Moose
BearHead Photography has many images to showcase his expansive portfolio on mammals of North America, and here are his wild moose photos.
Alaska's Finest
It's not often you come across three bull moose hanging out together. I first only saw one moose, and it was only once I hiked up and over a hill did I see that there were three moose. After spending over three hours with them and only getting mediocre pictures, that all changed in a heartbeat. I couldn't believe my good fortune when they all left the pond and went up on the ridge and stood still for just a few moments. Being all along with these moose with this setting was a moment I will never forget.
Backcountry Living
It is hard to understand just how vast Alaska is until you have been. Denali is over 6 million acres, and the majority of that land is all backcountry access only. Wildlife can truly live their lives and never be influenced by human activity. A large moose takes advantage of a nice evening to eat from a pond and to get away from the bugs.
Highly Honored Image-Nature’s Best Photography, National Park Competition
Fall is Coming
During the fall in Denali, the underbrush all turns a beautiful red. The fall is also when moose shed their velvet and show their polished antlers. This bull moose was just starting to shed his velvet and get into the spirit of fall.
Denali's Treasures
There are moments when photographing when everything comes together, and it makes you forget all the other moments. Even though the other moments make up 95% of the time, it is that 5% that keeps me going. Ever since I came to Denali in 2008, I have been trying to get a bull moose in a pond with Denali in the background. I didn’t think it was going to happen on this night, but the clouds opened enough and all those years of waiting paid off!
Endless Fall
The fall in Denali is my favorite season of the year! The colors and activity of the animals always gets me up early in the morning. I hiked many miles to have an opportunity to photograph this moose. I had gotten good shots, but after he moved up the hill to scare another bull moose off, did I finally get a shot that showed just how endless the valleys of Denali are.
King's Territory
After trekking miles with this moose, I still wasn't sure I was going to be able to get any pictures of him. He always stayed just far enough out of good photo range. Finally, he stood on a ridge and looked back and me (and I wondered what was going through his head). It was a powerful moment in the backcountry on a beautiful evening.
Wild Denali
It is not very often that you have a crystal clear view of Denali. On my last camping trip of the summer I was fortunate to come across this scene. In Wonder Lake was a mother and calf moose taking there time eating the grass of the bottom of the lake. I could not think of a better way to end my summer.
Moose Dreams
There are shots you dream of and say,”If only a moose would be right here".” I’ve lost count on how many times and in how many places I have said that for a shot I wanted. This was one of those moments when I had said this for a few years, and when I saw this large bull moose walking in the fall tundra in front of Denali I captured a shot I had been dreaming about.
Backcountry Dreams
Alaska is a very large state, and Denali National Park is over 6 million acres. In that amount of land, there is tons of backcountry and areas most people never see. While hiking across the tundra I was hoping to find moose, and one evening I finally found one. This moose was just in the tundra at first, but then made its way to the pond. It was incredible see the moose surrounded by the Alaskan backountry!
Range Walking
I love getting off the road and away from everyone and finding my own shot. There are many times I spend hiking through the tundra or woods and don't come up with anything. But those moments when you do find wildlife to yourself are the moments you never forget. When I found these three bull moose together I was ecstatic. I followed them for over three hours before this special moment occurred, and I was more than happy that I waited and followed to see what photographic opportunities they would present.
Moving Through
The plants and bushes in the tundra can be very tall. I often forget just how big the moose are because they are usually only a foot or two above the bushes. This massive moose had no problem moving around in the fall because he was so much taller than everything.
Beauty of Alaska
Finding an animal of the size is always a thrill. After finding him, I was hoping to be able to put him in the environment and show just how large he is. After following him around for over an hour, he finally went in a low vegetation area, and I positioned myself right in front of him as he walked through.
Moose Stopper
Moose are so big I forget how hard they can be to find. One moment there is nothing there, and the next there is a huge moose there. This moose just caught my eye before I went too far, and I quickly went back. The front of his antlers were unique and he was standing in a beautiful area of the tundra.
Alaskan Reflections
While in Denali, I love being in the backcountry exploring on my own. It is so fun to be off the beaten path and find animals by myself. Once I found these moose, I did my best to track them across the endless tundra. When they walked the ridge above this pond, I knew all the tracking I had done had more than been worth, and I could reflect back on how great the state of Alaska is!
