Bull Elk Sparring

Bull elk carry their antlers nearly the entire year. They start to grow new ones within days of shedding their old ones in April. These two bulls were well fed and content on a pleasant January morning. They were evenly matched in size so this sparring or play-fighting lasted about ten minutes. They pushed and clattered their antlers together, dancing in circles around each other and around a tree.  Once in awhile an antler tine would pinch the other's ear or poke his jaw, and he would cry out with a high-pitched, squeaky mew that did not sound very impressive for a 600-pound fighter.