A Legendary Bull Elk Lives On

​“He was spectacular.” “One of a kind!” “Sure do miss the legend!” These may sound like tributes to a fallen rock star or Hall of Fame football player. But they’re actually social media posts during the recent fall elk rut, from a few of the countless admirers of a magnificent bull elk who roamed, or some might say strutted through, the meadows and forests of Rocky Mountain National Park for over a decade.

​Throughout the year and especially during the rut, photographers post their favorite pictures of the majestic elk known as “Bruno,” Kahuna” and “Incredibull.” I was privileged to witness him during several fall ruts, and have hundreds of photographs of this remarkable bull. 

Bruno sadly passed away in March 2022 from unknown causes, but his spirit still touches many who were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with him over the years in the park. 

Bruno was famous for his unusually large and unique antlers, his determination to secure his herd of cows early in the rut and fight off other bulls throughout the season, and his otherwise elusive behavior—he was rarely seen the rest of the year. Nonetheless, he was one of the most photographed elk in the country during his lifetime. And shortly after his death, not just Colorado, but major national news agencies covered his notable passing.

Whether photographing Bruno or other wildlife, I enjoy the fall rut so much that in the past several years, I’ve stayed up in Estes Park for several days in September to be able to take it all in and hopefully, witness some amazing rut activity. In September, my sister Linda joined me for the fun, staying in a sweet little cabin at McGregor Mountain Lodge. Up before dawn and back at the lodge after dark, we went for it…driving around and bailing out of the car to drag out my tripod and witness the bugling, canoodling, and sometimes fighting for those precious cows. 

I definitely felt the absence of Bruno this year, but then the coolest thing happened. On our first evening in the park, while observing and photographing a handsome bull elk trying to keep the nearby bulls away from his harem, a fellow photog asked me if I knew who the bull was. She asked if I was familiar with Bruno, which of course I was. And she said that this was “KJ,” aka “Kahuna Junior,” one of Bruno’s offspring. KJ’s antlers have distinct features like unusually long tines, so locals and visiting photographers are confident that he is in fact Bruno’s son. 

​Well, this was exciting news indeed. We managed to spot KJ a couple more times throughout our days there. And undoubtedly, with Bruno’s ability to keep control of herds of cows during rut after rut, we observed many of his offspring, both bulls and cows alike, and I will continue to do so for years to come. Long live the king.