Vibrant Tundra
When the tundra turns colors, it can be amazingly rich in color. I always try hard to find moose, but in these colors I try even harder. This moose paused for a short break in a beautiful patch of the colorful tundra.
Out of the Clouds
I’ve spent many years in the backcountry of Denali searching for and photographing moose. The ultimate goal was to find a bull moose and photograph it with Denali in the background. I’ve seen the mountain and moose, but never in a good opportunity for photos. When the mountain began to come out of the clouds, I prayed the moose would stay by the pond long enough to capture it with Denali in the background.
Colorful Movement
When the tundra comes to life in the fall, it is a stunning scene. The vibrant colors for as far as the eye can see is quite the site. Watching this moose move through the fall tundra was beautiful.
Forest Monster
Coming upon this monster in the woods was a great surprise! I had seen a moose in the distance, but honestly had no idea how large it was. It wasn't until it was standing right in front of me that I realized he was maybe the largest moose around. His pose when he saw me let me know he was boss.
Amazing Moose
It doesn’t matter to me what moose I find in the fall, as I just want a moose in that beautiful fall color. However, when I found this monster moose and he went out in the open tundra, and was surrounded by the amazing color, it made for an even better moment!
Moose Lake
The amount of time I search for animals in Denali, as compared to how much I find and get to photograph animals, is dramatically different. So when I find an animal in an amazing place, it is that much more exciting. Watching these three moose move together in the lake while the Alaskan range was out was 9 years of waiting. I've looked and looked for moose here, and I just knew one day they would be there. I didn't expect three, but getting to be there and capture them in the lake was incredible.
Forest Edge
I knew this huge moose was in the forest, but it was too tight to get any photos. So I headed out of the woods and waited hoping he would come out. When he did, I was happy I left him in the forest because I got a great shot of him in the fall color and the trees behind him!
Colorful Tundra
The tundra can be a difficult place to get a good photo. The terrain is very deceiving and hard to get an animal on a higher spot to get a clean background. I love the look of this photo as I was able to capture this large bull moose on a slight rise that accentuated him against the colorful tundra.
Up the Hill
Moose are a very tall animal, and this picture really helps show just how tall the tundra can be. It is so hard to walk through for us, but moose move through it like we do a mowed lawn. It was exciting seeing this guy walking up the hill with the valley far below him.
Monster Pose
I was tracking this moose and trying to keep up, because he was a monster and I wanted more photos of him. It was very difficult as he could walk on the terrain much easier than me. I was thankful when he paused for a second on a small hill overlooking the valley.
Snowed Over
I love photographing animals in the snow, particularly when there are still fall colors. The contrast really pops and makes for a great photo. The only problem is, moose tend to hunker down when it snows so it’s hard to find them when the conditions are right. I was so excited when this moose started walking my way in the snow covered fall tundra!
Red Design
A moose’s antlers are only red for a very short time. The reason they are red is that when they shed their velvet to reveal their hard antler, their are blood vessels that are exposed. The red quickly fades away and it doesn’t actually hurt the moose. It is not easy to find a moose with his antlers this way because the vibrant red color last for such a short time.
Dominant
If I was another bull moose, I would not be happy seeing these antlers come my way. With that many points and width, there aren't many moose that can give this guy a real challenge.
Denali Double
Finding one moose in the large landscape of Denali is tough. It’s a very nice surprise when you hike in on a moose, and when you get there you see that there is actually two moose! I spent many hours with these moose before dark, and as they moved away they crossed in front of Denali.
Incoming Winter
Fall in Denali happens much earlier than in the lower 48. By the beginning of September it is sometimes over and winter has already moved in. A bull moose moves across a ridge over the quickly changing landscape and knows winter will soon be upon him.
Frame Filler
Moose in Alaska are larger than anywhere else on earth. I knew this was a large moose from a distance, but as I got closer I realized he was huge. It was neat seeing such a large moose up close.
Orange Surroundings
Photographing animals in the fall is one of my favorite times to photograph. The colors of the landscape make for a great canvas to put the animals in. The interior of Alaska has many different colors in the fall, but where this moose was hanging out the tundra had turned orange. It looked like the moose was moving in a sea of orange when moving through the forest.
