A Morning With the Moose

NorthernFocus

Spent the morning among a bunch of moose in early rut. This was a bull who was challenging a larger one and trying to lure a few of his cows away. The big daddy never came out of the thicket for a clear shot at him.



Notice the ears laid back. His way of saying that I was too close...



The object of his desire.



And no wonder. Check out those eyes...



They've really got some great camoflage when they lay down in the brush.

Subanu

Very Nice Captures!!

korandoke

nice serie

greetings,
Korandoke

Ric Grupe

Interesting series, Don.

Really like the second one. Getting all that rack in can make for difficult composition.

dlplumer

Very interesting. Grat capture

Stash

I like all of em. Last time I saw a moose (and the only time I had a camera instead of a gun), I could only get the south end of it as it moved north.

NorthernFocus

Thanks for the comments, folks. Stash, there was no problem getting photos of the front end of these guys. This time of year they're bent on either loving or fighting anything in their territory If I had a camera with a wide angle lens facing aft, I'd have gotten some shots of a bigger one Next time I'm going looking for them where there are a few trees around

Lindiwe

Great series - though I can't decide if you are incredibly brave, or just completely nuts!

I think my favourite is the second picture of the lady moose. It is definitely the eyes...

Ric Grupe

Lindiwe wrote: »

though I can't decide if you are incredibly brave, or just completely nuts!

Moose are relatively calm...not that you would want to tick one off.

NorthernFocus

Lindiwe wrote: »

Great series - though I can't decide if you are incredibly brave, or just completely nuts! ...

Neither really. Fell more into the "ignorance is bliss" category. It was my first opportunity to witness them in full rut mode when they aren't quite as "calm". Plus I stumbled across one while stalking another one and ended up way closer than I had planned to get and obviously closer than I should have been. Attracting the attention of a 1500lb animal bent on either loving or fighting anything in sight is not good :cry

GovMule

Nice set. Going looking for Moose for the 1st time next week in New Hampshire. Your shot with the "laid back" ears has me concerned. I see in the EXIF it was shot with at 400mm. The longest I have is a 300 + 1.4.
Rut ro.........

NorthernFocus

A lot of folks do just fine with 300mm. It all depends on the moose Plus being in NH, you'll likely be much closer to trees than I was. No need to climb them as long as they're big enough that the moose has to run around and can't run over. They've got a wider turning radius than we do

Roaddog 52

A nice set of images. I have seen moose do some really unpredictable things, and I don't know if I would be more concerned about being gored and tossed or trampled with pie plate size feet.

Phil