Are you feeling like you’re stuck in a wildlife watching rut lately? This September through October, try an entirely different ‘rut’—viewing one of Colorado’s spectacular species of deer, the American elk, or wapiti! The breeding season, called the rut, joins large herds of elk together in their move from the high country down to their breeding grounds, joined by (generally) solitary males. The bulls are busily polishing their full-grown antlers, preparing to show off their strength and fitness for mating. Bulls attract attention to themselves with loud, high-pitched ‘bugling’.
Elk bugling is widely known as one of the most majestic sounds in nature. Starting low and resonant, it ends as a high-pitched squeal and a succession of grunts. Cold fall air carries the sound great distances as it reverberates off hillsides and canyon walls. An elk bugling experience cannot be described with words that do it justice. It has to be experienced.
Elk bugling has a two-fold purpose. One is to attract potential mates, and the other is to challenge other bulls for dominance and, therefore, the chance to mate. Cows listen for the deepest and loudest calls, associating the louder bugles with larger and stronger males. Younger bulls will generally detect the calls that are louder than theirs are, and thus avoid confrontations with larger and older bulls. Bulls of about the same size, however, will usually confront one another.
Contesting bulls are not looking to battle each other to the death, although bulls will often sustain injuries, sometimes severe. Instead, contesting is a chance to prove strength. Bulls will display their strength by bugling and thrashing the ground with their antlers. If this does not scare one of the other bulls away, the two will lock antlers and shove each other about. One eventually gives in to the other, and the dominant male is one step closer to breeding.
The dominant bull will round up his new harem of cows. Experienced bulls seem to herd his cows with ease. When it comes time to breed, the male must be ready. Cows operate on a cycle that leaves them receptive for only 24 hours. If the bull misses his chance, he will have to wait another 20 days for that particular cow to begin ovulation again.
Fall is the perfect time for watching and listening to elk. Bugling begins just before dusk and lasts until dawn. (A word about wildlife watching etiquette; please do not venture into open meadows between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. This can disturb the elk’s rut, ruining the experience for other wildlife watchers, and it may disrupt the elk’s chances for successful breeding.) Elk bugling is an experience that can draw you back to an ancient wilder time. Elk have been “stuck in this rut” for quite a while, and you will want to re-experience it, year-after-year.