Bugle Boy

Bull Elk Bugling Amidst the First Snowfall

It was a crisp fall day in the Canadian Rockies when Stan captured this powerful moment. The temperature hovered around minus five degrees Celsius, and the first snowfall of the season had just begun. Soft flakes drifted quietly through the air, not yet settling on the ground, creating a fleeting and magical atmosphere.

Out in the open landscape stood a magnificent bull elk, mid-bugle. His call cut through the stillness, raw and commanding, echoing across the Rockies as nature paused to listen. This striking display of strength and presence is what earned him the name “Bugle Boy.”

There is something especially powerful about witnessing an elk bugling during the very first snowfall - a moment suspended between seasons. It speaks to resilience, instinct, and the wild rhythm of the land. For Stan, this was more than a photograph; it was an unforgettable reminder of how nature reveals her most extraordinary moments when patience meets perfect timing.

-Keltie Masters

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