DYNAMICS

(not exclusively males) > BULLS - [similiar to alphas] (typically) leaders, loud in volume usually, usually drawn to a handful of cows at a time (not for mating purposes, its like 'the token straight friend in a queer friend group')

> STAGS - [similiar to betas] sensitive, calm, romantic, unobtrusive, mediators

(not exclusively females) > COWS (also called DOES) - [similar to omegas] nurturing, sweet, keep to themselves a lot

EXTRA INFO

☆ only bulls and stags can sire calves, regardless of primary sex

☆ SPIKING (referring to spikes, yearling bull elk) (vaguely derogatory towards cows, as it implies that cows are young and immature): similar to bitching - process of a bull becoming a doe, through whatever manner and for whatever reason

☆ TROPHYING (comes from the term 'trophy' for a bull elk that is 6-10 years old): basically kinging, opposite of spiking, process of a cow becoming a bull, through whatever manner and for whatever reason

☆ VELVETING (from when elk antlers velvet and fall off, before growing back): common symptom before a rut happens - bulls and anyone else that experiences rut get an urge to cut their hair and possibly other physical features, such as fashion ("i feel like velveting)

☆ IVORIES: alternative, traditional name for fangs

☆ CAPE: nape of the neck and the top of the shoulders, where dynamics are drawn to for scent/scentmarking

☆ CALVES: pups

☆ BUGLE/BUGLING: similar to growling in miscecanis, but miscervus bugles arent similar to proper elk, its a high pitched whine commonly heard during rut from bulls and others that experience it, to draw cows nearby. cows can also bugle, they are generally quieter and deeper-sounding

HORMONAL CYCYLES:

estrus often happens during late summer/early fall and rut during fall from september to october but theyre both possible at any time, typically triggered by others cycles and ones own personal arousal/stress levels

☆ ESTRUS (most often cows): generally lasts from 3 days to a week, restlessness, high levels of arousal, increased bugling, increased urination, smelling different, being drawn to spend more time around bulls and stags, increased slick production, increased attempts to scent others or to be scented/scentmarked

☆ RUT (most often bulls): generally lasts from 5-10 days, typically get more physically active (to show off prowess), irritation with individuals of the same dynamic or others experiencing rut, spending a lot of time around other dynamics, pretty similar to estrus but much more active

also doe and cow are interchangeable, female elk are called cows but i like the word doe more for aesthetics

ill be adding onto this when i think of stuff/find things ive already written by forgot. then eventually id like to make a Carrd for this to look nice and put-together. any questions or asks about clearing something up are welcome, id looove to talk about this and maybe find others that can align themselves with this if theyd like! also if theres anything that might help for visibility text-wise and such, please let me know, i will edit this!

tagging for traction: