Majestic. That’s the best word I can find to describe the Tule Elk at Point Reyes National Seashore. Their size, beauty and grace is remarkable. I’ve been fortunate to encounter the Drakes Beach herd on several occasions over the past year. I’ve taken photographs from the car at sunrise and hidden among bushes during long hilly hikes.

Tracking Tule Elk during the beginning of rutting season was particularly memorable. That’s when the bulls break out of their bachelor groups and compete for breeding dominance. One very foggy morning I heard the distant sound of their bugle call, but there wasn’t an elk in site. It was eerie yet beautiful. Take a listen here.