The Pennsylvania Elk Rut...

I mentioned yesterday that I took a trip north last week to photograph the Elk rut in Benezette, that post and all of last weeks were scheduled posts. For those of you that left comments and or have blogs that I frequent I will get to them. It was late Saturday when I got home and then it was off to the Hershey Bears game and then back to work Sunday morning so I will be catching up this week.

I edited yesterdays post Sunday night adding the last paragraph and that pretty much sums up the week. The Elk were as fantastic and vocal as could be providing me with plenty of great photographic opportunities. If I did not get the photo or didn't get it right that was my fault. The guys I shot with were a great bunch, I hooked up with Willard http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/ (I couldn't get the link thingy to work with Willard) his knowledge of the Elk and area and his photographic and video skills are fantastic not to mention just a really great person. I also had the opportunity to shoot with Buckwheat whom I met last month on my trip to Benezette. Buckwheat is nothing short of amazing, he seems to know the Elk on a personnel level. He has a way of getting you in the right spot to get the perfect photo or at least the chance to get it and he is an excellent photographer. The only thing with Buckwheat is if you are going to tag along with him you better be in good shape and willing to move in a hurry for long periods even if it is uphill. There was times I thought I would need oxygen following him but I was determined to keep up and learn what I could and I am dang glad I did. I made another new friend that we shot with and that was Steve from Erie. Steve was another great guy that has really gotten into photographing wildlife and was capturing some great images. Steve and I were the rookies on the trip but I believe as much fun and excitement as we both had we will see each other again in the back country photographing Elk again.

On Friday night Haney came up and on Saturday morning we got to shoot together. I had captured many still the previous four days so I concentrated on learning how to use the HD video feature and capture some footage on the D90, and did I. The other three will never believe this without seeing the footage but we got into an Elk fight, not a sparring match but a fight and within about 25 yards from us. We did not set out to be that close they just happened to move the action closer to us and we stayed still. A couple of times during the week we joked when we got split up that the other missed a fight so I hope to be able to post some video of it for the others to see and believe. Unfortunately the best stuff I shot is to long and large to upload onto blogger and being an idiot on these machines I will have to learn how to do it.

The rut was not over when I left and I wish I could have stayed, maybe next year I will plan a vacation around it and do 12 days, if my body can take it. The photo above was captured while shooting with Buckwheat, this seven by seven was laying down in the late afternoon sun. I moved around until I got the only tree with color behind him and waited patiently for him to get up to start shooting. For any of you that I mentioned if you read this I just want to say THANKS for a fun and memorable time. You guys remind me of firemen the way you excepted me and passed along knowledge, it was so much fun.

Before I forget, this is Tuesday and you know what that means, go visit Shane's site for a new post. And don't be scared to comment on his photos.