I\'ve seen it when a bull was in the middle of a screaming match with several other bulls that all had cows. Running himself ragged trying to keep his harem together. Elk can run straight up a mountain without showing fatigue, but even elk can over-exert sometimes.
Had a cow and calf ... and another cow ... run right through camp last year at noon. Stopping 15 yards from me, the lead cow looked tired ... panting hard, as was the calf. Right there in camp. At noon. They stood there for a second, not noticing me or my buddy as we were now standing near our lawn chairs, reaching for cameras.
I saw two of them later that day, again running across an open meadow ... (I assume it was them) ... followed by a 5x6 bull. I assume he was the one causing the trouble.
