Author Topic: Yellowstone Bound! I made it. Here are some pics. (Read 10776 times)

Timber · « **on:** September 26, 2009, 01:54:50 AM »

I am literally heading out the door right now for a week long photo safari in Yellowstone. Pope gave me coordinates to his elk honeyhole, and I'm crossing my fingers hoping that I can get some Grizzly shots somewhere too. I'll be posting reports whenever I get a chance. See ya.

boneaddict · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2009, 06:10:53 AM »

GOOD LUCK! I'm only mildy pissed I'm not going with you.

I hope you tear it up. I wnat a moose shot and a wolf. (not asking for much I know)

Jeffrey · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2009, 07:07:10 AM »

Grizzly

Ya have your spray with you!

Have fun...we're all jealous here!

Bearhunter · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2009, 09:23:24 AM »

Cant wait tell your back, you take some incredible pictures! Hope you get some huge mulie pics.

Tom Reichner · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2009, 07:51:30 PM »

Awesome opportunity, Jon!

I just passed thru Y-stone last night, on my way home from CO. I hear there's a good-sized fire not far from where you'll be. Hope you're ok, and that they don't evacuate you and ruin your shooting

I can't wait to hear how you do there. Hope you have a great time!

CoryTDF · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2009, 08:07:50 PM »

good luck!!!

shanevg · « **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2009, 08:46:50 PM »

Have fun and be safe Jon!

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2009, 01:37:12 PM »

Good photographer at a good location for a week... There should be some good photos coming soon. I just hope that bull that ran me over last year doesn't do the same to you.

searchnfor · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2009, 06:08:35 PM »

Funny Shawn! I was thinking about that story when Jon told me he was headed over.

Timber · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2009, 12:44:03 PM »

I made it and have spent a couple of days here now. It's been interesting so far. Pope sent me to a great elk spot, although the elk are a lot more wild than I expected. They are bugling so hard it's almost scares you. I'm hearing bugles in my head 24 hrs a day now. I think I might bring ear plugs next trip.

The fire is causing starting to cause trouble now, hopefully it doesn't get too out of control. My shots from this morning have a smokey haze in them, but I think they still turned out okay. What's worse is I caught stuck in the north half of the park yesterday afternoon because the only road going north to the south was closed because of the fire. I had to drive 270 miles just to get 25 miles south of the closure!

I'll post some pics soon.

Timber · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2009, 01:09:20 PM »

Day one.
I arrived at the west entrance to the park at 3:30pm. Right away along the Madison I saw a 5pt and a nice 6x6. Here are 2 pics of the 6x6.

Then I went to Pope's spot and right away got into some bugling elk. First a satelite bull. He had grass in his antlers from raking the ground. Then I got in on the herd bull. After playing cat and mouse with him in the jack pines, he ran off into a small opening to round up a stray cow. I snapped a few pics in the short time he was in the open. I didn't anything great, but you can see the size of him.

Tom Reichner · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2009, 01:12:31 PM »

Hey, Jon - I like that last shot, the "peek a boo" pic! He looks like a fine bull. Glad you're finding such worthy subjects. Keep us updated when you can.

tlbradford · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2009, 02:44:51 PM »

Awesome Timber. Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing and have a safe trip.

Ridgerunner · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2009, 03:11:16 PM »

Great shots, make sure to take some pics of the "scene" that can develop around those rutting elk. All those photographers with those huge lenses are something to see for sure. Yellowstone in the fall is a great place.

bigdave · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2009, 03:21:03 PM »

Have a safe time! Looks like lots of fun!!

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #15 on:** September 28, 2009, 03:22:49 PM »

Wow. Good herd bull there. Nothing wrong with good pictures of smaller bulls too. Keep at it man.

Ricochet · « **Reply #16 on:** September 28, 2009, 05:11:46 PM »

Thanks for sharing, I hope to make to Yellowstone someday. Great shots, can't wait to see more.

searchnfor · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2009, 08:52:54 PM »

Looks like a lot of fun Jon, thanks for sharing your adventure.

shanevg · « **Reply #18 on:** September 28, 2009, 09:17:47 PM »

Awesome pics Jon, keep up the good work and have fun in your time off!

Timber · « **Reply #19 on:** September 28, 2009, 09:46:37 PM »

Day 2
Right at daylight I had a lot of elk action. I was surrounded by 4 or 5 bulls bugling their lungs out. But, I didn't get a single shot. I caught glimpses of 2 of them. They were nice. I ended up bumping some cows and that was the end of that.

Then I decided to explore the northern half of the park. I spotted a few bison, a few more bull elk and a decent mule deer. I spent a lot of time glassing and driving back and forth over Dunraven pass hoping to spot a grizzly. No such luck. I missed one by 10 minutes my first trip over, then talked to a guy who had been up there most of the day and had already seen 3.

shanevg · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2009, 10:50:29 PM »

I like that bison picture, one of the better ones I've seen. Hopefully you find one of those grizzlies. I know where a sow with three cubs is hanging out up in Glacier... a bunch of moose too!

Timber · « **Reply #21 on:** September 28, 2009, 11:32:55 PM »

Day Three AM
The forest fire is getting bigger and the smoke was a problem today. It made for some interesting light but there was a smokey haze that didn't go away until late moring. The bugling this morning was not as intense. There were only 2 bulls screaming and it took me a while to get in on them. I was being extra careful today to not bump any cows. Eventually I saw a giant bull chase off a satelite bull right to me. I got some pics of him before he barked and ran off. I got a few shots of the giant herd bull way off in the jack pines. I tried to close in on him but he stayed in the thick stuff.

Soon after giving up on the herd bull, I heard some antlers clashing. I closed in on the sound and found a 4pt and a small 5x6 horsing around. I got a few shots of them before the 4pt gave up and left.

Timber · « **Reply #22 on:** September 28, 2009, 11:33:34 PM »

Day three PM
I got to the elk spot at 4:30 this afternoon hoping I could finally get a good pic of the big bull. I had a pretty good idea where he might be. Soon after hiking in there, I heard his distinctive raspy bugle. I headed towards the sound and caught sight of him as he walked into an opening. It worked out perfect. I was able to snap quite a few photos of him before he heard my camera and left.

Right before dark I found a young bull and got a few pics of him. Tonight was the highlight of my trip so far. Any guesses on the score of the big bull?

Tom Reichner · « **Reply #23 on:** September 29, 2009, 12:54:14 AM »

Great stuff, Jon!

That's a special bull. His antlers are exceptionally dark, which makes him unique in my book. You did get some very nice images of him! It's good to hear that your trip is getting better as the days progress. It often takes a while to figure out a new location and new subjects.

BTW, I especially like the fact that the white of the bull's eye is showing in that one fight pic. The eyes often make or break the shot. Hope you get more good stuff tomorrow!

boneaddict · « **Reply #24 on:** September 29, 2009, 06:13:29 AM »

I CANNOT wait to get home to see these. I'm actually excited! Sounds very cool Jon. Maybe we can do a trip one of these days.

tlbradford · « **Reply #25 on:** September 29, 2009, 08:47:50 AM »

Quote from: boneaddict on September 29, 2009, 06:13:29 AM

I CANNOT wait to get home to see these. I'm actually excited! Sounds very cool Jon. Maybe we can do a trip one of these days.

You should be excited, it is a special bull. I like the sparring pic with the thick smoke in the background. More for the story it tells than anything else. Keep up the great work Timber.

saylean · « **Reply #26 on:** September 29, 2009, 09:34:15 AM »

fantastic pics man. Thanks alot for posting.

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #27 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:56:16 AM »

I love the smoke Jon. I think it adds an interesting element to the photo. It could be fog too and the mystery of it is what makes it cool. I've been going to that spot for 11 years and it never fails that there is a big bull in there.

That big bull is amazing. I'll check through my photos and see if I have pictures of him from last year. I have found over the years that the spot produces a lot of really dark horned bulls because they rub on the jack pines and that gets pitch all over the horns and then dirt sticks to the pitch. Remember, these elk migrate out of the park in another month or so and they are hunted then so they are fairly wild bulls you are working. That's what makes it fun and interesting. Sounds like the rut may be calming down or the smoke is bothering them. Good stuff.

muleysgirl13 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 29, 2009, 12:12:25 PM »

Awesome pictures thanks for sharing your trip with us! I would love to take a trip there. Do you still have some days left to continue to search for a Grizzly? Good luck I hope you get to see one

shanevg · « **Reply #29 on:** September 29, 2009, 06:20:32 PM »

Awesome pictures as usual Jon! Good to see that you are figuring the animals out, I love the picture of that huge bull, I am not good at scoring, but I would guess at least 400. We need bucklucky on here, he's always good at scoring elk!

Jeffrey · « **Reply #30 on:** September 29, 2009, 07:49:47 PM »

You betcha, Timber- Those are "top drawer" captures right there! This is a little piece of heaven looking through them.

boneaddict · « **Reply #31 on:** September 29, 2009, 08:01:30 PM »

Outstanding and worth the wait. Awesome!

Timber · « **Reply #32 on:** September 29, 2009, 10:14:55 PM »

Day four
Had good bull action all morning until 10:00. Unfortunately, I only got 1 pic. It's of the second best bull I've seen. The picture doesn't do him justice. He is wide and has good mass. I accidentally got right in on him before there was enough light for the camera. While I was hanging back waiting for more light, for some reason he ran by me and I was only able to snap one shot.

This afternoon there wasn't much bugling. I got one picture of the big bull from about 400 yds away just before dark.

Here are a few critters I shot while the elk action was slow.

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #33 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:10:08 PM »

Awsome pics timber!

looks like your having a blast.

Little Dave · « **Reply #34 on:** September 29, 2009, 11:49:39 PM »

Really enjoy the pictures.
Sparring bull in particular. Thanks.

boneaddict · « **Reply #35 on:** September 30, 2009, 05:43:39 AM »

Awesome Timber. I did the same thing twice this fall haveing the bull on me before light. Frustrating.

bucklucky · « **Reply #36 on:** September 30, 2009, 07:41:03 AM »

Awesome pictures Timber!!!

Timber · « **Reply #37 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:14:45 PM »

Day five.
Woke up to a change in the weather - snow. Got some pics of a nice bull this morning. He was running around with his nose to the ground like a hound dog. Then I made a trip down to the Tetons. Saw some antelope and a couple of small bull moose.

It's been a great trip and I want to thank Shawn (popeshawnpaul) for offering to let me check out his honeyhole. I really appreciate it Shawn. Getting pictures of the big elk in there made my trip!

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Idaho to help a friend fill his moose tag. Watch for a new thread.

muleysgirl13 · « **Reply #38 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:17:05 PM »

The moose picture is awesome they are always the highlight for me

ribka · « **Reply #39 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:24:50 PM »

Great pics. Like the 2nd elk pic and the moose and squirrel pics

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #40 on:** September 30, 2009, 10:25:15 PM »

No problem. I have been doing a lot of research on the park and nobody is seeing elk really. It seems this is a couple years in a row they are really down. Let's hope some wolf control around the park will help. Good luck on the moose hunt.

shanevg · « **Reply #41 on:** September 30, 2009, 11:42:29 PM »

I love that second snowy elk picture! That is awesome! Hopefully we'll get some early snow this year for the rifle deer hunt!

boneaddict · « **Reply #42 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:14:54 AM »

See ya on th emoose slopes Timber. Goodluck on your hunt. It sounds as if they are a little thinner this year but there should still be some good ones.

CoryTDF · « **Reply #43 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:36:43 AM »

Wow, all i saw at yellowstone was a cow elk and a bison. Those pictures are great! Thanks for sharing.

searchnfor · « **Reply #44 on:** October 01, 2009, 07:15:37 AM »

THansk for sharing your trtip with us Jon! Good luck on the moose hunt.

Wea300mag · « **Reply #45 on:** October 01, 2009, 08:44:03 PM »

Great pic safari Timber

Huntbear · « **Reply #46 on:** October 02, 2009, 06:53:23 PM »

Awesome pics man, love Yellowstone and the animals there. I really like the squirrel pics too, especially the one that looks like he is saying "who me?"

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