Tag Archives: Canon RF600mm

Day 9: (Wednesday 9/17/25)

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Day 9: (Wednesday 9/17/25), Up early again, and I rolled out at 5:30am. A balmy 31 this morning. Today was supposed to be all about antlers. Headed to Mammoth Hot Springs to try to find the Elk and then find bighorn ram and mountain goats.  Struck out on all three, so headed to Lamar Valley hoping to find the wolves.  Luck was on my side.  I spotted a wolf, but pretty far out.  Got the 600mm out and added the 2.0 Teleconverter so 1200mm.  Focused in on it, and Boom, Coyote!   LOL.

Farther down the valley I saw a group of prongs on the other side of the river on a run.  Then I caught something all black following.  I wheeled over and got my rig out and sure enough a wolf stalking the prong horns.  Still way too far out for full-frame wall hanger type photos I seek.  I got to observe and witness the junction butte pack or 10 or 11 strong stalk and hunt the group of 9+ prong horns.  Since so far out there is a photo with 6 wolves, and 9 prong horns.  The wolves split into 2 different groups and flanked the prong horns and pushed them towards the river.  I just knew I was going to get to see a kill when 2 prongs turned right, and the other 7 turned left.  Both groups, closed in and was within 20 yards of the 2 remaining prong horns.  When the wolves got close enough the Prong horn turned on the afterburners.  I have never seen an animal move that fast.  The wolves just all stopped like “What the Hell!”  I am only guessing that they were younger pups, because the stalk the started playing and one kept biting one of his buddies on the ear, like our dog Bo does to Bella. 

It was getting pretty late and decided to head back to the camper.  I was over an hour away.  Had yet another grizzly adventure on way back.  Picked up Sharon for our afternoon trip.  We had a nice lunch at the dinner inside Fishing Bridges, then to Old Faithful.  The scheduled said due to erupt at 2:07 PM plus or minus 17 minutes.  She was late and did a minor eruption at 2:28 PM.  So clearly Old Faithful must be a woman.  

We then headed back up to Mammoth Hot Springs, to find the Elk.  Had some great ice cream and headed back to the camper.  On the way back we ran into a group of Big Horn sheep, but no big rams.  Sharon got the best photo out the truck window with her iPhone.

All in All, GREAT day and more adventures to come.

Coyote way out there!

1 photo to support the story.  8 wolves and 7 prong horns.  I would normally never post a photo like this but it helps tell the story.  It also goes to show no matter how much money you throw at glass, it is NEVER enough.

Finally got a blonde colored grizzly!

Old Faithful Geyser 

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Life is good and I am blessed!

Kent

Day 8: (Tuesday 9/16/25)

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Day 8: (Tuesday 9/16/25), First full day in Yellowstone.  Got up at 5:00 AM and was out the door by 5:20. I had a tip for a grizzly on an Elk carcass.  About 6 other photographers already there when I arrived.  Had to wait for usable light, The grizzly had covered the carcass with grass.  They said it was to keep the ravens away.  The bear slept on the carcass for the first hour.  Finally, she got up, yawned a couple times and then uncovered part of it, and started eating.  So, I took off for Hayden and Larmar valleys to see what I could find.

6 grizzlies, only took photos of 5.  Never found a blonde one they were all darker than I expected.
1 black bear
3 adult wolves
5-6 wolf pups

The wolves where I expected to find them.  In Lamar valley near Slough Creek and were part of the Junction Butte Pack. What I didn’t expect was the 1.25 mile out.  I was allowed to see them through a spotting scope.  Even at 1200mm, no usable photos 🙁

Ran back the camper and had a nice lunch with Sharon.  Then we headed out to do Old Faithful and Prismatic Springs. Due to traffic, we got to Old Faithful late and missed her, so hopefully tomorrow.  Prismatic Springs had way more stream / smoke than I expected.  I am guessing it was because it was 34 in the morning and around 50 when we were there. 

A black wolf at 1.25 miles taken at 1200mm.   Clearly I need bigger glass.

Grand Prismatic Spring

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Life is good and I am blessed!

Kent

Day 7: (Monday 9/15/25)

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Day 7: (Monday 9/15/25), today was a long travel day.  We went from Custer SD, to Yellowstone National Park.  Truck did better than I expected going up and over the mountain.  We climbed to 9300 feet.  We are all settled in and setup.  We saw herds of prong horns on the drive.  Killed me to pass up 2 different bear jams.  I did stop and take 1 Elk photo out the driver window with the 100-500mm.

Tomorrow, I am getting up and leaving at 5:00 to find wolves and grizzlies!  Wish me luck!

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Life is good and I am blessed!

Day 5: (Saturday 9/13/25)

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Day 5: (Saturday 9/13/25), Badlands, Rapid City, and Spearfish Canyon.

The forecast was rain so decided best use of time was to do the 2-hour trip over to the Badlands National Park.  Weather ended up perfect all day.  I knew it was going a long day, so we took the dogs.  They did great!  I really enjoyed the drive over and the Badlands were very interesting.  Saw and photographed more big Bison bulls, Prong horns, and tons of Prairie Dogs.  Took the interstate back to Rapid City for a Wal-Mart run.  Then headed to Spearfish Canyon to try and find the white long haired Mountain Goats.  Mission accomplished.  Ran dogs back to camper around 6 pm, super quick bite to eat, and headed back up the mountain to observe the Mount Rushmore flag ceremony.  It was really well done.

Super long day!  Thirteen hours + 410 miles = Priceless memories!  

I am a wildlife photographer and help my son with people.  Not very good at landscapes, but working on trying to improve.

My first North American Mountain Goat and baby.  I am guessing this to be a female as both the males and females have antlers.

Even the little guys have the start of their antlers.

I love my Canon R5mk2 + Canon 600mm f4, but sometimes it is just too much lens.

I really liked this pose, but he was WAY up there.  This was shot at 840mm and a 50% crop.

Crazy Horse Mountain tomorrow morning and who knows what will end up on the agenda for the afternoon and evening.

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Life is good and I am blessed!

Kent

Day 4: (Friday 9/12/25)

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Day 4: (Friday 9/12/25), Slept great last night.  The camper bed with the mattress topper sleeps better than our bed at home.  Guess it is time to be looking for a new mattress yet again.  Seem to only get about 8 years out of them.  Anybody have a brand a model they love?

We did Mount Rushmore in the morning, got some required photos, did the tour and looked around a little.  We headed into the quaint little town of Custer SD for lunch and to give Sharon some much needed retail therapy. Then we headed back to camper to give the dogs a break. 

We headed back out at 4:00, we did the Custer State Park wildlife loop again, I say we because Sharon stayed home yesterday.  She is my good luck charm.  Large bison herd.  Even saw a couple nursing.  Couple more big bulls.  Sharon even spotted and found a mature prong horn buck laying down, I never saw it.  We then left the loop and headed to do the Needles highway for Sharon to experience it.  That is when the real magic happened.  We found 20 big horn sheep, with one alpha male.  (Yeah!). Still looking for the white goats, maybe tomorrow or Sunday.

Next up, then Badlands National Parks, and a supply run in Rapid City, SD.

Mount Rushmore in morning light.  I really enjoyed this!

Bison herd.  North America has NO Buffalo, we have Bison.

Red Dog, this springs calf.

One year old still nursing.

Juvenile Prong horn buck.  North America does not have Antelope, we have Prong Horn 

Not a huge buck, but he was the alpha male in a herd of about 20-25.

The family jewels. 

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Life is good and I am blessed!

Kent