I backpacked 8 miles in deep woods and came face to face with a bull elk in rut (mating season). I had seen his girlfriend in the woods back awhile ago and there were warnings posted about elk in rut this time of year. They are crazy because of there hormones. We stared at each other for 10 minutes. I slowly took a picture and then he went crazy. He started bellowing at me and trashing the bushes with his antlers. I ran.