Annual Elk Invasion of Estes Park, CO (pic heavy)

Vanity | 10-18-09 | MtnClimber

[MtnClimber]

My wife and I drove up to Estes Park, Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park. We only saw about ten deer, but about 300 elk. They were everywhere. In the national park, but most were in town. They were eating shrubbery in people's front yard, crossing roads and only occasionally not disrupting things.

[MtnClimber]

A photo driving north to Estes Park of the Diamond Face of Longs Peak, the highest peak in RMNP and the second peak I climbed in Colorado. To the left is Mt. Meeker and to the right is Mt. Lady Washington.

We drove into the park until the road closure and saw a few elk, but no where to turn off to photograph. Then we turned around and had a big bull walking beside the road toward us.

We stopped the SUV because I was afraid of striking his antlers. My wife took this photo out of the window as he walked past just a few feet away. He was so close we could smell him.

Some elk on the drive toward Bear Lake.

Back down in Estes Park we found many more elk. Apparently they are unaware of Owl Gore's Glow-Bull Warming and the risk of being at 7,500 ft above sea level is increasing their risk of drowning. These elk are just beside a strip mall.

In defiance to Owl Gore these elk wade into the stream to taunt rising sea levels and to state that they can swim even if the water rises up to the sun.

These elk were in the stream right beside a main downtown sidewalk and seemed curious about tasting meat.

Dogs and children were horrified!

The elk came into Estes park to protest Golw-Bull Warming and community organize a street protest to stop the cars.

Then the elk think to themselves that CO2 could grow bigger and more delicious shrubbery in Estes Park so they call off their protest for their self-interest.

And the big guy goes off to gore Gore. I heard him cursing about liars and some other things I cannot repeat here.

Driving back south we had this view that reminded me of an old story. A coworker's wife heard two older ladies talking at a shopping mall. One said "I read in the newspaper that an older man had a heart attack on top of two sisters! Why, I had no idea that was the name of a mountain!" Here it is, a photo of Twin Sisters, but not from an angle that shows the profile of two opposing faces and busts facing upward. That story is much more funny to me than to my wife. She rolls her eyes when I tell this story.

Yes, all these photos were taken today!

[ican'tbelieveit]

Guess you didn’t see the poor guy that had a bit too much testosterone. They sawed his horns off after he gored a car.

[Tennessee Nana]

Then the elk think to themselves that CO2 could grow bigger and more delicious shrubbery in Estes Park so they call off their protest for their self-interest.
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Yes, well, their Union called for a lunch break ...

Paid for by the American public...

:)

[Tamatoa]

Awesome photos, everytime I go hunting I can not seem to see one. Now I know where they went. Elk hunting this week.

[Frantzie]

Great pictures and beautiful animals. The male by the lumber company is huge. The babies are adorable. Beautiful country - just wish the transplants from CalliePornia would go back.

[lonestar]

I love the Estes Park area...thanks for sharing.

[MtnClimber]

Ping, a recount and photos of Sunday visit to Rocky Mountain Natl Park with some satire added.

[rdl6989]

Very nice!

[umgud]

This just proves that a sucessful hunter must hike for miles in the wilderness, wear camo, be very quiet and sneaky, wear scent and be sure to stay upwind so as not to scare the elk away. Oh, and don’t forget the elk calls.

[MediaMole]

The elk seem to know where the gun-free zones are located.

[Proud2BeRight]

Thanks, great pictures.

[neodad]

I made the comment “Look at that rack!” My wife wasn’t pleased until I showed her the pictures....

[girlangler]

Awesome photos MtnClimber.

Here in Tennessee, we are having the state’s first elk hunt since the 1890s this coming week. It’s an historical event.

I live very near our elk reintroduction areas (and Kentucky’s), so I may get to see lots of these majestic animals someday.

[murphE]

I’ve been to Estes Park. My brother lives near there. (I still have an Estes Park T-shirt. = )

[MtnClimber]

That bull is the largest I think we saw all day. The lumber company building is on a steep downward slope from the road so it makes the bull look much taller! We saw a bull that was almost the same size eating shrubbery right by the front door of a very expensive looking house.

[leapfrog0202]

Great photos, thanks for sharing! Loved the captions too!

Grey, thought you might enjoy these!

[tubebender]

I carry a pocket Canon camera in my pickup for shots like yours. Did you expect to see the Elk on this excursion? This reminds me that I saw a friend at the airport Thursday and he and his sons were headed to Colo Elk hunting. His brother had left 2 days earlier hauling the guns, ammo and booze in the Suburban and a trailer. I think he said they were heading south of Denver. We have the scrawny little Blacktails in our yard and they are about the size of the dog in one of your photos. Who do you use to host your photos?

[Frantzie]

Thanks. Yeah I picked up on that optical illusion with the building and how the building was lower that the street. He is still a big boy. Beautiful animals.

[Frantzie]

Pretty much is cheating when they have scent, cammo, blinds or tree top huts.

[umgud]

I’ve hunted elk and most everything else for years without camo, scent and all that. Never used a blind except for duck. Did a lot of hiking though and never saw elk in numbers like this so close up.