Realistic Wildlife Art by Don Eberhart

Elk moved back into my area on the upper South Platte in early 1980. The Shawnee Indians called them Wapiti (a name thought to mean ?White Rump?) and they are know or their ability to appear and disappear without a sound- like a ghost. The elk herds have grown since then, and can now be seen through out the year. The breeding season, which runs generally from September into November is a special season. The bulls gather ?harems? of cows for breeding and get very territorial. They quickly respond to any challenge from other bulls and will engage in deadly brawls for the rights to breed. This ritual is a clash of titans and often results in injured or dead bull elk. The largest bulls are called herd bulls and they are the ones successful at gathering a herd of cows, which they keep a close eye upon. When one bull senses another, he will often let out a distinctive bugle that can be heard for a long distance, and is a call to battle. Cows also vocalize, but make a more subdued chirping call. This helps bulls to locate them. I have watched and chased elk all over the area with the idea of getting enough photo research for a painting. It was a good excuse to just get out and enjoy nature in its God given glory. A few years ago a good friend of mine harvested a 6-point bull elk up the hill from my cabin. The antlers were not huge but very respectable. The antlers intrigued me as the front tines were bent to the sides instead of coming out straight over the elk?s forehead. My friend described the area where he had spotted the elk herds as full of trees that looked like ghosts- appropriate for an elk setting. On that cool and foggy late afternoon he was using bull bugles and cow calls to locate a responsive bull. A nearby bull responded! I created that moment, when the bull and his harem heard the distant bugle.