Thousands of people huddle in the chill air of Rocky Mountain National Park each fall for good reason: there is no other sound like the eerie, ethereal call of a bull elk to his prospective harem. As humans watch from the road around Moraine Park and Upper Beaver Meadows, big males in full fall antlers joust and bugle for status among the female herd.
Although the national park is the place best geared up for safe public viewing of displays of cervus affection, Colorado has excellent elk habitat statewide. In fact, elk are known to range in all but six Colorado counties. “Anywhere you can find elk you can hear bugling,” says Jeff Butler of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Here are some other spots you may hear the haunting whistle of the wapiti. – Dana Coffield
Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area west of Trinidad.
Colorado’s second-largest herd ranges here.
Main Gulch west of Gunnison. This is critical winter range for elk and deer, and provides key habitat for the sage grouse and endangered southwestern willow flycatcher.
Daniels Park south of Sedalia. As many as 1,500 elk wander the area south of this Denver mountain park.
South Paw Ranch near Collbran. About 400 elk range here, along with a herd of low-elevation bighorn sheep.
…
GET OUT
IN THE RUT
The town of Estes puts a
festival spin on the wapiti watching Oct. 1-2 in Bond Park downtown. The fun
includes educational areas, exhibits, American Indian music, dancing and
storytelling, and a bugling contest Sunday. Go to
estesparkcvb.com/ events.cfm.
