Effective September 1 I will start blogging again about the 2015 Arkansas Elk Rut. The rut traditionally begins about the 3rd week in September. Before then there are stages that point to the big event. I was in Boxley Valley this morning at 6AM to beat the heat and sunrise. As I expected, there were 3 elk herds in the valley, one at the north end, one in the middle, and a 3rd at the south end. By 7AM the elk were heading for cover in response to the sunrise. I did not see a single big bull, it is too early. They start showing up in mid-September. The very biggest bulls show up around October 1, and they push the smaller bulls aside. That will be prime time to catch a bullfight. The driver of the entire process is the number of cow elk that are estrous. I will be posting frequently with maps as I did last year. I will also post any decent pictures. My goal is to get photographers to visit and photograph these majestic animals. Boxley Valley is also a great place for landscape photos. There are hiking trails and other attractions.

Michael Dougherty,
Compton, Arkansas