Shedding Elk High In The Wasatch Mountains

Shedding Elk grazing in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I was pretty excited to spot a small herd of cow and yearling Elk grazing on a steep slope in a canyon high in the Wasatch Mountains this past Sunday. I don’t have these large members of the deer family in my viewfinder nearly as often as I would like.

All of the Elk looked a bit ragged because they are shedding their thick winter coats. In a few weeks these Elk will look much sleeker and shinier in their summer coats. Right now, not so much.

Spring Elk in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Even though these Elk looked like their coats were messy and worn I still wanted to photograph them and share their images because I believe in photographing nature as it is. Nature isn’t always perfect and I want my images to show that. Some mammals shed and birds molt. It is what it is.

These Elk just went through a tough winter and their coats show evidence of that.

Elk shedding its winter coat – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Because I was as close as I was I didn’t get many photos of the entire herd of Elk that I liked. I should have grabbed my backup Nikon D810 with my 70-300mm lens attached from my backpack to take photos of the herd. Regretfully I didn’t think about it at the time and I am kind of kicking my own butt for not doing that now.

The cows and yearling Elk continued moving up the slope as they grazed. I spotted them again just a few minutes later on a ridge walking between aspen trees. Perhaps I will get to photograph them again after they have finished shedding their winter coats. I can hope. I have hope.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Elk photos plus facts and information about this species.