It’s so useful to have an elk photo library that exceeds 7,000 images taken over many years. Some of them speak volumes as the years unfold.

Such is the case in the life story of a bull elk nicknamed Kisser, captured in photos over the past seven years.

He was a spike/raghorn in 2004 and 2005, when he was the ever-present tag-along and sometimes an annoyance to the famous Benezette town bull, nicknamed Freddy.

The nickname “Kisser” was bestowed on him by local resident and elk guide Brady Schrecongost. The bull elk befriended his chocolate lab puppy named Jesse Jane by touching noses with her in 2005. The next year, he approached the porch and touched noses once again with Jesse Jane.

According to locals, Freddy “made friends with all the dogs” when he decided years ago to live in the town during most of the year, leaving only to make the annual pilgrimage to Winslow Hill during the rut. Kisser became the perfect apprentice.

Here is Kisser in velvet in Brady Schrecongost’s yard in Benezette during the summer of 2010. Note the huge antler bases and large body size. Because of these characteristics, the bull bears a striking resemblance to the town bull nicknamed Freddy, whom he shadowed for most of his life. The antler burrs measured 14 inches in circumference. The young elk shadowing him was curiously intent on imitating the master. When he opened his mouth wide to attempt a bugle, his first effort was silent and the second was squeaky.

Over the years, Freddy came to know the location of every apple tree in the village like the back of his hooves. He also learned where to find “handouts” and browse cuttings left in the yards by local residents. Kisser followed along and quickly learned the apple route. For the next six years, the two elk became inseparable companions in the village, delighting spectators and photographers.

Kisser’s apprenticeship also conveniently filled the gap left with the abrupt end- ing of a long “buddy” relationship that Freddy had enjoyed with a bull nicknamed Clubhorn, that was poached during the fall of 2005 at age eight.

As the old town bull diminished in stature and dominance in recent years, Kisser expanded his range to Devil’s Elbow on Winslow Hill to feed during the summer. He was a dominant herd bull during the rut in the past two autumns.

This year, he showed up back in town early in October, with a broken antler and several antler poke marks on his torso. According to reports, he was limping noticeably due to an injury that occurred during a rut fight. He rested in town for three weeks. Then he roamed again to Devil’s Elbow and Summerson Road outside of the no-hunt zone.

That’s where a licensed hunter spotted him about a week before the elk hunt. When he was legally harvested in Grant during the 2010 elk hunt, Kisser was an impressive 7 x 7 bull in his prime. He was the heaviest bull taken in the hunt, with an estimated live weight of 880 pounds and a dressed weight of 667.

There was a sobering discovery at the elk check station. Biologist Jon DeBerti commented that this bull had sustained some serious injuries during the rut. No one knows if he would have recovered. Sometimes after a bull is severely injured internally, there is a significant decline in general health and diminished antler development in the years that follow, if he even survives.

Some local residents, elk watchers and photographers sadly regret not being able to continue to watch and photograph this bull throughout his prime.

Jesse Jane is still awaiting Kisser’s return to the village, and Freddy is now being shadowed by a bull elk wearing collar 2D.