It is the peak of the elk breeding season. Wanda and I, along with Steve http://www.pbase.com/spatterson and Sally Patterson from here on PBase, spent the last couple of days in Yellowstone mostly photographing elk. Today we were up well before dawn. We were in position on a meadow near Madison Junction before we could really see any elk. We sure could hear them. There were four or five bulls bugling. We spent a couple hours in the light misty rain and cold enjoying these bulls sparing and showing off for the cows.
This was taken late in the afternoon along the Madison River. Wanda isn't near as close as this looks. That 400mmf/5.6L lens really compresses an image. This was one of the smaller bulls.
DO NOT link, use, reproduce or alter this image or any part of this image Copyright held by Wm. Bates