[2]
June 6, 2010
We climb out of Horse Creek and on the divide between Horse Creek and the Wiggins Fork glass the large sage-Pine covered flats to the south picking up a few cow elk scattered about here and there. They are all browsing and it is all indicative that there are probably new born calves nearby. We barely continue on when we come upon a number of cow elk and several little ones right off the road. There is not much time to grab a picture befor they are off followed closely by those young ones. These calves are no more than a week old and can all ready stay pretty close to mom in times of danger. This is also the time when Grizzlies are looking for them for a feast and a few of them will not make it through June. Wolves, Coyotes, Cougars and the elements are also enemies they will have to survive to be able to make it.

[3]
June 6, 2010
Within a quarter of a mile we come onto another band of elk who are off and running immediately followed along by a few young except for this cow who is reluctant to leave. She surely has a calf nearby hidden in the sage. She finally slowly walks off nonchallantly head held high in that typical elk fashion. After about 75 yards she stops dead in her tracks watching us and just wishing we would leave. Not wanting to stress her out we oblige and move on in the ever increasing rainfall.

[4]

June 6, 2010

The further we go the more elk we run into. Small bands with young and the occasional single cow standing her ground watching us as we slowly drive by.

On a return trip from Casper the other day it was fun to watch the many Pronghorn Antelope on the Wyoming prairie with their little ones barely discernable above the sage and grass covered plains as they follow mom. It is that time of year with the young of every species being born and beginning their adventure of what we call life.

Just beyond this cow we jump a Whitetail Doe deer who runs across the muddy road and into the timber. There are very few of these deer around this part of the country and only so in recent years. They are strange animals to me as I have grown up with Mule Deer and they are so different in their behaviors. This one looks like a dog running through the trees never looking back. The Mule Deer would always stop and get aother long last look at you befor bounding away. Much to his demise during hunting season.

A little further along we jump a Pronghorn Antelope Buck. Really surprising to find him this far back in the mountains. It is quite a morning.

[5]
June 6, 2010
We turn around at the Bog Lake road as it is really getting slick and muddy with the rain increasing in intensity and head back downcountry. We still encounter elk on the way and shoot a few shots of the mountains veiled in rain. It is snow higher up in those peaks.

[6]

June 6, 2010

We again stop on the divide and glass across the sageflats to the south. We can still pick out individual cow elk here and there . Can you spot the one towards the bottom of the photograph?

[7]

June 6, 2010

Back on Horse Creek Road we drive up the Burroughs Creek road towards the T-Cross Dude Ranch looking for moose along the willow covered valley floor. Strangely I have not spotted one all spring and we don't find one this morning either. We stop along an old beaver flooded section of the creek and watch a pair of Scaup and two male Green Wing Teal. A flock of Canadian Geese wing above us flying down the valley floor honking as they go then it is all quiet again. The road becomes soup and by barely creeping am I able to keep the truck in a straight line.

[8]

June6, 2010

Near the T-Cross dude ranch we turn around and stop along Horse Creek for a few pictures along Horse Creek with the rain falling and the low clouds drifting across the timber slopes creating a mystical world. I personally love this kind of weather and wish I had time to just hike off through the woods. Dripping rain and all.