For 4 to 6 weeks in early autumn the most dominant bull elk will spar with other bulls and gather their harems of 15 to 20 cows. During this time, a bull will barely take time to eat while he constantly patrols the edges of the group, chases rivals away, bugles and wallows and tries to breed with all receptive females in estrus. After all this work and with so little time to eat, a bull can lose 100-200 pounds in a few weeks. Younger (or older) and smaller “satellite” bulls who aren’t able to attain a harem will gather together and occasionally attempt to sneak in to breed with females while the main bull is unaware.