Morning Moose
I’ve spent years looking for moose in water in the morning, and 99% of the time I don’t find what I’m looking for. But on those mornings, like this, it makes all those days worth it. As the sun was rising, this mother and calf moose were eating from the lake bottom and taking in the view before heading off to rest.
Tundra Ridge
Hiking for moose can be difficult across the tundra, and even harder to find in the uneven terrain. I knew this moose was in a general area, and I headed out to find him. I was very happy when I found him that he was on a small ridge in the tundra.
Early Snow Storm
Snow can fall anytime in parts of Alaska, and a large snow storm decided to come towards the end of August. I’d seen snow in August, but only on the mountains, not in the valley. I think this moose as just as shocked as I was that there was a huge snowstorm before he lost his velvet.
Soft Looks
In the early morning, these moose looked like they had just woken up. They weren’t moving fast and seemed to have no energy. It was funny when they turned to look at each other, because they both had the same expression on their face.
Moose Mission
I was so excited when I saw this moose in the late afternoon. The clouds were thick and the color was more vibrant than earlier in the day. This large moose moved with authority through the tundra and he was on a mission.
Monster Ridge
The tundra is an ever changing landscape. Keeping track of any animal on the tundra is difficult because they can be gone so fast. It was amazing how huge this moose looked when he was above me on the ridge looking over the other side.
Glacial Terrain
The landscape of Denali was formed by glaciers, and is still being formed by glaciers. This moose is looking out over an area that is still ice underneath the tundra, but no longer a glacier. The terrain of Denali is always changing.
Fall Filler
Fall in Alaska comes in many different colors, including the tundra. It’s neat looking out over the tundra and seeing orange, red, and yellow. This moose was in an orange section, but you can see the ridge behind him was a red section. As he moved up the hill he filled the frame and the colors around him popped!
Winter's Here
As the last fall color was hanging on the tundra, the first winter storm moved in. This moose looked like he was surprised it was snowing, as he didn’t move much. But I was happy to find him in the first snow storm.
Lake Beauty
Light is a beautiful thing of nature. Some days we have too much light, and others none at all. When a surprising beam of light shines through the clouds and onto the subject, it makes the scene come to life. This female moose was in the right spot at the right time and the light made the scene much more dramatic than just a few seconds prior.
One More Look
This moose’s females had already gone down the hill, but he stopped on top of the ridge for one last look to make sure no females were left behind before following them over the ridge.
First Moose
It’s always exciting being out early in the morning looking for animals, because you never know what you will find. I spotted this moose high on a ridge not long after first light and started hiking to it. I was able to get a couple quick shots before it went over the ridge just as the pink light was starting to hit the clouds above Denali.
Prime Points
A moose in its prime with have many points all the way up its antlers. As they get older the points on the top stop forming and it becomes more smooth. This moose was in his prime and his large antlers had an incredible number of points!
Dreadlocks
In the fall moose and other ungulates shed their velvet and reveal their hard antler. They drop their antlers every year and regrow them. It is hard to imagine a moose growing antlers this large in a few months, but they do. It takes the moose a couple of days of rubbing bushes and trees to completely get rid of the velvet from their antlers.
Endless Ridges
The Denali landscape is full of undulating land and many valleys. When looking from above, you normally can't see all those dips in the landscape, but from this vantage point I could. I also managed to find three bull moose moving across the valley, only soon to disappear into one of those valleys. The Denali landscape is large and feels as if it is never ending.
Orange Look
When the tundra turns this vibrant of color it gets very exciting! Any animal looks good in this color, but a large moose looks even better. This moose’s head was just above the bushes, which really helped bring out the color around him.
Winter Movement
Moose are not seen very often in the winter in Yellowstone. They move off to different places in the winter. This young moose came out of the woods and walked right to a willow patch. When he was done eating he finished crossing the snow meadow and moved on.
Tundra Moose
Hiking through the tundra is never an easy task, but it doesn’t seem as bad when you are surrounded in the fall by that beauty. And when I have spotted a moose, I kind of forget how tough it is to walk. Moose make it look easy and can cover the ground so fast. This large moose stopped briefly for a rest on his walk through the tundra.
Moose Hangout
Moose will hang together before they drop their velvet and reveal their hard antlers. They are more than comfortable being alone, but throughout the summer can hang with another bull moose for a while. This little bull in the front probably liked having two large moose around as he likely felt safer with them around. Seeing them all by the lake side together was neat.
