Autumn In Colorado

Autumn in Colorado is a time of abundance.

This abundance comes in many ways. The first I think of are the plentiful food supplies for animals, and the second sign I think of are the large flocks of migratory birds passing through Colorado on their way south. As a wildlife photographer the sign of abundance I most look forward to are the abundance of opportunities for action photographs provided by the rut.

The rut is the autumn ritual of courtship and mating by ungulates (Deer, Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, etc.), and Colorado is one of the best places in North America to observe and photograph these demonstrations. Each chance I get I head north to Rocky Mountain National Park to try my hand at Elk bugling and Bighorn Sheep battling, or stay more local to my Boulder home and go to some local hotspots for the sparring and strutting of Mule Deer.

This last weekend on a day out at Rocky Mountain National Park I witnessed my first fight of the year between Mule Deer bucks. I had been watching sparring matches between bucks for the last six weeks, but I could tell right away there was a difference between this battle and the sparring matches that now seemed like friendly shoving matches between the best of friends.

The fight was between a 16-point buck and an 8-point buck. Both deer were relatively the same size, with the difference being in the size of their antlers, and their attitude. They locked antlers and began thrashing about, the sound of their antlers and their deep grunts rattling through the forest.

Surprisingly the 8-pointer was the better fighter of the two. He soon enough pushed the 16-point buck’s face onto the ground, and then turned the buck onto its back. With this display the 8-point buck showed his dominance, and as soon as the 16-pointer regained his balance he broke the connection of their antlers and ran. Just to be clear of who was in charge, the 8-point buck ran after the 16-pointer jabbing it’s antlers into the haunches of its defeated fleeing foe, before strutting back to the herd of nine females.

Each year I look forward to challenges and opportunities of autumn, and each year it seems, this year included, my appreciation and respect grow deeper for its ancient rituals and rites. Alas, I was not able to get a photograph of the fight due to the thickness of the trees. Maybe next time…