Montana Elk Hunting

Great week of hunting Elk in Montana.  Eight hunters in Elk Camp and 5 Tagged Bull Elk and one a nice Mule Deer.  The week started with very warm weather (for Montana) and the Elk were not moving, one Bull tagged the first day.  Day two was equally warm and no one had a shot at Elk. Day three the weather turned, the wind started to blow, snow came from the sky and Elk were moving everywhere. That was my lucky day and a Nice Five by Five at 380 yards became my first Bull Elk.

If you decide to go Elk Hunting, I highly recommend Dome Mountain Ranch in Emigrant, MT. Great hospitality, knowledgeable guides, good food and Elk a plenty.  Go to www.domemountainranch.com
to get more information

Scotch and I heading up the mountain

On watch in the Eagles Nest - Yellowstone River and Paradise Valley below

Weather Turns and the Horses wait

First Elk, at Dome Mountain

Close Up

Biggest Elk of the Week a true Trophy

Yellowstone Park near Mammoth Hot Springs

Day two in Yellowstone early in the morning and game is everywhere.  Only one picture of Bison, but saw hundreds and hundreds of the little devils. Rather amazing to see a Six by Six Bull and his ladies laying in a yard as construction workers and cars stream by.  They know that they are protected in Yellowstone and behave accordingly.

Big Horn Sheep along the Yellowstone River

Nice Six by Six hope I can find you Saturday

The Majestic American Bison

Add caption

Six by Six with his Ladies at Mammoth Hot Springs

Bighorn National Forest and Yellowstone

Long travel from Rapid City, SD, decided to take the long way through Big Horn and then Yellowstone Park and shot a few Pics along the way.  Amazing country, can't figure out how our fore fathers traveled through this land with primitive means

Big Horn Forest

Bighorn Forest

Yellowstone Grizzly

Lookin Hungry

Cow Elk and Mammoth Hot Springs

Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial

Spent my last day in the Rapid City area going to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Both venues are amazing and worth the trip.  If you haven't been, this is Bucket List material.  When finished the Crazy Horse Memorial will be ten times larger than Mount Rushmore and the largest sculpture in the world even larger than the pyramids.

A peek at Rushmore Thru the Tunnel on 16A

Framed

George never looked so good 

Abe peeking thru the trees

All four in a row

Profile of George

Crazy Horse Memorial 1/10th finished

What the Crazy Horse Memorial will look like when finished.  This 1/34 scale

Black Hills, Custer and Wind Cave Wildlife

A day in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Plenty of wildlife and more Bison than they should have, a little thinning of the herd maybe called for.  The weather again did not cooperate, cloudy and overcast all day with a sprinkle here and there not a good condition for Photography.

Two Big Beefer Bison right on the side of the road

One of the many herds spotted

Another Big Boy right on the side of the road

Thanksgiving is getting closer

What's with the center of the road

These Bison must think they have the right of way?

Center of the Highway again

Badlands Wildlife

Not a lot, but some interesting wildlife on the prowl this morning in the Badlands

Mule deer just can't help but to look

Big Daddy Big Horn Sheep

Prairie Dog 

Couple of want to be Rams giving Big Daddy his way.

Two Sheep looking for little Boo Peep

Small Jack Rabbit with a chunk out of it's ear.

Morning in the Badlands

Early up and at'em this morning, caught the sunrise in the Badlands.  Was able to take some Landscape and Wildlife photos, but the sun would not cooperate.  After a beautiful Sunrise the remainder of the morning was rather drab.  Badlands are amazing, looks like you're on the surface of the moon.

Pre-Sunrise in the Badlands

Sunrise in the Badlands

Badlands or moon scape?

A little sun on this and it would be outstanding

Colours

Add caption

South Dakota Badlands

After 1500 plus miles of traveling and crossing South Dakota which is flatter than you can imagine I finally got a glimpse of the BADLANDS. These pic's were taken from I-90, these out cropping are the edge of the Badlands. I'll be in the middle of the Badlands before Sun up. Not sure the weather is going to cooperate for photos, but I'll give it a try.

Edge of the Badlands

Edge of the Badlands

JOURNEY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

All packed and ready to go.  Moving out at 0 Dark 30 tomorrow morning.  First stop Kansas City, MO for a quick sleep over and than on to Rapid City, SD

Just a few things to get me through the weeks ahead

Yellowstone Buffalo (Bison)

Throw Back Tuesday!!!  This photo of the American Bison was taken on a trip into Yellowstone Park many years ago.  As we turned the corner on our snow sleds this guy was standing in the trail.  Bison are very lethargic in the winter to help them survive the harshness of the season.

American Bison

Yellowstone Landscape

Ole Faithful Spouting Off

Waiting for Ole Faithful