Henry Mountain Bison

ckcarr

Founding Member
Any idea what the remaining population is for that preserve? This doesn't look like an unhealthy specimen.
That was a scary specimen!
Well, it's not a preserve. It's just a mountain range. They are wild, and free roaming. Originally there were 40 or so that were transplanted from Yellowstone back in the 1940's. But over by the Dirty Devil. Guess they didn't like it there, so they migrated west. The population scattered through the Henry's is estimated between 350-400.

The Henry's are a little weird. There are no elk, supposedly no bears (someone said they saw one a few years ago), but some of the biggest deer in the state. A wildlife biologist that I met there told me there were no desert bighorns either, although I got pictures of two once.

In general I don't think the Henry's are that hospitable to a lot of wildlife. They may pass through and keep moving.

A few years ago they took some from here and dropped them into the Bookcliffs also. I've never seen any of those, but the Bookcliffs are very remote.
 

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
A great looking shot here Craig! And with the chance of seeing them being pretty remote, it must feel very rewarding when you are able to capture them.
 

ckcarr

Founding Member
A great looking shot here Craig! And with the chance of seeing them being pretty remote, it must feel very rewarding when you are able to capture them.
I'm just in it for the hunt Jim!

People tell me to go to Rocky Mountain National Park for elk, but that would be fish in a barrel! I'd rather spend a year in the La Sals trying to find just one... Same with the bison...

And, when you are the only one there, and find animals, it's a special feeling.
 

ckcarr

Founding Member
That looks like one tough dude, Craig. Nice job. Do you do these from your car with a very long telephoto lens?
Doug, it depends. I almost always use a long telephoto with tripod but being in the Jeep doesn't work that often. It's so quiet there, they can hear it two miles away. And they are super shy and will run for 30 miles nonstop if spooked. They actually have a limited hunting season there and so naturally they are aware that man is the enemy... So I walk a lot and play a waiting game, but keep my distance...
 
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