Today's Moose

[NorthernFocus]

Well moose season is getting into full swing. I only had a couple of hours this morning but went out to see what I could do. Sunrise isn't until nearly 8am these days plus it was cloudy this morning and I'd be down in a valley. So high ISO capability was needed. A wide range of focal lengths is often needed as the distance to the animals can vary widely and isn't always a choice. With limited time I'd potentially need to cover a good bit of ground relatively quickly. So the equipment of choice was the D4, 80-400mm AF-S, and Sirui monopod.

I spotted a fair sized bull moose a long way off. He was moving at a steady walk and by the time I closed the range he had crossed the valley and disappeared into an hemlock thicket.

1. I located the bull in the thicket.


2. But he wasn't very playful.


It wasn't as bad as it looked. He didn't keep coming but rather turned and went deeper into the thicket. He was grunting the whole way and it wasn't evident whether he was warning me or if there was another moose in the area that he was talking to. But he was acting a little surly so I wasn't about to follow him into the thicket for close quarters shooting. So I headed back across the valley to head home.

Then an interesting thing happened. I was nearly across the valley and looked back to see a small bull come out of the thicket very close to where the bigger one was. The youngster was walking/trotting straight towards me. It soon became evident that it wasn't by accident. He was clearly looking directly at me and coming straight my way starting from upwards of a quarter of a mile away. He was a small guy but his behavior was so odd and he was passing through some nice color so I got the camera back out.

3. Crossing the valley but still across a creek from me. f/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/500, ISO 800


4. Getting closer... f/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/500, ISO 1400


5. Crossing to my side of the creek. f/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/500, ISO 1600


6. OK, now it's getting a little to interesting. Sometimes these young bulls will get pretty aggressive. No science behind it but I'm convinced they are used to getting pushed around by the big guys and when they see something smaller than them they just do the same. f/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/500, ISO 1600


7. He finally blinked and turned to go around me. I zoomed out take in a bit of the surroundings.
f/5.6 @ 125 mm, 1/500, ISO 1250

[Donald]

Wonderful stuff, Dan. Keep 'em coming. Made all the more interesting by the accompanying narrative.

[FootLoose]

An interesting morning, Dan. I like the 6th shot. There is nice light in the eyes and the sheen of the hide.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[IzzieK]

As usual...a nice story accompanied by photos...I too like #6 very much. I needed some popcorn to watch any post from Dan...but is so so early in the morning here for the whole house to smell of popcorn...

[Kodiak]

6. OK, now it's getting a little to interesting. Sometimes these young bulls will get pretty aggressive. No science behind it but I'm convinced they are used to getting pushed around by the big guys and when they see something smaller than them they just do the same.

I know the feeling! They can be fast, powerful, and unpredictable!
In one word: wild. …rightfully, they are in their wilderness.

[John 2]

The first made me smile but 2 and 6 are special. The whole series is excellent.

[Mike Buckley]

#6 and the interesting narrative really rock!

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you folks enjoyed the post. It's a lot of fun just being amongst the moose and watching their behavior. Bringing back photos is a bonus. Over time you begin to recognize some of them by unique physical characteristics, particularly the bulls by the size and shape of their racks. Recently I was saddened to learn that the bull in the photo in this previous thread, one of my favorites, was killed by a brown bear last fall. He was very recognizable by one inverted point on his antlers. We called him "drop tine". When I took the shot in the linked thread he had a real bad limp on one of his front legs. Apparently the bear noticed. A photographer acquaintance observed he bear "caching" his carcass. Bears will cover their kills with dirt/foliage and return multiple times until it is totally consumed. People stumbling onto bear caches is one of the main reasons for attacks by brown bears. The acquaintance returned a couple of months later and recovered the antlers which is how we identified the kill as "drop tine".

[deetheturk]

Wonderful images Dan, it looks a big bit of a beast!

[CanadianJake]

Amazing captures Dan.
I cannot wait now till I see one through my scope this weekend. Hopefully

[NorthernFocus]

...I cannot wait now till I see one through my scope this weekend. Hopefully

Being that this is a photography site and most of us love the furry critters, I'm sure you are refering to a spotting scope and wouldn't be so insensitive as to be talking about a rifle scope

If it is the latter, and since I'm the one who originated this particular thread, then it only seems fitting that you should offer apologies, preferably in the form of a gift. Say maybe a roast? Preferably from the backstrap. Fedex guarantees overnight delivery of frozen goods to/from Alaska. Let me know if you are both successful and penitent and I'll give you a shipping address

[NorthernFocus]

Wonderful images Dan, it looks a big bit of a beast!

The animal in no.2 was pretty fair sized, likely upward of 500kg. He looks rather ominous in that shot because his eyes just look like black holes.

The smaller guy is just a youngster, two or three years old. He'd likely only tip the scales at 350kg or so.

[Nicks Pics]

Fascinating photos. I think my favorite is number 5, crossing the river. The colors on the tundra, or whatever it is, work with the photos really well.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Nice series and story, Dan. The fact that you thought to zoom OUT on the last one to get the landscape, shows that you are seasoned/experienced pro at shooting wildlife. Most people (probably myself included) would likely have kept shooting full framed shots and portraits.

[pnodrog]

I obviously missed this thread first time round. I am very glad it has leaped backup to the top for me to spot. All great but like a few others #6 is my favourite.

[MarieV]

All wonderful and I too very much like No. 6.

[Suzan J]

Great images, Dan. They really convey the awesome power of these males. Many years ago, my husband and I were trekking through some thick brush when he heard a noise quite close by. With all the branches in the way, it was difficult to see what the source of the noise was. My husband then said out loud "Why is that old man standing so deep in the brush?" Turns out my husband was gazing right into the beard of a large bull who was only a few feet away. Needless to say, we backed up quickly and hightailed it out of there.

[NorthernFocus]

Wow, this thread came back to life. Thanks for the comments, everyone. I went up and shot more moose the past couple of weekends. When I get some time I'll post more shots.

[vaez]

interesting image i loved 7