Saturday, October 25, 2008

Challenge at Dusk





As day fades into night a Bull Elk screams his challenge from a hilltop meadow


The Pennsylvania elk herd is a unique treasure. Where else in the Eastern United States can one view and photograph such magnificent animals?

For a population of animals to be available for viewing and photography they must not flee at the slightest hint of human presence. These elk are acclimated to human presence, allowing photographer and viewers a memorable experience.


The Pennsylvania Elk herd in the Winslow Hill Benezette area is visited by thousands of people each year in hopes of viewing these magnificent creatures. Also a select few, chosen by public drawing pull tags to kill an elk. Currently a small no-hunt zone encompasses the tourist area but the Pennsylvania Game Commission has seen fit to allow as many as 40% of this years allocation of bull tags to be filled around its border. The hunting which was begun a few years ago has effectively removed the huge bulls from the population. Few if any bulls survive long enough to obtain the truly massive size that was common before the hunt began.


Since shooting the Elk rut in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Allegheny Mountains I have not found much time for photography. Soon that will change for I have planned my next two vacation weeks to coincide with the whitetail deer rut.


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21 comments:

ratmammy said...

that's a gorgeous photos!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Salty: There is cetainly no reason to apoligize for showing a creature few of us see and even fewer will get to photograph. You and Willard capture them so beautifully.

Anonymous said...

Great photo .. thanks for sharing with us.

Unknown said...

Simply amazing!! Would never see anything like that here.

Anonymous said...

What a beauty!

i beati said...

magnifico

Sandy

Anonymous said...

Even the zoos here don't have anything like that! Great picture!

My critter is up here, feel free to visit anytime. Happy weekends!

marLou said...

You always take such beautiful pictures.

Unknown said...

I'm really shocked to see such huge deer: and I'm from up that way originally. I've really acclimated to our smallish key deer. It's amazing how adaptable a creature it is, and how closely its population is tied to hunting and, where they exist, top level carnivores.

I joke that the Disney movie Bambi did more to set back wildlife management than any single regulation: not only did it vilify hunting, it also misrepresenting the role of fire in sustaining ecosystems. That being said, its a classic cultural milestone that every kid can enjoy!

Lilli & Nevada said...

wow he is huge, nice photo

Anonymous said...

Wow, your country captures are amazing! :)

Tootie said...

That's a beautiful photo! The elks coloring and the fall colors together make a nice combination. It's antlers are huge! How were you able to get so close? Great shot.

Brad Myers said...

Another great photo, why is it when I get a butt photo it is just that, but when someone else does it is art?

If it is a slow day at work I hope to learn more about the Pa. elk herd at work today, your brothers DVD came yesterday.

??? said...

I really enjoy your elk photos. I've seen a few, but none as massive as that (but I did have a close encounter with a male moose in Sweden that could probably rival it).

Anonymous said...

Wild bulls are not that much different from wild teenage boys. In reality they are much alike.

This is a beautiful photo.

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Reader Wil said...

What a magnificent and impressive animal! Beautiful picture!

Shelley said...

I'm really enjoying your elk photos - just outstanding!

Anonymous said...

beautiful picture of the elk and the fall colors. I have been enjoying your romp through elk country.

DeeMom said...

WOW

Misty DawnS said...

This photo is beyond words for me... this is absolutely perfect and fantastic - one of my favorite photos ever!

Cape Cod Washashore said...

WOW! They really are HUGE! What a fabulous photo! I only saw one once in my life way up in Houlton, Maine, and I was astounded at its enormity!