Moose Statue
I know I was off the road and looking for moose, but I never expected to see such a large moose! When I first saw him he was just looking at me, as if he was surprised to see a human. I was looking at him and making sure I wasn’t seeing things because he was a monster, and wasn’t moving.
Over-Sized
Alaskan moose are the largest sub species of moose. At the shoulder they can be 6 foot, and when they are close they are huge. In this picture, they look as big as ants because of just how large the landscape is leading up to Denali.
Mountain Life
There are some moments that are hard to put into words. This moose was not cooperative and offered very little photo opportunities up to this point. All of a sudden, instead of going over the ridge, he stopped and looked back and had this incredible scene behind him that showed off just how beautiful his mountain home is!
Fall Break
I caught just a quick glimpse of this moose and did my best to find him again. The fall colors were in peak color and I really wanted to photograph a moose in those colors. After looking a while, I found him in this small patch of trees taking a break. I loved how the light really brought the tundra to life.
Moose Kiss
The fall in Denali is a beautiful time to be there. The tundra comes to life with stunning colors, and moose begin their mating season. This large bull moose went over to this female to greet her and let her know he could be her mate.
Pond Glow
There are hundreds of ponds scattered in the backcountry of Denali. You would think that would mean that finding a moose in one is easy, but you would be wrong. There are so many that the moose can be wherever they want and not have to congregate at one pond. I spend days every year hoping to find a bull moose in a pond, and most years I leave disappointed. On this evening the rainbow was out and the moose was near the pond, but after waiting a while he came to the pond and got a drink in front of the rainbow.
A Backcountry Find
Just finding one moose in Denali’s backcountry feels like a win. So finding three moose exceeded my expectations. When they finally moved far enough to the right, Denali and the Alaska Range were behind them!
Dripping Wet
Moose will go into ponds to eat algae from the bottom of them. They can also go for a swim and have a little reprieve from all the bugs too. After sticking his head into the pond, a moose begins to move to find another spot and water drains from him as he moves.
Early Fight
In the fall moose will loose their velvet and reveal a hard antler. Before they loose the velvet moose are very careful not to even bump them because it can damage them. These moose had both just lost their velvet, because their antlers were still red for shedding the velvet, and wasted not time fighting and putting their hard antlers to work.
Three Looks
As soon as moose loose their velvet they often get more aggressive toward other males instantly. It is amazing to see their demeanor change so fast. These three moose wasted no time letting each other know who was the biggest of the group.
Open Tundra
Denali is such a large place, but yet is difficult to find the right angles to photograph. There are so many undulations in the tundra and large bushes, that I really have to plan out where to photograph a moose as it moves in the tundra. Once I found this open area, I waited and captured the moose with a beautiful mountain behind him.
Towering Look
I’m always looking for new ways and angles to photograph animals. Moose are such a large animal, that when this moose got on the same ground as me I didn’t feel equal to him. He towered over me and I captured that feeling of how large he was by him looking like he was towering over the landscape too.
Antlers Up
Moose usually have no trouble seeing where they are going because of how big they are. As he was coming up a hill, he wanted to see over it as soon as he could to see if any other moose were around.
Early Morning Beauty
Watching a mother and calf move slowly across Wonder Lake as the sun rose was inspiring. The reason they were in the lake was to eat the plants from the bottom of the lake. As the calf looks back it catches a glimpse of the awesome power of Denali.
A Head Above
I was on a hillside and knew this moose wasn’t far, but the alders were so tall. I waited and waited, and then finally his head barely reached over the fall bushes and I was able to get a quick picture before he moved on.
Moose Gathering
Once the season turns to more winter than fall, and the rut is over, male moose will often times get in groups to live out the winter. These moose were still trying to prove to the other moose that they are bigger, and it was fun watching them posture with each other.
Prime Look
The moose in Alaska are the largest in the world. They largest of those moose have very impressive antlers. This moose was in his prime and on a mission during the fall.
Red Antlers
Tracking moose through the bush is both exciting and very difficult. As large as a moose is, it can easily disappear and not be found again. I was trying to refind this moose who had just shed his velvet, when I saw him in a small opening of the willows! The red antlers from just shedding really helped me find him!
