Sterne Park on Monday was just the appetizer. The main course I had planned was to see the Bighorn Sheep in Waterton Canyon. I knew there would be a hike involved -- the herds usually hang out between 1.5 and three miles up from the trailhead. And I got confirmation from some folks I passed on the trail that the three-mile mark was indeed where a large herd could be found.
A solo ram was walking right on the road about 2.25 miles in. I thought I might get a solid portrait shot, but he headed up the rocks before I reached him. Little did I know it was so he could provide me with a hero shot!
Right at three miles, the herd came into view. One older ram had gathered quite a collection with him.
There was one clearly younger sheep in the crew. A late-season birth, perhaps?
On the cusp of the rut, I wasn't sure if the ram would be aggressive. And I had no intention of getting close enough to find out. Three cheers for telephoto lenses!
Even his head-on stare didn't seem that threatening. More indifferent, really.
This young one, however, looked like he wanted to take me on.
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