bulls really put on a show in front of me.

I was deep in the Quehanna Wild Area, well off the beaten track.

You don’t always have to go far to see elk bugling and performing their mating rituals, but I was seeking an experience that didn’t include others tooting on their bugle calls.

And I was greatly rewarded!

I had selected the spot because it was remote, but also because it was near a natural gas pipeline that was planted for wildlife. 

Some of those plantings were very appealing to wildlife, especially to elk.

Even before I had stopped the jeep, I could hear more than one bull bugling.

I walked into an area with a bit of mountain laurel mixed with young, striped maple trees.

The fog hung heavy in the early-morning air, and the elk were very animated in the cool temperatures.

I was trying to photograph them, but the conditions proved difficult. 

Nevertheless, it turned out to be the kind of morning I’m sure I will never forget.

I didn’t call to them, it wasn’t necessary. I’ve never seen much need to call when I know the elk are near. Listening is a better bet as far as I am concerned.

Knowing there were at least two bulls nearby, I stayed put and let things unfold. 

Before I knew it, the two bulls became a half dozen. I thought I had a good chance to see a fight, but they spent the time bugling and chasing each other in circles near me. 

If there were any direct fights, I never heard or saw them.

At one point, things got so crazy I decided the climb one of those small maples with the idea of avoiding being targeted by one of those crazy, lovesick bulls.

I was glad I did!

Despite the fact I did no calling, they just kept getting closer and closer, passing a few, meager feet from me.

As I balanced myself in the arm of a tree about six feet off the ground, a 5×5 bull came near and just stopped. He was getting pretty heated up, and he just stood there and panted like a dog that has played a little too long in the summer sun.

What a sight it was! 

Eventually, he moved on, and I did as well.

Please remember, don’t get too close to the elk at any time, but this time of year is the most dangerous. They are at their wildest during the rut, and they aren’t afraid of us. 

There have been a few incidents of people being attacked and gored by elk in the region, but a little common sense goes a long way toward avoiding a very unhealthy confrontation.

While September means the rut is on, I typically gauge my visits by the weather, and this weekend looks pretty decent with early morning temperatures in the high 40’s and low to mid-50’s.

With the long, Labor Day weekend coming up, there may be no better time to go.

Personally, I can’t wait!

“The Great Outdoors,” sponsored by the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, is a weekly blog by exploreClarion.com’s Scott Shindledecker. Plan you next outdoor adventure at VisitPAGO.com or call (814) 849-5197 for more information.