Living Large
The moose in Alaska are the biggest moose on the planet. They are huge animals, and when close to one you really feel small. When this moose stopped on the ridge above this pond with Denali behind him, I felt small in the scope of the scene I was in.
Between the Trees
Moose are an incredibly large and tall animal. You wouldn’t think they would be hard to find, but they can disappear so fast. It’s not until you try and walk in the alders and willows that you realize how tall those bushes are. I was able to just catch a peak of this moose between the trees before it moved on.
Snow Moose
Finding a bull moose in the snow was a goal of mine. The year prior when it snowed, all the bull moose left and didn't show themselves. So, when I saw this guy in the snow in the fall colors I didn't leave him until I had every possible angle I could find with him in the snow.
Forest Squeeze
Seeing moose move through the forest is impressive. They hav such large antlers, but yet they can move through a thick forest with relative ease. It’s neat seeing them move their head and antlers to maneuver through. This moose was on a mission and ready to be out of the forest.
Moving Past
I have so much fun finding and the tracking down moose. It is difficult, which is one reason I like it because it’s a challenge. Moose can move so much faster than I can and disappear in an instant. I caught up to this moose just before he went over the ridge and into an area I couldn’t follow him too.
Moose Living
Capturing animals in their environment is one of my favorite ways to photograph animals. It is important to show where they live, so that we can conserve the land they need to survive on. These moose were eating willows in front of an incredible mountain scene one late evening in Denali.
Almost Grown
I was ready to head in for the day, when just over the hill I thought I saw some movement. Slowly, this moose made his way my direction, and the light got better and better. Seeing the large velvet moose in the evening light was nice, and I hoped to see him again once he dropped his velvet in a few days.
Denali's Ponds
The backcountry of Denali is full of little kettle ponds left over from glaciers of the past. They make for perfect feeding and drinking areas for moose, as well as a place to rest and hide. In the last light of the day, this massive moose had just finished his drink and was about to rest for the night.
Beautiful Life
The scenes in Denali are hard to beat, and I don’t think can be found anywhere else. If I were an animal, I would want to live in Denali. The area behind this moose is what his home is, and what a life it would be to live there.
Fall Blend
Seeing the tundra turn red in the fall is awesome. It can make finding moose more difficult as their coats blend in more with the color. It almost looked as if this mom and calf were trying to hide by the way they were eating and trying to keep low.
No More Fall
In Alaska, the seasons can change fast. Just a couple days before this it was warm and there was a lot of color on the tundra. Then, a storm blew in and took a lot of color away and then the snow covered the ground. This moose was still trying to figure out where fall went.
Double Trouble
Male moose will hang out together sometimes before they lose their velvet. Once they lose their velvet they become more aggressive toward each other as mating season approaches. These two large moose noticed me across the ravine and both stared to let me know that they were kings of the area.
McKinley Moose
Finding moose in the large expanse of Denali is not easy. If this moose was 10 yards further back he would have been in taller bushes and impossible to see. It's not often Denali Mountain is fully out, so finding a moose within view of the mountain at the same time was thrilling.
Fall Range
Being in Alaska in the fall is incredible. Seeing the entire tundra landscape turn red is a sight to see! It can be difficult to capture all that red because the animal has to be in the right spot above the landscape. Looking at this scene shows just how difficult it is to find a moose in this beautiful landscape.
Long Fight
Moose and other antlered animals don’t mess around when it comes to the mating season. Friends become foes and every male is on their own. These two moose went at each other for a long time.
Move Back
Moose are very large and in charge. Moose have short tempers and don't like people or other animals being in their space. I was well over 75 yards from this moose, but he let me know it was time to back up, and I listened and moved quickly.
River Walking
Yellowstone in the winter is a hard place to survive. Animals who do live there, have to be smart to make it through. This mother and calf moose were smart to walk the shallow stream instead of the four foot deep snow on either side of the stream.
Monster Tundra
This monster moose made it very difficult on us to photograph. He stayed in tall willows, and when he left the willows he didn’t slow down across the tundra. He paused for just a moment, and it allowed me to capture this shot with the fall tundra and the mountains in the background.
Shiras Pose
Different types of moose live in different parts of the country. The shiras moose aren’t the largest, but they can still have large antlers. This was the largest shiras moose in the area I was in.
