That is awesome! Moose have good taste. Here in Colorado, I've watched people get out of their cars to take pics of the moose almost becoming Darwin Award candidates...
Like the tent!
I really didn't think they'd get that close! And I didn't want them that close - I bought a huge lens for my camera for a reason! Once they got up there I was scrambling to keep Runner inbetween me and them just in case.
Moose just like me. Elk too... and I probably haven't made the best decisions in these scenarios but I do, in general, try to keep my distance from the animals. They come to me and as long as I am within the safety of my vehicle I'm OK with that. I don't go out seeking these encounters, it just sort of happens!
Was watching two bulls last summer in WY and they came within about 30' of my truck. I was just standing in the door on my sliders taking pics of them, they didn't care.
Had another moose walk up to me a couple years ago too - I stopped with a crowd and there were two bulls in the meadow along the road. I jumped out of the truck so fast I didn't grab a coat. So I was taking pictures and getting cold and sort of huddled down to keep the camera still. Next thing you know this bull moose starts to walk towards me. So I stood up thinking that once he saw I was big and more intimidating he'd veer away. Nope. So I started talking to him...this was towards the end of their rut so I told him that I wasn't interested in him in that way.... thought the guy standing next to me was going to die laughing. He eventually lost interest in me and wandered away towards his buddy.
And I had to share my campsite with a bull elk a few years back in Grand Teton. Set up camp and then left for the afternoon. Came back close to sunset and had a few things to throw in my tent (pre-RTT days) so I was walking over to my tent when I heard this snort - looked up and saw this bull elk standing next to my tent! Decided to put the stuff back in my truck until he left. He eventually wandered away and I built a fire for the night and settled in. Next thing you know, he's back! There was some flowering shrubs adjacent to my camp and he was very intent on munching on them. So I was sitting there wondering what to do and hoped that the fire between me and him was enough to deter him. I started talking to him too - scolding him for sneaking up on me. Then I heard whispers behind me - half of the campground had gathered on the road to watch this elk. I yelled at them that they didn't need to whisper, he wouldn't be bothered either way. He eventually wandered off again and I figured that it was all over. Some of the other campers came over to talk to me and they dubbed me "the elk whisperer". Some time in the night he came back again. Scared the crap out of me. At first I thought it was a bear and my heart was racing as I was planning out my escape from my sleeping bag ("quietly" open my bag zipper, two tent zippers, grab my bear spray, knife and keys and dash to the safety of my truck). Then, amidst my panic, I listened for a second to figure out where these unidentified footsteps were coming from.....and I heard leaves rustling, and chewing...and a burp.... stupid elk, not a bear. Then I heard a little rustling and a sigh....he bedded down for a nap in the trees about 10 to 15 feet away from my tent! Once I got my heart rate down and was able to get back to sleep with my new elk friend snoozing nearby, all was good. And again I thought my strange elk encounter was over - but oh, no! Got up that morning and made a trip to the ladies' room. On my way back a couple of campers stopped me and asked if I had looked at my truck yet - NO! I was thinking someone had hit me and drove away (I'm very protective of my vehicles, damaging them is a death sentence for the responsible party) so I start to panic and ask why, what happened? They told me that the elk had come over and had licked my truck! I thought they were joking but I started to inspect my truck and could see slobber marks all over it! I don't know if he was just super thirsty and was trying to lick the dew off or if he was convinced that my freshly waxed with blue raspberry scented car wax truck was some sort of tasty elk treat! I decided to name him WILLY then - short for window licker....
My first sighting of Willy...
And my slobber covered windows...
