Elk in the field

Last night at supper with Chris at the clay house, we saw at least 12 elk emerge onto the field from the logging swath.  They came right up to the fence, but they are timid creatures and my camera was back at the ranch house.  I crept out the back door and quietly down the road, but they were spooked.  By the time I was back they were well up the field, so my photos are in dim light at maximum zoom.  These creatures are big!  At close to dark, three were well on their way along the ridge toward the hay barn (which Chris says they broke into in winter).

seen from upstairs in the clay house, 7pm

also from the clay house, 8pm, getting dusky … with two white-tailed deer for scale