Custer and Wind Caved National Park

I had a chance to get up close and personal with several Pronghorn (Antelope) this trip, normally they will not allow you to get to close. This particular Buck is entering the rut and trying to collect his little harem. They do not hesitate in stealing from another buck, if they think they can't get away with it. If the other buck catches him, then there is footrace with the stronger buck chasing the weaker one away. The first shot in this series is the last shot that I took. I wanted you to be able to see what he was watching so I snuck up behind him and shot over his shoulder. The other buck and harem of five does are in the valley below him. He is on a ridge overlooking them.

The Pronghorn Buck Guarding His Ladies

The Rival Trying To Decide What To Do

I watched this standoff for over forty five minutes, the Rival would stomp his feet, breathing hard, but just could not make himself walk down the slope to see if he could take the herd of Does. The Buck with the does, never took his eyes off the rival, waiting for him to make a move. Small Mule Deer Buck Eating Moss

I have found that shooting pictures in the prairie grass is very difficult, especially at daylight in the morning. This time the year, the grass is a varied color, browns, purple, pinks, gray, green and shows differently dependent on the sun hitting the grass. These elk shots were all taken, just prior to good shooting light.

I left Lincoln, Nebraska on Monday morning with a new route back to the Black Hills Of South Dakota. My original plan was to go back and explore Custer State Park for another day. As I got closer, I saw a sign that directed you to Custer State Park via Wind Cave National Park. We had seen the signs for Wind Cave before but never visited, for some reason a windy cave had no great interest to us. That was our mistake. It is a great park, beautiful country and abounds with wildlife.

Darkness was coming on, but the country just looked so "gamey", I decided to "siwash out" and see it in the daylight. Chef Dainty Moore prepared a great beef stew for dinner served with bread, butter, and streaming coffee. Setting my alarm for 6:00 am, Dutch and I settled down for a nap in the Ford Motel. A short distance from us, a Bull Elk was doing his night time bugling. I tried wristling in return, with no response. I then removed the ink cartridge from a ball point pen and blue lightly over the empty barrel of the pen. Out of a dozen attempts, I got him to respond twice, maybe.

Just prior to daylight, I woke up and I had my morning cup of coffee, prior to good shooting light I started driving up the road. I traveled less than 1.5 miles and a big meadow of about 100 acres opened up, surrounded by Ponderosa Pine and scattered Aspen and Cottonwood trees.

I could not believe what I was seeing, it was light enough that I could make out their antlers, but a entire herd of Bull Elk. I had seen four or five bulls together prior to the rut, but this was a herd. I tried to count and get my camera ready at the same time, I counted a definite 17 Bulls with a few along the tree line that I did not count. I am estimating there was at least 22 Bulls gathered up. They ranged in size from two points to several Royals. As the light started increasing, walking single file they headed back to the timber for the day. I was able to snap off a bunch a pictures. It would have been great to get the perfect picture opportunity, but just seeing that many Bulls grouped together was far more important in my thoughts. The fighting bulls, was just icing on the cake.

The fight lasted about 15 minutes, one larger bull watched them fight for a little while, then wandered off. I had planned on just doing a half day tour of Custer Park and then head for the Yellowstone. After witnessing what I saw, I had to take a chance on seeing it again. I spent the remainder of the day shooting deer, antelope, buffalo, and even a nap.

At sundown, I was back to the elk pasture waiting to see if they would return, by the time it got to dark to see, eight of them had moved down into sight out of the heavy timber. Dutch and I again, had dinner by flashlight but we would stay in this spot all night. I expected to waken in the morning, look out the front window of Ford Motel and see a similar site as I had that morning. As we settled in the coyotes started talking. I do not know what was going on but at about 3:00 am there must have been 1,000 of them howling and yelping, loud enough to awaken me.

My alarm went off at 6:00 am, I poured myself my first cup of coffee. Still to dark to see anything, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Do you know how long it takes to get daylight! Along, long, time but finally I could almost see across the meadow. In all directions, not an animal to be seen. I had seen at least eight of them move in before dark, why did they leave? I drove down the road to see if they had moved further down, no elk. However, the morning ended well, about five miles from my location I found a heard of 9 Bulls and 6 Mule Deer Does traveling with them. A little later, I saw a second group of seven Bulls.

I left the Black Hills very happy and turned in the direction of the Yellowstone. I drove the northern Wyoming prairie, then started the climb up and over the Big Horn Mountains. What a spectacular drive, from the scenic turnouts, I would guess you could see a hundred miles. Tonight, I spend the night in Cody, Wyoming. It has been a good day, Elk in the morning and by evening, I would guess that I have seen over 1,000 antelope and half that many of Mule Deer and White Tail Deer. One mile from my motel is the Big Horn Canyon and a few miles further, the entrance to North Yellowstone.

