If you’ve never been up close and personal with a full-grown bull moose it’s hard to comprehend just how big they are. But even more remarkable is their ability to appear out of nowhere, and then suddenly vanish again into the forest. This guy caught me off guard, but not before I was able to get a quick shot as he emerged from the bushes, hot on the scent of a female during the mating rut, which in Alaska is in September and October. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
Yes, a bit nerve wracking when two males showed up and were competing for the affection of the lone female and we were all in a very bushy area so hard to tell where they all were at any given time.
They’re so dangerous, not beause they’re particularly aggressive towards humans but because they are so large. They also are too dark at night and their eyes don’t reflect from headlights, like with deer. That’s why a crash with a moose can be fatal for a driver. They don’t follow trails most of the time.. They bushwack and they are so big they just create their own trails. I like the peekaboo element to your shot..
Didn’t know that about the eyes. But yes, they can particularly aggressive during the rut and I had to be careful not to get between the moose and the object of his affection, but they kept moving in and out of the bushes.
Love love LOVE this shot! We were on a trail in Yellowstone and out of nowhere, a huge bull moose wandered right past my husband and I. Just behind him was another! We froze in our tracks, they surveyed us, and continued on. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. I, of course, snapped as many pics as I could, while looking for an escape. My heart is pounding just remembering that moment.
Great shot,has a sense of chatter and intent about it. I recall seeing a moose standing in a shallow pond,head down ,no antlers looking in the need of a goo hug to cheer it up,
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If you’ve never been up close and personal with a full-grown bull moose it’s hard to comprehend just how big they are. But even more remarkable is their ability to appear out of nowhere, and then suddenly vanish again into the forest. This guy caught me off guard, but not before I was able to get a quick shot as he emerged from the bushes, hot on the scent of a female during the mating rut, which in Alaska is in September and October. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
Cool picture.
Thanks Donna.
It’s easy to get close to a big moose. But it’s hard to get emotionally close to a big moose.
Wow! That must have been a thrill to capture that one!
Yes, a bit nerve wracking when two males showed up and were competing for the affection of the lone female and we were all in a very bushy area so hard to tell where they all were at any given time.
They’re so dangerous, not beause they’re particularly aggressive towards humans but because they are so large. They also are too dark at night and their eyes don’t reflect from headlights, like with deer. That’s why a crash with a moose can be fatal for a driver. They don’t follow trails most of the time.. They bushwack and they are so big they just create their own trails. I like the peekaboo element to your shot..
Didn’t know that about the eyes. But yes, they can particularly aggressive during the rut and I had to be careful not to get between the moose and the object of his affection, but they kept moving in and out of the bushes.
Love love LOVE this shot! We were on a trail in Yellowstone and out of nowhere, a huge bull moose wandered right past my husband and I. Just behind him was another! We froze in our tracks, they surveyed us, and continued on. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. I, of course, snapped as many pics as I could, while looking for an escape. My heart is pounding just remembering that moment.
Yes, one of the truly awe-inspiring encounters in nature to come across a full grown bull moose.
Great shot,has a sense of chatter and intent about it. I recall seeing a moose standing in a shallow pond,head down ,no antlers looking in the need of a goo hug to cheer it up,
Thanks. They can definitely appeal to our emotions.
Great shot!
Thanks Mom.
I love this photo, Sean!
Thanks Sue. This is of those I passed over the first time I was going through my images from a trip about four years ago to Alaska.