On October 16, 2024, I took my friend Mia, a fellow wildlife photographer, to the Buffalo National River in Arkansas to photograph elk. This was her first time in this part of the state, having moved from Utah just a few months ago. She was excited to see Arkansas wildlife up close.
Arkansas is home to a thriving elk population, mostly found in the northwestern part of the state, particularly in the Buffalo National River region. Elk were reintroduced to Arkansas in the 1980s after being extirpated from the area in the 1840s due to overhunting and habitat loss. The current population is around 600 to 800 elk, and they have become a popular attraction, especially during the fall rut when bulls are most active.
We arrived at Boxley Valley around sunrise. Soon after, we spotted a herd of elk, roughly 20 to 30 strong, in a field. Several bulls were among the herd, and a few were impressively large. I didn’t take any photos of these elk because they were behind fences, which made it difficult to get clean shots, and the lighting was terrible.
We continued driving through Boxley Valley and came across three young bull elk in a small field by the side of the road. I parked and spent some time photographing these bulls. The morning light made for decent photos, and their close proximity allowed for some great shots.
Further along the valley, we found a large bull elk near a group of cows (livestock, not elk). The elk was on the edge of a distant field, and although it was far, I took a photo that captured the elk within its environment. I’m working on improving my shots to include more of the natural surroundings of the animals I photograph.
Later, we encountered another large bull elk with a cow elk and a young bull. I photographed the larger bull alongside the cow, then managed to capture both bulls lightly sparring. It was a moment worth documenting, showing not just their size but also their interactions.
The trip was a success. We even heard the elk bugling early in the morning, a clear reminder of the season. The bugling is most common during the fall rut, when bulls compete for mates. Temperatures were in the low 30s Fahrenheit, and the elk activity will likely increase in the coming days.
Mia also documented the trip. You can check her post and video here: Elk at Buffalo National River.
What great pictures! Amazing animals!