Rut Realities

Hi all - back with another from this year's elk rut. We had to be on our toes photographing this big bull as he has a reputation for mixing it up with photographers (and selfie-taking tourists).   He was ornery before injuring his eye, and in an even worse disposition after. Although we did not witness the injury, other photographers told us he took a tine to the eye during a scrap with one of the other big herd bulls, and it became infected. As an aside, this meant Jenaya, Josiah and I had to be even more careful as we never wanted to disappear into his blind side and risk stressing or surprising him. Of course, sometimes the best attempts and plans are foiled by an unpredictable animal, so when he turned and bugled into the cold morning air I kept talking to him to remind him he already knew about me and squeezed the shutter on this shot. I liked the broken branch stuck in his antlers as well.

Thanks in advance for your comments, critiques and suggestions...please view the larger if you have time!

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Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED
ISO 1250
1/320sec @ f/5
-0.66 stop underexposed from meter
Mounted on FEISOL CT-3372 Elite tripod with Acratech GV2 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick
Cropped to app. 85% of original