Elk Calf in Yellowstone National Park
~ click to enlarge ~
As usual I was prowling through the woods looking in wonder at everything (not a single species of plant or animal was familiar to me) and hoping to find the odd orchid or lily when there was movement ahead of me in the trees. My uncertainty of my surroundings led me to believe that it was certainly a man-eating grizzly bear. Never having seen one in the flesh, they freak me out just about as much as a great white shark (I was born in the perfectly correct year to have the movie "Jaws" ruin the ocean for me).
Then came the inevitable Southerner's Curse. That's when the "Ya'll ain't never gonna believe this!" mindset kicks in. If it was a bear and if this was going to be my last day as a photographer - it was going to be AWESOME!
There was something brown and shaggy ahead of me in the woods and through the strong scent of evergreen trees and pines I could smell that warm fur aroma that only comes from close-proximity to something big, warm-blooded and wild. I took one last look at my ISO setting and made sure my shutterspeed was set fast enough to freeze any movement. Then I stepped on a twig.
Suddenly this giant deer raised its head from the the ground where it was grazing 15 feet from where I was standing and I nearly slipped and fell and almost soiled myself. Somehow I still managed to squeeze off a couple of shots. This was the first elk I had ever seen, and when I saw the even larger mother come to protect her shaggy calf from danger did I realize what was happening. Not pushing my luck I quickly scrambled to the top of the ridge where the truck was waiting for me.
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you’re too cool Rich. Love the story as much as the photo!
Thank you so much! 🙂
super capture Rich…what an inquisitive looking fellow ….love your narration…bet they could run faster then you!
I bet it could, but I was already spooked enough 🙂 Thanks for your comment, my friend!
Rich…these are great but then all of your photographs fall into that category. What a beautiful calf…love it.