Snow Fight
These moose were not of equal size, but it didn’t stop them from fighting. It was fun seeing them go back and forth, a little, with a fresh snow making for a fun background.
Perfect Habitat
The backcountry of Denali seems as if it is endless. There is so much terrain, and 99% of it is wild and untouched. Animals, like this moose, can roam for years and never see a human. After tracking this guy a long distance, I was thrilled when he decided to walk over the hill and come my direction.
Moose Rising
After days of searching for moose in the morning, this moose finally presented itself. He stuck out because of how small the bushes were and how large he was. The sun was still rising, and darkening my camera setting allowed me to capture this moose silhouetted on the ridge with an orange sky.
Moose Line
I always enjoy finding more than one male moose together. Just having more than one animal means more photographic opportunity. When these three moose all started moving at the same time and in a row in front of the mountains, it more than made my day.
Backlit Antlers
On a cold morning, this moose was following some females around. He stopped to see which one to follow, and when he did he let out a big breath that illuminated in the light.
On the Tundra
Just as the tundra starts to turn to fall, moose need to eat as much as they can to have the energy they need to fight off other males during the rut. This very large moose was too busy eating the willows to care that another moose was just on the other side of the willows.
Background Colors
The mountains in Alaska can create dramatic backdrops for moose and other animals. I had been tracking this moose down in a valley, and when he started heading up the hill I hurried to beat him to the top. Once he crested he had the beautiful different colored mountains behind him.
Eye's Focused
With antlers like these, one misplacement could be its last. When moose get serious and are really knocking heads, its amazing that one doesn't gore the other all the time. I would make sure and have my eyes locked on my competitor too.
Endless Snow
It was very easy to spot this moose on the white landscape. It was working its way around the stream to hopefully find some plants to eat.
In a Vast Area
Many of the moose in Denali are very large. They just grow bigger up there. When looking at this picture, though, you hardly notice the moose because the area surrounded the moose is exceptionally big. Denali's open valleys seem to go forever.
Changing Red
In the fall moose will shed their velvet and expose the hard antler underneath. It is not usually snowing when they do this, but Denali had an early large snowfall. When the velvet is first gone the antlers can be a red color because of the blood vessels that were in the velvet are now exposed. The red color will go away after a couple of days and they will turn white. It was fun finding this moose in the fall colors underneath the snow right as he was shedding his velvet.
Colorful Surroundings
My favorite time of the year is fall in Denali. Just watching the landscape change and turn a bright red is incredible. Whenever I find a large bull moose in the tundra, it makes the colors look that much more vibrant.
Split Antler
When I saw this moose from a distance I didn't think anything other than he was big and I wanted to get pictures. When I got close and he turned his head the right way, I saw something I had never seen before. His antler on the one side didn't form together and it looked as if he had two antlers on that side. This was unique and exciting because I may never find another moose like this again.
Teton Moose
The Grand Tetons are a magnificent mountain range. This was one of the larger bull moose I had seen in the park, but when compared to the mountains it didn't seem so large.
Lake Walk
Mother moose are very protective of their babies. Thos mother only brought out her calf very late in the evening when it was more quiet. It was a beautiful scene when they went down to the lake shore in the last light of the day.
Denali Wonders
There are places in nature I go to repeatedly hoping to one day find an animal in that place. This is one of those areas that I went for 9 years since I last saw a moose here. The excitement when I saw not only one moose, but three moose was off the charts. These three moose continued to hang out together and created a perfect setting in the backcountry of Denali.
Young Fireweed
In mid summer in Alaska a flower called fireweed will start to bloom. It is a beautiful flower that grows tall, but it is sad when it is done blooming. People say once the fireweed finishes blooming there is only a couple weeks left of summer. I found this young female moose at the edge of the flowers before she went into the woods.
Mocha Swirl
It is hard to believe a moose can regrow its antlers this large every year. They drop their antlers in the winter, and then regrow them this large by August. This moose had a neat design in his velvet that made it look like a coffee mocha.
Large Cover
I spotted this moose a long ways away and decided to hike to it. When I got to the area I thought he was in, I couldn’t see him. The tundra is a very deceiving landscape and tough to track and find animals in, even when you have seen them before. After waiting a while and scanning, I finally saw this moose’s head poking out above the willows. I couldn’t believe how well hidden he was for being such a huge animal.