Daily Postcard: A young elk is spotted chewing on a twig Nov. 19 at Bandelier National Monument. Winter is the best time to see elk. Elk spend much of the warmer months at the higher elevations within Bandelier or in nearby Valles Caldera National Preserve. Once the snows begin to fall and vegetation in the mountains is less accessible, the elk begin moving downward in elevation and can readily be seen along the main entrance road and N.M. 4 when driving to the park. Elk are very large deer, a bull can weigh more than 1,000 pounds. Source: Bandelier. Courtesy/BNM