As the first autumn snows dust the higher peaks, the Rocky Mountain elk begin their descent to wintering valleys. Along the way, their annual rut begins and the bulls attempt to gather their harems. Using high-pitched bugles to attract females and to keep rivals at bay, the 750 pound males become frenzied for the next few weeks, foregoing food and sleep to keep their harem intact and to ensure propagation of their own genes.
The rut peaks in early October as the elk are settling into their winter homes, usually montane meadows between 7500 and 9000 feet. One of the best areas to observe this rite of autumn is Rocky Mountain National Park, northwest of Denver. Viewing (and listening) is best at dawn and Horseshoe Park, just a few miles west of the Fall River entrance (along U.S. 34) often provides the best show.
Once the rut is over, mixed herds of a hundred or more gather for the winter. Grazing on meadows in the early morning and late day hours, the elk retreat to nearby woodlands for most of the day, where they browse on shrubs and aspen bark. The bulls drop their antlers by late winter and the migration to higher ground begins by May. While the females and their young remain in herds for the summer, feeding on subalpine meadows, the bulls become solitary or gather in small groups, often moving as high as timberline.
