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Winter Landscapes and Wildlife (19 photos)
12/11/2011 11:33:38 PM
I took another hike today in the high country. Tempertures were much nicer today and the weather was excellent for photography.
I used my Sigma 70-300 APO DG lens and SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8 lens for all pictures.
Well enough talking, here't the photos.
Just up the canyon, I came upon a small herd of Bighorn Sheep. There were two pretty large rams in this group.
11 Dec 2011 1 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 2 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 3 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Here's a photo of Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park
11 Dec 2011 4 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 5 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 6 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Here's a coyote hunting for rodents. He's listening for them burrowing under the snow.
11 Dec 2011 7 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 8 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Further up the mountain, I saw some deer high up and slowly made my way towards them. They soon got comfortable with me and started grazing towards me. When I left a few were within 15 feet of me.
11 Dec 2011 9 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 10 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 11 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 12 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 13 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Towards the end of the day, I came up on a herd of elk. Just one shot here as they were just grazing, so it was boring for photography
11 Dec 2011 14 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 15 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 16 by coloradocj, on Flickr
This las set was shot only with my SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8. I was able to get pretty close for these shots and wanted to include the suset on the mountains.
11 Dec 2011 17 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 18 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 19 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Well, that's it, another great day in the high country
I used my Sigma 70-300 APO DG lens and SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8 lens for all pictures.
Well enough talking, here't the photos.
Just up the canyon, I came upon a small herd of Bighorn Sheep. There were two pretty large rams in this group.
11 Dec 2011 1 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 2 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 3 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Here's a photo of Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park
11 Dec 2011 4 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 5 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 6 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Here's a coyote hunting for rodents. He's listening for them burrowing under the snow.
11 Dec 2011 7 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 8 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Further up the mountain, I saw some deer high up and slowly made my way towards them. They soon got comfortable with me and started grazing towards me. When I left a few were within 15 feet of me.
11 Dec 2011 9 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 10 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 11 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 12 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 13 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Towards the end of the day, I came up on a herd of elk. Just one shot here as they were just grazing, so it was boring for photography
11 Dec 2011 14 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 15 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 16 by coloradocj, on Flickr
This las set was shot only with my SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8. I was able to get pretty close for these shots and wanted to include the suset on the mountains.
11 Dec 2011 17 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 18 by coloradocj, on Flickr
11 Dec 2011 19 by coloradocj, on Flickr
Well, that's it, another great day in the high country
12/12/2011 12:22:15 AM
How close are you getting to the sheep and elk?
12/12/2011 12:34:41 AM
The sheep in these photos were about 50 yds. away. The elk in the last few photos were between 50-80 feet away. I was using a 55mm lens with the elk shots.
12/12/2011 12:51:09 PM
Thanks for sharing!
12/12/2011 7:32:34 PM
Is there no hunting allowed or are you super sneaky? Around here walking up on game animals is next to impossible and a coyote is out of the question. Really cool photos
12/12/2011 11:26:05 PM
Both actually. 
All, except the Bighorns, were shot in Rocky Moutain National Park. The park has national forest on all sides where hunting is allowed.
Most wildlife in these mountains (even outside the park) can be approached if you are very careful and quiet, taking the time for them to get used to your presence, especially deer. I took about 45 minutes to work my way up to the small herd of mule deer, stopping every few feet for a few minutes for them to get comfortable with me. Deer are naturally curious, so if you don't spook them, they will usually make their way towards you to check you out.
When I was younger, I lived on the Wyoming border. I had large herds of deer that bedded down on my property pretty regular. I used to slowly work my way in among them until I could reach out and touch one if I wanted to. The dear used to even nudge me on occasion with their noses when I squatted down and didn't move.
There are plenty of hunters here, but hunting pressure isn't very high in the mountains. Most hunt deer in the plains where they feed on corn and grains since they are better eating. The mountain deer feed on sage and tough grasses, so they don't taste as good. Elk on the other hand are mostly hunted in the high country.
All, except the Bighorns, were shot in Rocky Moutain National Park. The park has national forest on all sides where hunting is allowed.
Most wildlife in these mountains (even outside the park) can be approached if you are very careful and quiet, taking the time for them to get used to your presence, especially deer. I took about 45 minutes to work my way up to the small herd of mule deer, stopping every few feet for a few minutes for them to get comfortable with me. Deer are naturally curious, so if you don't spook them, they will usually make their way towards you to check you out.
When I was younger, I lived on the Wyoming border. I had large herds of deer that bedded down on my property pretty regular. I used to slowly work my way in among them until I could reach out and touch one if I wanted to. The dear used to even nudge me on occasion with their noses when I squatted down and didn't move.
There are plenty of hunters here, but hunting pressure isn't very high in the mountains. Most hunt deer in the plains where they feed on corn and grains since they are better eating. The mountain deer feed on sage and tough grasses, so they don't taste as good. Elk on the other hand are mostly hunted in the high country.
