Little by little the main bighorn herd that I've been photographing lately has started trusting me a lot more. I'm particularly surprised at the comfort level among the ewes, since they've often ...
Little by little the main bighorn herd that I've been photographing lately has started trusting me a lot more. I'm particularly surprised at the comfort level among the ewes, since they've often been much more skittish in the past. I compared pictures of the rams from last year that I've seen at this same location, and I believe these are different animals. I can't distinguish between the ewes, but the horns of the rams (big and small) often have enough distinctive detail that I can be sure if it's the same individual or not. This group of ~22 has been in the same general area for two weeks, and the first several exchanges were met with them heading for higher ground. In the back of my mind, I wonder if they have a sense of when hunting season is open -- but I find that too difficult to believe. Hunting season ended on Jan 1, and I've also been visiting them regularly since late December, so my theory is that they've simply become accustomed to me sitting around on the cliffs with them. I try to wear the same exterior clothing to help build consistency, and I maintain the same demeanor with them. Last year, the big rams came to within just a few feet away, and so far this year I'd guestimate that ~80 feet is the closest they've come while on the cliffs. Their posture, body language and general behavior is noticeably more relaxed lately... so I'm optimistic that some great opportunities with them are ahead (if they continue to graze in the same area). Today's encounter with them was a little cloudy and I wasn't on the right side of the light, but I really like one pic of a ewe jumping from boulder to boulder. To be continued...
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