Pennsylvania Game News - July 2009 - 10

returned. The gentleman and I crossed over the swamp and slowly proceeded toward the base of the ridge. A hundred yards or so farther we began to see elk bedded within camera range. We both snapped some pictures while they were still bedded and then more as they stood and hurried up the ridge. These were all cows but we heard the bull bugling just out of sight. As we went farther, more cows got up, making a total of eight or 10. We also could tell the bugling bull was nearby. The gentleman with me said he didn’t feel comfortable continuing, that he was going to hang back. I said I wanted to go on, to gain a different photo angle. As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, I’ve had close encounters with several bears during deer and spring turkey seasons and a more recent close encounter in New Hampshire with a family of moose. My outdoor experience includes years of trout fishing, often in remote areas. Admittedly, I have little fear of wildlife. I slowly approached the bugling bull until I caught a glimpse of him heading my way. I snapped off a few pictures through the foliage at a fair distance. Then I heard another bugle behind me and to my left. Within a few moments, the bull in front moved toward me and to my left. I glanced to my left and noticed the other bull approaching, apparently for a fight. I was between a rock and a hard place. Just then, the bull in front of me put his head down and charged the oncoming bull. I snapped a picture of him as he went by me at less than ten yards (picture turned out blurred). He went by me only a few yards before coming to an abrupt stop. I glanced to my left and noticed that the other bull (somewhat smaller) had retreated, taking a route which brought him behind me but in front of where our wives were 10 quietly and motionlessly waiting. The large bull stood still just a few yards to my left, between a large tree and some smaller trees, his attention now focused on me. His body was mostly in the clear, presenting a great photo angle. He had at least a 6x5 set of antlers, and his body was massive. I quickly snapped off a picture. My theory is that the flash in his eyes (as caught reflecting on film) only reinforced his notion that I was a threat to his harem. He started toward me but had to turn to his left to get past some trees and brush between us. As he came around and started to approach me, I snapped off what turned out to be my last photo flash opportunity, at less than five yards, which only increased his curiosity. At that point, there was very little brush and no trees between us. He stopped for a moment and stared with an intense look. He stomped his feet and faked lunges at me three times while I held my ground, motionless. I believe this action was an attempt to show his dominance, thereby forcing my retreat without any contact, similar to what he had just successfully performed against the rival bull. I realized at that moment that if he were to gore me while facing him, my lungs could be pierced and my life taken. I decided to turn and flee to a large tree to stand behind. I turned but had taken no more than eight or ten steps before I felt like I was hit by a Mack truck. I never heard or saw him approach, but the impact lifted me off the ground and sent an unbelievable burst of pain throughout the right side of my back, shoulder, arm and head. Fortunately, I did not lose my balance. I came down on my feet and kept moving at a brisk pace for about 40 yards before I stopped to turn around and check his whereabouts. I was surprised and relieved that he was no longer in sight. He was apparently satisfied with my retreat and, thus, had returned to his harem. In my opinion, his purpose in making contact was to forcibly put to rest any notions of mine to return. GAME NEWS

Pennsylvania Game News - July 2009

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