mgstrawn Loc: Atlanta, GA

I saw this video on the morning news. I had the privilege of photographing the Elk last year and I stood in the very area shown on this video. I can't imagine taking the chance that this gentleman took! Hey, he may be a Hedgehog!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xGQExgOxZMQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DxGQExgOxZMQ

mremery Loc: From Maine, living in Virginia

Scary. I can't imagine just sitting there myself.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

This appears to be about play and dominance as the young elk took considerable care not to skewer the photographer.
That is a hard way to get a few shots though!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

From the video -

Published on Nov 12, 2013
While photographing elk at sunrise in the Cataloochee Valley of Great Smoky Mountains National Park I turned around to see what appeared to be just a curious young bull sniffing a photographer's camera. I snapped a few frames of the apparent harmless encounter.

But the elk became more interested in making trouble than simply the scent of a camera. He started physically harassing the photographer, escallating to full on head-butts.

I quickly switched the camera to video and let it roll (much of the time wondering when I should seriously consider intervening).

Most people who see this ask why the photographer seems to just take the abuse. I asked him in an email what was going through his head. This is his response:

"My first thoughts were "wow, he's getting pretty damn close here." But I've been up close before without incident. I hoped being still and passive would see him pass on. When he lowered his antlers to me, I wanted to keep my vitals protected and my head down. I felt that standing up would provoke him more and leave me more vulnerable to goring. I think that while protecting myself with my head down, having my head down was a signal that I was rutting with him. I was concerned at first, but when he started rearing back and lunging at me later on, I got scared and pissed off. That's when I wagged my finger at him to cut that shit out. I was relieved to see the Ranger coming.

So I guess at some point if the Ranger hadn't of pulled up, I would have had to disengage the best I could. I've joked with my friends that at least he took me for a buck and not a cow!"

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ishootthings Loc: Western shore of Lake Michigan

I saw the same news video and also wondered if he is a fellow "hog". I believe many of us take a bit of a risk in trying to get "that shot"..... I am happy the photographer had an angel oh his shoulder! Thank you for posting.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Amazing that the Elk was so gentle... The photographer could have been quickly and seriously injured. Bet he got some great shots, though...

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. Bee

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Yeah, but I would love to see the photos he shot while that was going on!

JaiGieEse Loc: Foxworth, MS

I think that either the elk didn't care for the guy's hat, as he kept knocking it off. Or perhaps it was just saying, "Hey! I'm scratching your head. Now scratch mine, willya?" Dint seem to me that the elk was being aggressive, just playful. His elk buddies were probably watching from cover and laffing their butts off. Been my experience that in situations like this, i.e. areas, parks and so on, where no hunting is allowed, that animals are not so frightened by the two legged pink things. If that white vehicle was in fact a park ranger, then the ranger must not have been too worried.

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

Saw the video and thought OMG this guy is not very bright! He set himself for a major injury. :thumbdown: