This past weekend I embarked on a trip inspired by something that we are all warned not to do.  I trusted what I read on the internet.  Going on blind faith I packed up and headed to Wyoming for a four day photography/camping trip.

I had heard rumors about a "gang" of bull moose that congregate in a certain area of Wyoming.  I love moose and my last few trips to Grand Teton National Park - which has always been my go to spot for moose sightings - have turned up mediocre results.  It is time to venture to new moose "hunting" grounds.

After a long couple of days driving and a few planned detours and side trips I entered what I hoped to be an area that would be packed with moose.  And for the first few hours I saw nothing.  Maybe the rumors weren't true after all.  Maybe I had taken a wrong turn.  Maybe the moose had moved on to another area.  But I was determined not to give up so quickly.  I ventured onto every side road and trail I found and sure enough I eventually spotted a cow moose and then, not one, but two handsome bull moose grazing along the road.  I quickly grabbed the camera, parked my truck, and started snapping away.  My joy of seeing the moose was quickly interrupted by a group of ATV'ers passing through.  The noise from the ATV's spooked the pair and they ran across the road and into some trees.  I wish I had had more time to observe the pair but seeing them I knew that I was in the right spot after all and my enthusiasm for my journey was renewed.  I continued to explore that afternoon and into the evening to no avail.

Bull Moose in Velvet The next morning I got an early start - long before anyone had time to start up their ATV's - and set out once again to track down some moose.  I figured the odds were against me to find more moose in the same spot but I had to give it a try anyways.  I drove down the length of the trail and saw nothing.  I had turned around and was headed back when two whitetail deer bucks ran in front of me.  At least I saw something!  I was growing a little disappointed when I noticed a dark shape along the tree line.  Moose!  With the sun glaring in my eyes I snapped a quick picture just to document that I had now seen a total of four moose.  I glanced at the preview on my camera and noticed a second moose standing in the shadows behind the other.  The sun glare had blocked my view of him.  I pulled my truck to the side of the road and turned off the engine.  I knew they wanted to come out into the meadow to graze and hoped that if I was quiet enough and patient enough they would carry on about their day as if I wasn't even there.  And they did exactly that.  I sat quietly, uninterrupted, and watched as the the two grazed from the treeline, across the meadow, right in front of my truck, and up the hill adjacent to the road.  It was such a treat to just be able to have that experience, to be so close to them.

As much as I was enjoying my time with the moose I knew that I had to leave and start making my way home.  And along the way I spotted another five moose - two more bulls, a cow and calf and a lone cow.  While I would have loved to have seen the entire "gang" at once I was content with my moose encounters and hope to make another trip to this spot in the near future.

I guess you can believe some things you read on the internet after all.