Have you heard a male elk bugling in the fall during the elk rut?
The elk rut is a time of year when hikers need to be careful around elk. The elk rut, or breeding season, takes place in the fall in the Rocky Mountains.
I have spent a lot of time hiking and camping in the Rocky Mountains, but somehow have never seen elks during the rut. Once a friend and I were on a backpacking trip in the Uintas in the fall and we heard a male elk bugling. We tromped through the trees to try and see the elk, but no luck. You may not come across elks during the rut, but you definitely need to know what the rut is and be careful during the fall.
What Is The Elk Rut?
The rut is the time of year when mature male elks are competing with each other to get the loyalty of a group of females. Having this group of females means that the male can then mate with them.
During the rut the mature males first work to gain the loyalty of a group of females. They attract them by bugling, and rubbing shrubs, trees, and the ground.
Elk are one of the common mammals of the Rocky Mountains and if lucky you’ll see some during the rut.
Hikers and Campers Should Stay Safe During The Rut
During this time of year it’s important that hikers and campers be careful around male elk because they are much more aggressive than normal. Male elks are strutting around, showing off their stuff, trying to attract some females.
Give elk plenty of space, staying back at least 25 yards. Elk have been known to charge people or cars at this time of year…and that would hurt because they are big animals!
Male elk sometimes will lock antlers and fight during the elk rut.
Do Males Always Fight During The Rut?
No. males don’t always end up fighting during the rut. If two males come into contact the first thing that happens is they will strut their stuff, showing how big and strong they are. They will also do some bugling. Most often the males just show off their antlers and large size and that will deter the smaller one.
However, sometimes two males won’t back down and they end up crashing heads into each other, locking antlers, and trying to prove their strength. They are not fighting to the death, rather they are just trying to prove their strength.
When Does The Elk Rut Take Place?
The rut takes place in the Rocky Mountains over a little bit more than two months every fall. It can begin as early as middle to late August and last until the end of October.
What Is Elk Bugling?
During the rut, males will bugle or make loud calls. They do this for a few different reasons all related to their group of females.
One reason they bugle is to warn other males that they are too close to their females and should get back unless they are prepared to fight. Or the male elks bugle to let the females know they are wandering too far away and should come closer.