I hear a lot of people wanting to get to Rocky Mountain National Park or Yellowstone for the annual elk rut, either to watch or take photos, but very few mention the Tetons.
In Teton National Park, many of the elk stage around the area of Jenny Lake, south or north, beneath the majestic Teton mountains. Often they begin on the east side of the road in the morning and then travel to the west side after sunrise, into the line of deep trees that stands between the road and the mountains.
The bull elk pictured above was doing his morning migration in hopes of getting some girls (cows).
While it can be difficult to photograph the elk because of the thick trees, getting them in the early morning or late evening against the backdrop of the Teton mountain range is spectacular. And, even if you can’t get the whole scene, you are in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
This year I only had a short amount of time to spend with the elk and was able to get two pretty nice bulls crossing the road. But, last year there was a couple of big guys with nice herds and several bulls lingering on the outskirts, hoping to get some of the girls away from the big guys. It was a lot of action and kind of refreshing because there were no big crowds around the elk. Everyone was busy photographing the Oxbow, Schwabachers or the numerous moose in the area. Or, if lucky, they were finding bears in the berries on Moose-Wilson Road.
Time for a trip to the Tetons!
Nice-looking animal, in fact…a mighty fine-looking elk! Great pose too.
You didn’t mention Deby’s Pond – that’s another great location in the Tetons!
Jeff, wish I had been able to get back down to that pond after the lupine began blooming better. They were barely beginning when I was there.
Very nice photo with his head up and alert!