Trail cameras, when left out in the right spot, can capture some truly stunning images, but this one is among the most wild we’ve ever seen. Footage captured by MPG Ranch in Western Montana showed a bull elk with a full rack of antlers walk past the camera missing the bottom half of its front left leg.
Despite the missing leg, the bull seemed quite hearty and the complete sever was impressively clean, sitting just below the animal’s knee. MPG big game biologist Craig Jourdonnais believes the injury was potentially due to running through downfall, an injury he’s seen before. It also could’ve been an old bullet wound that fell or rotted off. The wound was possibly so smooth because the elk was putting at least some weight on the stub.
Unfortunately this elk hasn’t been seen on camera or in person since it was caught on camera back in March of 2024, so there’s a could chance the bull went to an opportunistic predator. Whatever the case, truly an incredible occurrance.
MPG Ranch is home to more than 15,000 acres of conservation property in Western Montana, existing to protect large, undeveloped landscapes for wildlife habitat and the enjoyment of future generations. They work to  promote conservation through restoration, research, education and information sharing.
