Originally published in The Mountain Connection, September 2001.

In the early fall, starting around September and continuing into early November, Rocky Mountain National Park rings with the eerie bugling and clashing antlers of the park's elks. This park provides easy access to one of the great spectacles of nature - the fall elk rut.

Rocky Mountain National Park has a very healthy population of elk. Ironically, the native elk population of the park area had been wiped out in the 19th century, and it wasn't until 1913 that 49 elk were transplanted from Yellowstone National Park in an effort to reintroduce them. This effort was ultimately successful, and there is now a year-round population of between 3,000 and 4,000 animals. About 1,500 animals stay in the park year-round, while another 3,000 or so animals move down to lower elevation pasturage in the wintertime. Many wander into the fields and roads in Estes Park.

Mature elk are the second largest land mammal in North America. They stand at least five feet tall at the shoulder, with males weighing between 500 and 1,000 pounds, and females at 400 to 600 pounds. These animals are unmistakable in their medium to dark brown coat, and buff rump area.

The best time to observe these animals is in the fall when hormones cause drastic changes in the animals' behavior. The bulls attempt to gather as many females as possible into harems for mating. Scientists believe that the females choose which male to pair with by their overall physical size and the impressiveness of their antler display. The number of tines on a bull elk's rack is an indication of his age. Bulls between two and five years of age usually carry only a few tines or points on their antlers. But for bulls between six and nine years old, they often carry six points on each side of their rack. A set of antlers can weigh up to 50 pounds.

The bull elk constantly try to steal cows from each other's harems, and this leads to confrontations. The bulls bugle, a call that can carry a considerable distance through the forest, as a challenge to all comers, letting other bulls know where they are and warning them away. If the bulls do actually physically challenge each other, it can then turn into a shoving match as they lock antlers and try to overpower each other. Usually, the weaker bull will break off combat, and there are rarely any injuries.

If you go to the park to see this natural wonder, please remember these simple rules. The bulls are very stressed by the constant competition, and therefore can become unpredictable and dangerous. They could suddenly charge onlookers. Bull elks have killed people during the rut. Park rules and good nature ethics require that you give the animals enough room so that they do not become stressed and agitated, possibly leading to a potentially fatal encounter. If you are out of your car, you should stay at least 25 yards from the elk, and always stay on roadways or designated trails.

Do not make sudden movements, yell at the animals, or approach them. This could provoke a charge response. And always, the animals have the right of way. If they move in your direction, move slowly away.

The best areas to view elk in Rocky Mountain National Park are in Horseshoe Park, Moraine Park, and Upper Beaver Meadows. Elk generally feed and move about in the early morning and late afternoon, resting out of sight in the forest during much of the day, so generally the morning and afternoons are the best times to see them.