Elk by the side of the road

[Teacher617]

I was driving home this afternoon and saw this elk and its partner grazing in a field by my house. The field is a flood plain that often brings out the elk when water is scarce, as it is this season. I raced (okay, drove safely) home to get my camera and returned to take a few shots. Unfortunately, I was shooting directly into the sun, but got a couple of decent ones.

Each time a car drove by, the elk would lazily lift their heads to see, then return to grazing. It was pretty cool to just stand and watch.

I've added a photo to my gallery.

Tricia

[Brian811]

Beautiful shot!! I really like how his velvet is backlit.

[msbrad]

Great elk shot. Love the one of Mia too.
m

[Jancy]

Wow that is something. I never get a chance to see anything like that living in the city! Great Shot

[bfcoughlin]

I love the glow around his antlers.

[vawitt]

Gorgeous shot! How lucky to see one with such a beautiful rack, too!

~Val in balmy IL

[Teacher617]

Thanks, everyone. Pretty amazing creatures, those elk!

Tricia

[ljameso1]

Wonderful backlighting. It can pay off to shoot against the sun.

[Ric Cisson]

Hey Tricia, my neighbor to the north, I almost hit a Bull Elk, last night coming home from Flagstaff down I-17 near Munds Park. Sure caught my attention in the middle of the fast lane.:eek: No harm done to either it or myself, as I slowly eased by him at 10 miles an hour. I called DPS to let them know the location.

[Teacher617]

Hey Ric, sure glad you were okay! Elk in the road is a definite hazard up here. Wouldn't want to hit one any time, day or night. :eek:

I live just north of Munds Park, in Kachina Village, which is where I saw the elk in the picture.

Tricia

[Ric Cisson]

I saw this one last night about a mile north of Munds Park. I was up in Flagstaff at Barnes and Noble hanging out and left about 9PM. Instead of going down Oak Creek Canyon, I decided to go down by way of I-17 and the Village of Oak Creek. Anyway, in my lifetime, that was the first one I had ever encountered in the middle of the Interstate. I have seen them up around Kachina and closer into Flagstaff by the Airport, alongside the road, but never in the middle of the Interstate. I had my high beams on and his eyes were the first things that got my attention, I really hit the brakes to slow down to see what move he would make, when I realized that he was just going to stand there, I eased by him and got on the Cell to call it in, just in case. Anyway, did not hear about any accidents this morning on the news so I guess he went on with his life.:)

[Inspeqtor]

Tricia,

Beautiful picture of a beautiful animal! Great job :)

Ric,

I am really glad you or the elk in your path did not get hurt!

[NMarti]

That's a wonderful shot. I like the backlighting on the antlers. Hey - we have plenty of water here along the Mississippi. Be glad to send you some! :D

[Teacher617]

Hey - we have plenty of water here along the Mississippi. Be glad to send you some! :D


We'll take it! Let's see ... UPS, FedEx, DHL ... ? ;)
Hope you're safe there in flood land ... I just can't imagine ...

Tricia

[elwoodsusanm]

Superb photo! :)

[kevq]

Tricia,
beautiful photo of a magnificent animal. He sure looks big and fighting fit.
Kev.

[CarolR]

Excellent shot! Beautiful animal. Have never seen any in So. AZ, although they may be here.