I recently visited the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and had the chance to take a photo of a Wild Texas Longhorn in its natural habitat. These animals are not only beautiful but also hold significant cultural and historical importance in the region.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service aims to preserve the heritage of these Longhorn cattle for future generations. They strive to maintain them in their natural state as much as possible so that people can appreciate and learn about them. These Longhorns are tough and well-adapted to the dry climate of the Southwest. They have roamed the region for over 300 years and have influenced both the economy and culture of the area.
During my visit, I came across a Longhorn grazing on the side of the road. I waited patiently for it to look up so that I could take a picture. To capture the photo, I used a Fujifilm X-T3 camera with a Canon EF 100-400 mm lens and a Fringer EF-FX Pro adapter. I propped my camera up on a bean bag that rested on the open window of my pickup truck.
Note:
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma provides a home to a herd of Texas Longhorn cattle, which are kept to preserve the cultural and historical legacy of this breed. These Longhorns are free to roam the entire area in search of the best grass and grazing. The Texas Longhorn was nearly bred out of existence, but a small herd of 26 Longhorns was created from the arid ranges of South Texas and shipped to the refuge, contributing to the preservation of the breed. The refuge is best known for its roaming herds of bison, Longhorns, and Rocky Mountain elk and offers quality opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation, including fishing and birdwatching.
Here are the camera settings I used to take the photo:
- AV Mode
- Aperture: f5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/320 sec.
- Focal Length: 135 mm
Another photo I took of a Texas Longhorns: Texas Longhorn Calf