Pennsylvania Elk Harvest: The First Morning

By the time of our predawn arrival at the parking lot at the end of Dewey Road a number of vehicles were already there.  Soon more guide and clients arrived and headed out into the game lands adjoining the elk viewing areas.  Willard and I headed up towards the saddle stopping where the road makes the sharp left-hand turn just after passing the gate.  As the scene before us began to brighten we could see orange vested people and elk spread out across the hillside facing the viewing areas.

This bull was bugling from his bed

At 7:38 I was looking at the camera when a shot rang out.  Seeing that the bull was now up I could see him shaking his head, undoubtly hit.

As subsequent shots roared the bulls body convulsed with each impact

Stagering, he attempted to stay on his feet

But to no avail

He crashed to the ground eighteen seconds from when the first round hit him

Within two minutes the party had assembled around the fallen animal

Once a majestic animal, now a trophy

The parking lot at the end of Dewey Road is visible in the upper right-hand corner of this photograph

Not overly alarmed, most of the herd moved only a short distance before retuning to grazing. 

The elk on and around Winslow Hill, being exposed to thousands upon thousand of viewers each year have little to no fear of humans.  In this area there is no elk hunt; to say it nicely it is a harvest. 

Stopping by the Elk Check Station this evening I learned that five bulls and a number of cows had been checked by 4:45pm.  It was also reported that the bull named "Hook" or "Hook Ear" photographed by many on Winslow Hill during the rut was among the animals taken. 

Pennsylvania Elk Harvest Begins

When the morning's light begins to seep across the Pennsylvania elk range the eleventh annual elk harvest will begin.

Guides and clients will be in the field as well as the elk

 Bulls that thrilled thousands during the rut will be targeted with this year's increased license allocations

As these trusting animals go through their day tommorrow it will seem much like any other day.  When a group of people approach they will hear what they may think is another click of the shutter; instead it will be the metalic snick of a rifle's safety being released.

While photographing the rut with a visiting west coast photographer he mentioned that he had photographed elk all over the western United States and Canada and that this was the best that he had ever seen.  When the subject of the elk season was brought up he could scarecly believe that the same animals we had been moving freely among would be targeted to be killed for trophies.  With an incredulous look he asked "Why?"

Why indeed!  But no matter; in the morning the killing will begin.

For more information and observation concerning Pennsylvaina Elk visit Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer.

On The Move

 Last seen heading north in mid-May the Loons are now passing through on their way south

While on the water Thursday I noticed twin wakes cutting across the placid surface some distance away.  A quick peak through binos confirmed that a pair of feeding loons were causing the disturbance.  Unable to approach closely for portrait shots I was content with a more distant shot that included the reflection of the colorful autumn foliage.

Pied-billed Grebes are also among the waterbirds moving south for the winter

A Great Blue Heron watches stoically from a lake side log

The great blue herons however are in no hurry to move.  Instead they will remain as long as open water can be found.  A few birds will remain throughout the winter feeding along the spring-fed streams that remain ice-free.

For More Critters of all Kinds visit

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The Chase is On!

ISO 1000, 1/10sec, f5.6

 Yesterday was cool and rainy.  Clearing overnight the temperatures plummeted jump-starting the whitetail rut.  As day began to break bucks could be seen pursuing does; sometimes at break-neck speed!

The low light levels were perfect for panning with the racing bucks.

As the light increased I decreased ISO and increased F stop to maintain a slow shutter speed.

ISO320,F5.6,1/1000sec

Bright light and fast shutter speeds allows the sharp capture of a racing buck as he attempts to catch up with the waiting doe.

It will be a few days yet until the does are ready to breed.  In the meantime the eager bucks will continue searching in hopes of finding a willing mate for now is the season............The Chase is ON!

Awaiting the Whitetail Rut Continued........

The bucks pictured in this series are the same pair featured in the previous post.  Note the unusual left antler.  When not rutting bucks form bachelor groups of two or more animals that spend a great deal of time together. 

The other half of this group of two checks out an approaching photographer while posing against a colorful autumn backdrop.

Grooming can be frequently observed between bucks making up a bachelor group; however it isn't often that it takes place in front of the camera with multiple mountain ridges fading into blue for a background.

In this early morning photo taken in August the same pair of bucks are seen interacting in a playful way.  Soon the fights of the rut will begin but when the season passes these fellows will most likely once again be the best of friends.

Awaiting the Whitetail Rut

Anxiously awaiting the beginning of the whitetail rut, Willard and I traveled south this morning arriving in Shenandoah National Park before daybreak.  As light began to seep across the mountain landscape we soon located a nice pair of adult bucks feeding in a meadow and decided to stay with them to await the arrival of photographic light. 

The pair continued to feed as the light became stronger.  Meanwhile we and other like minded photographers moved into position.  The bucks were showing no signs of the impending rut and with the sun cresting the mountain top I began to loose hope of capturing a dynamic shot of whitetail interaction before the rising sun spilled sharp-edged light across the landscape but then suddenly they came together.  As they lifted their heads and began grooming the sunlight kissed their antlers; half a dozen shutters clicked rapid fire.  Everyone knew that the moment for "the image" had arrived!

For just a brief moment they assumed an aggressive posture as if rutting combat was about to begin.

And then the moment passed; touching noses they returned once again to feeding.

The bucks soon ventured off and so did we as we went in search of other deer.  Walking away chatting with a new found photographer friend, he mentioned that that one moment made facing the cold wind whipping across the mountain top worthwhile.  I nodded in silent agreement.

Wildlife Variety Show

An Autumn morning spent outdoors can be likened to a variety show.  For the wildlife enthusiast the show is not equaled by anything TV has to offer.

This years fawns are now half-sized copies of their mother yet they continue to enjoy short nursing sessions.  Weaning the fawns is a gradual process with some fawns continuing to nurse into December. 

The Ruby-crowned Kinglets are busy feeding as they pass through on their autumn migration.

An Eastern Towhee makes a rare appearance for a photo-op.  The Towhee, a year around resident, seldom  ventures out from the heavy underbrush.

2012 Connect With Wildlife Calendar

The new 2012 Connect With Wildlife Calendar is now available on-line at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Outdoor Shop.  The cover features an incredible image taken by Jake Dingel of a Short-eared Owl.  Each month features images of wildlife found in Pennsylvania.  Photographers featured are Jake Dingel, Tim Flanigan, Willard Hill, and myself.   Photographs for the calendar are accepted only from current and retired PGC employees.

The following images are the ones chosen from my submissions for publication in the 2012 Calendar

Lifer: Ruby-crowned Kinglet

This morning found me watching a meadow at daybreak, hoping for a whitetail buck encounter.  Our local deer are beginning to enter into the early stages of the prerut with bucks becoming more active with each passing day.  However on this morning no bucks showed and my attention was drawn to a tiny bird flitting about a nearby multiflora rose.

Small Bulls

Small Bull

Smaller bull

Smaller still

Smallest!