3 yard Encounter w/ Bull ELK Video and Pics

[GregE]

I was able to visit Yellowstone National Park last fall enroute to Montana. I’ve always liked taking pictures, especially of wild animals in their natural setting. There is a rule that you are not allowed to approach animals with certain safety distances.

Judy and I spotted a herd of elk down in a canyon and later walked down a ridge to see if we could spot them. From a steep slope we could see about 50 elk feeding and laying along a sand bar island near a river. I went about 150 yards further down the ridge and started taking pictures using the 20X zoom lens on the small Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ7 camera.

Sitting on a rock I alternated between taking several still shots and using the video feature as I filmed the elk calves frolicking among the herd in the top video link I noticed that part of the herd was feeding up the steep slope toward me. I slipped down between two rocks and rested my camera on my bent knee as a makeshift tripod and looking at the display to frame the picture.

I soon found the ELK had fed all around me and while several gave me long looks none acted concerned except one cow warned ‘snuffles’ with a mew when the calf came up and sniffed my camera four times as it sat on my knee.

The herd fed uphill into the late sunset and I spent some time going one way then back the other to get around them without bothering them. As I met Judy back at the campground and tried to explain why I was gone so long, we could hear the bull bugling. The next morning as we checked out I again had to walk around the back way as the herd was near the manager’s office.

Turn on your speaker.  I hope you enjoy them- it was a thrill for me. 

Greg

[GregE]

Expand to full screen and turn up the volume.   

[GregE]

Some of my favorite still pictures-

Bull raking a juniper tree


My inspirational shot



Curious cows from 30 yards



Lots of young calves with this herd



6x6 Bull keeping tabs on his ladies



The bull checks scents by licking  his nose



You can see the ivory 'whistler' in his upper gum



Late sunset background



Time exposure while holding the camera steady on a rock. 



This is “snuffles” after he smudged my lens.

[GregE]

Sunrise over Yellowstone Falls



Sugar Shack our S & S camper



Bandaid on the hot spring boardwalk



Yellowstone River canyon overlook

[Wile E. Hunter]

Am I the only one picking out places to put an arrow over an over as that bull walked by in the video? NICE pictures and video!

Wile E.

[NWBREW]

Nice......very nice

[washelkhntr]

Nice pics and vids.   

[GregE]

I hear you Wile.....

The Snuffles video was clipped.

Here it is

[robb92]

Great pics and video!! Thanks for posting them

[boneaddict]

Nice post!

[gasman]

Sweet 

I love Yellowstone 

[jamng]

Thanks for the pic's and the video.. Was there 18 years ago with my wife right after we got married. Have pics of the water fall from the same angle as yours brings back memories. Love the Elk videos saw many but none tried to eat my camera... That must have been pretty cool.. JAMNG

[Jeffrey]

Woah...now those are great pictures, and the videos are rocking! 

[wapiti hunter2]

Nice to see you here GregE.  I remember you from Sage Creek Forum.  I never did hear the rest of the story about this hunt.  Could you post it here?  Others here might like to hear it too.        BTW, I love the videos.  Did you use Mtn. Bikes in Montana?

[GregE]

WH, that's because I haven't posted it yet other than a few pictures.      Hoping to get it out soon since I'm laid up and will share here too.  

Thanks to all for the positive responses.     No Bikes in MT, horses and shanks mare.