Yellowstone National Park

A Day with the Bighorns

I hiked the footbridge that crosses the Gardiner River just over the Yellowstone Park – Montana border. A nice blue sky with swirling cirrus clouds made it one of those special early summer days. It was still early and I could smell a slight sulphur scent in the crisp cool air coming from the hot springs just a quarter mile upstream.

I headed up Mc Minn Bench and was going to traverse Mt. Everts to find and photograph Bighorn sheep. Bighorn lambs are born usually in May or June and bands of ewes with their lambs browse the warm grassy hillsides in this rugged high country.

Bighorn rams

 

It didn’t take long and I spotted several sheep. Being below them I was sure I was seen way before I saw them. So I worked my way around them, up a drainage system and alongside low standing cedars and sage. Coming up on them from both behind and upwind I had a much better change to get some good images.

Once I popped over a steep ridge there they were. I counted twenty-three ewes and lambs. A few male rams were scattered on the far parameter. Majestic and regal with full curls they lay in the grass watching over their herd, oblivious to me. 

Bighorn lamb

I slowly worked my way into the middle of the herd. It took more than another hour’s hike to approach them where I could compose with the lenses I was carrying. I got so close I was sure they could hear my heart pounding 
Each time ewes or lambs got up and moved I would stoop and do the same, always moving in a few feet closer. Lambs would lie down then I would. They grazed and I moved in and lay down again. 
 
Suddenly they moved in on me. I could hear them chewing the sweet grass. Grinding teeth, soft bleats and heavy breathing, I couldn’t believe it. Now they came to me. One ewe at the back of my feet even hit my shoe nibbling the grass.  My camera clicking away, I could see beads of sweat on the little lambs’ noses, their faces filling the viewfinder. 

I was in awe. I was invisible. A lamb stepped over my leg and hopped off to play tag with a sibling, all energy and full of new life. We spent about thirty minutes together. Surrounded I was so excited I could hardly hold my camera steady.

 

Grunting noises from one of those large rams a hundred yards away called the herd to action and they were up in seconds moving further up Mt. Evert. Then I was just a spot on the mountainside. High from my experience and speechless, hiking down the ridge I looked over my shoulder, the herd was just at Evert’s peak, their tan hides glowing in the lowering soft sunlight.   

The wild and the peaceful at home in Montana.

All images used in this entry are copyrighted by Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography. 2009, All Rights Reserved. They may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of Wayne Scherr., Range of Vision Photos. For lease or reproduction rights contact: wayne@rangeofvisionphotos.com