I imagine the animal was more what we would call a moose. They don’t have elk like ours in Russia.
I take it back, they do have very similar elk!
I used to follow a herd of elk that frequented a particular playground near my former residence. Mind you, always keeping a healthy distance and a few trees between me and them. Made for some really good video. They are EXTREMELY LARGE animals, and if you are lucky enough to get a snort, stomp and mock charge from the bull, you best know its time to leave.