Late-Summer/early-Fall is an interesting time for elk across the country. The bulls have grown their antlers and are looking to build a harem of females that they will mate with.
This process, known as the rut, can make bulls extremely aggressive towards each other, and to humans. Bulls will spar with each other to assert dominance, and claim more females as their own.
The video below shows two bulls sparring in a field in North Carolina. It’s a great fight. Check it out:
“Occurred on September 16, 2022 / Cherokee, North Carolina, USA Every wildlife photographer would hope to shoot the Elk one day during the rut. Usually all you get is them sparring.
This is the real deal and was happy that the one that didn’t win, got to live and run away. Very cool. This was recorded at the Great Smoky Mountains, Maggie Valley, NC, Blue Ridge Parkway. I’m a volunteer ranger and have never witnessed this that good… Awesome!”