Desert Bighorns

JohnDCJohnDC Registered Users Posts: 379 Major grins
edited October 7, 2013 in Wildlife
Finding this group of desert bighorns made the 100+ F (38+ C) heat and monsoon conditions all worth it.

1. Lead ewe, chewing cud.
DSC09085%20Ewe%20resting%202k-L.jpg

2. Dominant ram with juvenile.
DSC08396%202k-L.jpg

3. Ewe grooming.
DSC08486%20ewe%20groom%202k-L.jpg

4. Ram stance.
DSC07939%20ram%20pose%202k%20use-L.jpg

Comments

  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2013
    I especially love the first shot! Best, Pam
  • goldenstarphotogoldenstarphoto Registered Users Posts: 252 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2013
    Love the second one the best. Nice shots, thanks for sharing!
  • DonFischerDonFischer Registered Users Posts: 128 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2013
    There is nothing in this country as noble as wild sheep! Great stuff!
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited September 7, 2013
    Excellent catches, John. I love big horns. The juvie with the ram is really special. thumb.gif
  • EaracheEarache Registered Users Posts: 3,533 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2013
    Exceptional images!
    Yup....#2 is quite nice!
    Eric ~ Smugmug
  • OsoOso Registered Users Posts: 164 Major grins
    edited October 3, 2013
    All really good and #2 is awesome. Where was this?

    Steve
    Photos: http://stevehymon.smugmug.com
    Blog: http://stevehymonphotos.blogspot.com
  • LarryDLarryD Registered Users Posts: 99 Big grins
    edited October 4, 2013
    Great series..

    Big horns are getting scarce out here in the Western Deserts..
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,935 moderator
    edited October 4, 2013
    Very nice! Love seeing the Desert Bighorns!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • JohnDCJohnDC Registered Users Posts: 379 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2013
    LarryD wrote: »
    Great series..

    Big horns are getting scarce out here in the Western Deserts..

    Thanks, Larry. And the desert bighorns are becoming even scarcer this year because of the pneumonia epidemic in the Mojave Reserve--reportedly because the native bighorns are not resistant to the diseases of domestic sheep, and someone dumped sick domestic sheep in the Reserve.
  • PacificklausPacificklaus Registered Users Posts: 118 Major grins
    edited October 6, 2013
    Beautiful images - how hard are these to approach?
  • JohnDCJohnDC Registered Users Posts: 379 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2013
    Beautiful images - how hard are these to approach?
    Thanks, Klaus. In most circumstances the bighorns stay way beyond camera range, and all you see is their departing rumps. The trick is to not to approach them at all; let them approach you. I watched as this group of bighorns fled two aggressive photographers. One thought he could run them down (on foot) to get closer shots. The other advanced more slowly, but his spouse kept yelling at him from a distance, as though the bighorns were deaf. Luckily for me, this group of bighorns chose a rocky hill for resting/chewing cud between grazing bouts on the desert floor, and I was able to hike around the base of the hill, anticipating their next moves. Seeing that they chose shady ledges for resting, I waited near these locations until they showed up. I kept my distance, stayed relatively still in their presence, and made no aggressive advances towards them. They quickly accepted me. I always wore the same clothes so they could more easily recognize me each time I arrived. To my big advantage, the lead ewe became especially accepting, resting and grazing within about 50 feet of me at times, even though I was standing out in the open. The ram and other flock members followed her example. It was such an interesting experience that I kept forgetting to push the shutter button.
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