Catch and Release Moose

by Bill Silliker

Moose may be the easiest wildlife species to photograph. That Is partly because they're such large targets, real frame fillers. They're also mostly a "laid-back" breed, despite all of their size and bulk and ability to do damage. Anyone with a point and shoot camera should be able to get some good pictures of these wonderful creatures.

Three Rules for Moose Photos

1. Hell hath no fury like a mad mother moose. Always remember that.

2. Bull moose in the rut have the right of way. Always remember that too.

3. You cannot outrun an angry moose. It pays to remember that.

For the camera hunter, finding a moose to photograph is just the beginning. Finding really photogenic ones can be more difficult than you might think. You see, in wildlife photography there are pictures that represent a species, and then there is art. I strive for art.

Which moose are the most photogenic? It depends on the season. In spring, adult moose are anything but photogenic because they're shedding their winter coats. The trick is to find either a moose in the right setting or a young calf. The moose calf, however, comes nature's best guardian: mother moose.

The most photogenic of moose are probably the bulls during the rut. By mid-September, bull moose have shed the velvet from their antlers and polished their hardened racks. But two problems present themselves for the fall camera hunter. The first is that during the rut bull moose abandon normal feeding routines and can be more difficult to find. The second is that a rutting bull is unpredictable and almost as dangerous as a mad mother moose. 

Some excerpts from my one of my books, the Maine Moose Watcher's Guide, should inform the camera hunter about moose:

"There are three basic rules to avoid moose trouble:

1. Hell hath no fury like a mad mother moose. Always remember that.

2. Bull moose in the rut have the right of way. Always remember that too.

3. You cannot outrun an angry moose. It pays to remember that.

Some mother moose are much more tolerant than others. I have been allowed to stay within 300 feet of many moose calves of all ages. I have also been in big trouble when I got within 300 feet of a month old calf I never even saw! It was stashed in the woods while its Mom fed in a pond. Mom spotted me and flared her mane and dropped her ears in warning. Then she came at me with a "look" in her eye. I gave up ground as calmly as that "look" allowed.

After I was 300 feet from where I realized the calf must be hidden, Mom calmly resumed feeding. That 300 feet was her "fight or flight" distance.

If the calf was hidden, how did I know where it was? Because Mom kept shooting a glance in that direction.

Remember that mother moose have a difficult job to do in an uncertain and at times unkind world. Don't add to their problems. The safety of a moose calf could also be at risk if its Mom gets in a panic. 

Now let's consider bull moose during the rut. Never approach too close to a rutting bull moose. What's too close? As with mother moose, that depends upon the circumstances - and the moose. If the bull has a cow friend nearby he will probably regard you as a nuisance. He might even consider you to be a rival! Don't be surprised if you get threatening looks. And don't ignore those looks.

The response of a rutting bull may well be to "drive away or fight" if you do get too close. Watch the bull's body language. If he drops his ears or bristles his mane, you're in big trouble! Heed his warnings!

The best way to avoid trouble with moose is to use good common sense. Treat all moose with respect. And remember why God made telephoto lenses. "

That's just what I did for this image. I spotted this moose family while mother fed in a pond in the first week of June. I approached from downwind quietly when mother had her head under water and "froze" each time she looked up. Knowing that moose don't see very well but have an acute sense of smell and excellent hearing helps you to approach such a moose.

When close, I hid under a camouflage cloth and moved into a camera position less than 200 feet away. Using a 400mm telephoto lens, I metered off average green vegetation around the moose family and shot 7 rolls of 100 ASA Fujichrome of some of the most precious of moose moments.

Some people think that some of those frames are art.

About Bill Silliker

Bill Silliker, Jr, outdoor photographer, enthusiast and writer, brings extensive experience in still and video photography to producing rare and difficult wildlife studies. He is currently a wildlife photography instructor for L.L.Bean, monthly columnist for The Maine Sportsman, and acts in advisory capacity for Maine's Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. He hosts a weekly nature show shown on Maine Public Television. and has been co-chair, North American Nature Photography Association Ethics Committee for the past three years

Bill Silliker, Jr is author and photographer for two wildlife books, Moose: Giants of the Northern Forest and Maine Moose Watchers Guide. His wildlife studies can be seen in Just Loons, Willow Creek Press, and are published in Backpacker, Ducks Unlimited, National Wildlife and Outdoor Photographer. Bill has co-produced, been script writer and narrator for 4 wildlife videos.

Bill Silliker, Jr has contributed wildlife studies to the stock photography collection of Animals / Earth Scenes of New York. Bill invites you to view samples of his work, THE CAMERAHUNTER newsletter at: The Camera Hunter or e-mail him at editor@camerahunter.com for further information. Also, talk about Camera Hunting at Apogee's Forum. Click Apogee's Forum below and participate in a Bill's Camera Hunter discussion group.