I have had a passion for photography since I was 10 years old in Estes Park with a Polaroid, trying to get a "great shot" of a bull elk in the meadow that was preparing for the battle he soon had coming. Every year the bull elk gather harems of cows and only the strong pass on their genetics. At 10 I had no idea that the bull I was watching would soon rule Moraine Park. I have been blessed enough to witness one bull over the last few years work his way towards being the king.
There was such a bull for many years know as Bruno or the Big Kahuna. I had the opportunity to visit Rocky Mountain National Park in 2019 to look for him. Sadly I didn't find him that year but I did find a lone bull that I thought was beautiful and spent some time photographing him. The next year I went back and caught that same younger bull on video way across the meadow but couldn't get a good picture of him. 2021 Yellowstone called my name and we headed there instead not knowing that was going to be the last year of the Big Kahuna. We booked a 2022 trip back to RMNP in January and sometime in the spring the news of Kahuna's death came across social media ... to say the least I was bummed. I REALLY wanted a photo of him.
2022 we showed up in Estes Park the second week of September. I didn't have high hopes knowing my elk hero was gone but there was a new bull everyone was calling KJ (Kahuna Junior) and he was getting some press that year. I have read and some people have said they think he was the one that won a battle with Kahuna that most likely ended his reign and the wounds he received during that fight probably led to his demise. He does look like a younger version of the old king. Low and behold when I found him, it was my lone bull from the previous years. His body was bigger and he had matured. For the week I spent with him he ruled the moraine and gathered a large harem.
Friday Morning 9-16-22 was our last morning before we had to go back home. I had been up before the sun all week and stayed out until it went down every night that week. I was tired and thought about sleeping in but my daughter and son were suppose to meet me in the field so I begrudgingly got up and headed out. If you have been to Moraine Park there is a curve where you go because that's where all the action happens and it's the best vantage point to see the whole meadow. When I got there a lot of cars were already parked and waiting for the action. I was there the night before and KJ had the ladies farther down the road. I wasn't feeling the corner that morning and decided on a spot 1/4 to 1/2 a mile down the road. It was pitch black and you couldn't see anything but something told me this was the spot.Â
I know all the people in the "good" spot were thinking ... "Hey buddy, what are you doing down there? Can't you see we are all down here where you are supposed to be?"
Well the sun came up and I could see shadows through my binoculars coming into the meadow next to my car. When there was enough light I could see that KJ and his huge harem were 40 yards from where I parked. I was there by myself with the entire herd. Once the sun came up a little more the people in the "good" spot were headed my way. I had THE spot to witness what the morning had in store for us.
KJ and his lady friends ate in front of me for about an hour and then we all heard another bull bugling from half a mile away and saw him coming. Within a few minutes he came barreling in and KJ met him halfway. KJ had to be worn out from herding the girls all week. I watched him and it wore me out.Â
The two bulls did some ritual parallel walking, some mock charges and then tore up a bush. They finally met in the middle of the harem and "Crash", it was on. KJ dominated the first two and a half minutes while I was taking pictures of the battle. I realized my daughter was next to me and she was getting the shots so I switched my camera to video and shot the rest in video. They fought about two and half more minutes while KJ Dominated the other bull. at about the 4.5 minute mark the stopped and revoked up. This time KJ didn't get his antlers quite right and started losing. He was getting poked and ended up with some holes. He finally gave up and turned and ran. The other bull walked away and the harem followed him. All of this happened 40 yards in front of me.
I had met a couple guys throughout the week and one of them was standing next to me when it all ended and we both looked at each other in unbelief. We had both watched KJ dominate all week and were shocked in how it ended, I know we both had tears in our eyes. I told him now I know how it felt to be a Dallas Cowboy fan. It's tough watching your hero lose, you Cowboy's fans know all too well what I mean! I'll always remember standing between my new friend John and my daughter watching nature at it's best.
I won't be in RMNP this September because I'm taking my grandson to see the mouse in Florida. I hope to see many picture of KJ this year and like a dedicated Cowboy's fan ..."This is the year KJ".
I'll make sure and post the video on this site soon.