Seems that about 50% of my elk photos I’ve taken are butt shots. They are usually more interested in grazing than posing. However, I do understand.
Elk eat green grasses and forbs during the growing season. They need these to achieve a nutritional level that allows them to grow and develop well. When elk and other ungulates eat shrubs, they typically select the tips of branches which comprise the current year’s growth and offer the most nutrients. It is estimated that Elk eat an average of 3 pounds of food per day for every 100 pounds of body weight; therefore, a bull elk weighing 800 pounds would eat about 24 pounds of forage each day. As you can tell in this image they are interested in the new spring grasses. So, here is my butt shot for this spring!
4 Comments
Faye White
Looks like a very healthy herd, uninterested in the photographer. 🙂
Monte Stevens
Yes, they were not very interested in me. It’s interesting to me how much of their life is spent just grazing. Having said that, I don’t imagine that while they are grazing are they thinking about politics finances and another stuff.
geri oster
This is an amazingly tranquil photograph, Monte, butts and all! And interesting facts about these beautiful fellow travelers. Thank you.
Monte Stevens
It was noticeable how they ignored us and focused only the grass in front of them. Even at that there were those scouts who kept an eye out for trouble.