On Day 7 of my Wichita Mountains wildlife trip, I didn’t end up keeping many photos. Not because I didn’t see any wildlife, I saw plenty. The light wasn’t quite right, or I couldn’t find a composition I liked. Sometimes days like that happen. Any time spent outdoors is still a win, and if I do get a photo I love, it’s just a bonus.
Since I didn’t capture many keepers on September 14 (Day 7), I’ll also share highlights from Day 8 (September 15) in this post.
Bull Elk on Day 7
I hope you’re not getting tired of seeing elk photos, because the first one I’m sharing from Day 7 is of a beautiful bull elk. I spotted two cow elk, each with a calf, walking through a field. I was on the passenger side of my truck, so I figured I had time to drive ahead and turn around, allowing me to shoot from the driver’s side with my long lens (800mm) resting on a bean bag. I like having that steady rest for better shots.
As I was getting into position, I noticed the elk cows and calves darting across the road into the trees, chased by a bull elk! It was a scramble, but I still had to shoot across my truck’s cab. Luckily, the bull paused and looked my way before heading off, allowing me to capture the shot you’ll see below.
White-tailed Doe and Fawn
A few miles down the road, I came across a white-tailed doe and her fawn near the roadside. I couldn’t resist getting a close-up of the fawn, one of the few photos I kept from the day.
Crow and Buck on Day 8
Day 8 started with a sighting of an American crow perched high in a tree, cawing loudly. I rarely pass up a chance to photograph crows, as it’s been tough getting shots I like of them. Usually, they’re hard to get close to, but this one gave me a great opportunity. I finally got a photo I’m happy with.
Later, I spotted a young white-tailed buck that I’ve seen a few times before. He appeared to be staying close to the same doe and fawn I mentioned earlier.
Campground Wildlife and a Water Snake Encounter
After a morning of driving through the refuge, I returned to camp for lunch and a nap. In the afternoon, an old white-tailed doe strolled by my campsite. She looked quite used to the campground, so I grabbed a quick shot of her with her tongue out,one of those quirky moments you just have to capture.
Instead of heading back out in my truck, I decided to hike the trails around the Doris Campground with my camera. One of the trails has a walking bridge that crosses a body of water. While on the bridge, I spotted a water snake hunting in a grass bed below. I spent a while photographing it, hoping to capture it in action, but it never caught anything. Still, I got a photo I liked of it swimming beneath the bridge. I shared that photo on Facebook a few days ago, and it got a great response.
Wrapping Up Days 7 and 8
Although Day 7 didn’t yield as many photos as I’d hoped, both days were still fantastic parts of my Wichita Mountains wildlife trip. Spending time with wildlife, even without perfect shots, always feels worthwhile. I’ll be sharing what I saw on Day 9 next, including egg-laying dragonflies and elk feeding at the Wichita Mountains.