Antler First, Elk Second

First 3:  Bull elk shedding his right antler on our property

Dr. K and I were amazed to look out our window and see a Rocky Mountain Bull Elk on our property; even more amazing was the fact that he's in the process of shedding his right antler--this after I found an antler just yesterday and brought it back to the cabin.

Took both Willow and Frio on an exploration this morning, following elk and deer trails southward into the forest near our property.  Damned if we didn't come up behind the bull elk we'd seen earlier at our place.  He saw us, but didn't react.  Both Frio and Willow saw him, but didn't react, either, somewhat taken aback by his sheer massiveness.

We turned around immediately then, and created a bit of difficulty for ourselves by bushwhacking through the forest.  When I saw that we were way above the cabin I decided to switchback down the steep slope to our road, and we made it with no difficulty.

This & next:  trees in the forest near our property

Following an elk/deer trail

This & next:  Willow and Frio tracking an elk

This & next 3:  views of the Sacramento Mountains

This & next:  Frio and Willow

This & next 2:  dried Scrub Oak leaves

This & next: Heelers say, "Hey, what are you doing out there?"

Scrub Oak, juniper and pines on our property

Bear Grass (Nolina microcarpa) in foreground

High mountain living