Bull Elk in Velvet, Summer Evening, Pittman Valley, Arizona
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- a Fine Art Print
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On a July evening just before sundown on the Coconino Plateau in northern Arizona, a large elk herd was out in the open to feed and get water.
Meanwhile, off by themselves, away from the main herd of cows, calves, and young bulls, the big bulls were cavorting by themselves, like some kind of exclusive men's club. Their rapidly growing antlers in the velvet stage, they were taking turns going down to the watering hole, then coming back up. Ah, summertime, when the hunting and mating seasons seem far off and things are relaxed. Come fall the big bulls will become seriously competitive for dominance, as mating time nears.
This photo is exceptional not only due to so many bulls in such close proximity to each other, but for the soft, almost golden light from a summer sunset evening. The light softly glows off their bodies and their antlers, giving the photo an almost painterly quality.
Photo location: Pittman Valley, Coconino County, between Flagstaff and Williams, Arizona.