Birding In Nebraska

With my son having the "day off", we spent sometime exploring the local area of Lincoln, had the chance to take a few shots. We both plan on heading out at daylight, him back to work and me off to the northwest corner of the state, eventually into Wyoming.

Currently, the plan is for me to return to Alaska before the arrival of the bird pictured below. He is also due to arrive in Alaska on November 23rd to deliver a "special package" to make me a "Grand Uncle" again!

"COVAULT STORK"

The Sandhill Cranes that we saw flying over our home in Alaska are just now arriving in Nebraska. Soon, the sky will be filled with flocks of them as this area is within their main flyway.

"Sandhill Crane"

"CANADIAN GEESE"

"SWANS"

Random Dedicated Pictures

Although, I have been to Mount Rushmore several times, it well deserves visiting anytime that you are near. The history and the dynamics of these carvings in granite is over whelming, especially considering it was completed prior to the modern technology we enjoy today. A tour of museum, should be a mandatory video for all school age children. Just walking up the entrance through the fifty granite monuments, each bearing the name and flag of our fifty states gives you a sense of patriotism. The four Presidents can be seen from a long distance, the closer you get the presence is overwhelming. The story behind each of the four Presidents is interesting as to why they were chosen to be represented on Mount Rushmore. Those Presidents include Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.

It was not until this trip, that I discovered from the Needles Highway, you can also get a profile picture of President George Washington since he is the first in line in the carving.

This Photograph Is Dedicated To All Of Those Who Have Answered The Call To Defend Our Freedom.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

This Big Gray Mare Runs Free In A Herd Of Wild Horses, She Also Represents Freedom, Yet Committed To A Family Unit. This Photograph Is Dedicated To My Eight Granddaughters And Three Great Granddaughters.

CUSTER STATE PARK ~ BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

These Wild Burros Roam In Custer State Park, These Two Photographs Are Dedicated To My Five Grandsons, You Can Make Up Your Own Reason For This Specie To Be Chosen To Represent You. Keeping In Mind Another Name For A Burro, Donkey, Or Mule.

A Beautiful Drive

Having been on the road for almost two weeks, I have passed through some beautiful country. Most of it put to memory, but I did take a few minutes to take some pictures that caught my eye. I made a trip on Tuesday that was possibly the most spectacular drive I have made. I plan on going back through the same area on my return trip, just to see it again. It lays between Spearfish, South Dakota and Newcastle, Wyoming. The drive is called the "Spearfish Canyon Drive", it is breathtaking, especially during the changing of the colors in the fall.

Jasper Provincial Park ~ Canada

Jasper Provincial Park ~ Canada

Banff Provincial Park ~ Canada Needles Highway ~ Custer State Park (Black Hills) 1 of 3 Tunnels "The Needles" ~ Black Hills ~ Custer State Park

In My Rear View Mirror ~ 9/18/2010

Mt. Denali (Mt. McKinley) Custer State Park ~ South Dakota

"Sunset Over Theodore Roosevelt National Park" Sat At A Picnic Table On An Overlooked and Watched This Spectacular Show

"Terry's Favorite Rodent" "The Breaks" Little Missouri River

Sunset Over The Badlands ~ Eastern Montana A Good Sign

"Dead Snake On the Highway"

"The Wild Ones"

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in western North Dakota. Although, called the badlands, it is a beautiful, rugged, and scenic area. As a young man, Theodore Roosevelt was an ardent big game hunter and this particular area was his favorite. He later started a ranch in this area and was very successful, until one bad winter wiped out his stock. He would later become President of the United States.

As President, he championed the cause to turn some of our federal lands into national refuges for wildlife, consequently the National Park system was established. The Roosevelt Memorial National Park was established after his Presidency. In later years, the word Memorial was also removed from the original name. There are two sections to this park, the north and the south. The south park was more scenic and had a greater variety of wildlife and better access throughout the area.

While there, I was able to recognize at least three different herds of wild horses. The herds ranged in size from 6 to 12 horses. Each herd had an established lead stallion, the entire herd revolved around him including the younger studs that were in the herd. I was able to get close to one herd that was led by a big sorrel, it took some time for him to work the herd into where I was at, but once I was detected, he had the herd turned and on the move to safety. Except for gnarled manes and tails, they looked good. They had good body weight and well muscled.

No one knows that much about these horses, their origin is unknown but it is believed that their forefathers were originally horses that had escaped from local ranches and even from the American Indians that inhabit this area. I understand each year a few are rounded up and put out for adoption in order to keep the herd small enough for the area to support them. Lead Stallion Detected My Presence This Is One Of Colts From The Big Black Stallion

"Danger Call"

Black Stallion Was Wanting this Mare to Go While She Was Nursing

Duplicated Picture ~ My Error

Sorrel Stallion When He Detected Me

"Eyeballing Me"

Herd On the Mountain