Elk duel. Photo by keagiles.

Soon, elk rutting season will begin. Herds of elk are making their way into the Estes Park valley (Colorado, USA) from higher elevations to gather for the annual mating rites. It’s a great time for people to come and listen to the males bugling and watch them duel. But from afar, folks! A male elk in rutting season is not something you want to come face to antler with. I captured this picture from the highway (U.S. 36) near a home in Estes Park in early December 2007.