First Moments of Gold

In the late fall, a bull elk (wapiti) leads his harem down from their summer feeding range. Some in the herd feed while the others are on alert, perhaps seeing or hearing something. The warm glow of the morning sun is breaking up the shadows that have been protecting the herd and the elk will likely return to the shadows and thicker woods as the day progresses. But for these few moments, their splendor is enhanced by the first rays of the morning sun. - Rod Frederick