The Definitive Guide to Getting Spectacular Photographs of Moose in the Grand Tetons
Bull moose, Grand Teton National Park face off during the rut. One key to taking great wildlife images is to understand all you can about the particular subject. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Wildlife photographer and D:W Team member, Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven.
✔︎ Trip Tips
Where: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
What: Photographing wild moose
When: Winter (Nov. and Dec), spring or autumn (the rut)
How: Jackson Hole Airport (or Bozman. Mt. or Salt Lake City, Utah) Drive to Park.
A few years ago, when I began photographing wildlife, I assumed that visitors to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (which includes Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks) mainly go to see and photograph two species: grizzly bears and wolves. Right?
I was wrong.
Moose tops a lot of bucket lists, and experiencing these giant creatures showed me why.
But, you might say, don't Moose only live in far northern and cold places like Canada, northeastern U.S.A., or Scandinavia? Are there (m)any moose in Wyoming?
The answer is an overwhelming yes, and other than being an impressive and huge animal; moose make great photography subjects. So read on for my best tips on photographing moose, and my favorite places to find them.
Moose in Love. The rut, a great time for moose photography, begins in late September and runs through October - but be aware, the males are more unpredictable than usual. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Nine Fast Facts About Moose
1. What is a Moose?
Alces alces is the largest (up to 6.9 ft.,2.1m tall) and the heaviest (as much as 1,500 lb. /700 kg) member of the deer family.
Moose in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are 'Shiras' moose: these colossal animals are the smallest moose subspecies in North America
2. Do Moose live in herds?
Moose are typically solitary but do gather in small herds after the mating season.
3. How Long Do Moose Live?
The average lifespan is 15 to 25 years
4. Where Can Moose Be Found?
Moose live in the northern hemisphere and are well-adapted to the colder areas of the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, up to the subarctic region. Their two-layered fur consists of a wooly undercoat covered by long, hollow guard hairs that provide insulation and help them swim.
5. What do moose eat?
Moose are browsers rather than grazers. They prefer leaves, twigs, bark, and aquatic plants.
6. When are moose calves born? Cow moose have an 8-month gestation period. Typically, one calf is born, although twins are possible if food is plentiful. Calves stay with their mom on average for 18 months. The mom chases away the young adult when she goes into estrus again. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
7. All About those Moose Antlers
At about a year of age, bull moose start growing antlers, as it continues to mature, its antlers grow more impressive. The record size is 83 inches across (210 cm). The record weight is 79 lb. (36 kg). They shed that heavy attire around the end of the year after the mating season concludes to conserve precious energy in the winter months.
New spring antlers are covered in velvet as they grow, which takes about five months. This 'Velvet" is skin made up of blood vessels and hair follicles, nourishing the growing antlers.
Once the antlers are fully grown, the bull moose removes the velvet covering by rubbing against vegetation.
Moose is the only member of the deer family with open-hand shaped antlers; all others have twig-like antlers. The points along the outer edge of the antlers are called 'tines.' Image Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
8. Are Moose Endangered? What are their Greatest Threats?
Humans, bears, and wolves are the greatest predators of Moose. Human hunting and habitat loss have negatively impacted populations since the 1990’s. But in certain areas, winter ticks, greatly enhanced by climate change have brought moose numbers critically low, however, as yet, they are currently not considered endangered.
9. And, Finally: What's Up with Those Moose Teeth?
When you take a picture of a bull moose performing the Flehmen response (sometimes called 'lip curl'), you'll notice that moose lack upper teeth. Instead, their lower teeth press against a hard upper palate.
Ready? Let’s photograph moose!
My Favorite Place to Find Moose
Yellowstone National Park has a healthy moose population most often encountered in the northeastern section of the park. But, in my experience, the best place to be for moose photography is Grand Teton National Park.
An estimated 800 moose live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. They are primarily in Jackson Hole, the valley which includes Grand Teton National Park.
With no hunting pressure in the national park, the resident moose that spend most of their time within its borders live unafraid of humans. That makes for superb wildlife photography opportunities. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
The Best Locations in Grand Teton National Park for Spectacular Moose Phototpgraphy
Moose typically spend their lives near water, and there is plenty of excellent habitat available for them in the national park. Here are some of my favorite places to photograph moose in Jackson Hole:
Snake River: as the Snake River meanders south from Jackson Lake towards the towns of Wilson and Jackson, you will find several overlooks and pull-outs where you can park your car and hike along the river.
Or, if you don't feel like looking for moose on foot, take a guided boat tour on the Snake and look for wildlife from a slow-going raft.
My favorite scenic spots for moose spotting along the Snake River include:
"Oxbow Bend" and "Schwabacher Landing," both of which offer excellent landscape photography opportunities in the mornings.
When fall colors are peaking during late September and October, two of my favorite spots are "Willow Flats" and "Blacktail Ponds."
Gros Ventre river: home to my favorite campground in the national park, the Gros Ventre river area is great moose habitat.
But Remember: The area south of Snake river is out of bounds. This area is protected as the National Elk Refuge and is not part of the Grand Tetons National Park. Hiking is not allowed in the refuge, so when a moose crosses the Gros Ventre river heading south, you cannot cross yourself.
On the other hand, when camping in the Gros Ventre campground, don't be surprised when a moose walks through your campsite!
Notice how the light captures the full velvet of the moose’ antlers. Compare the antlers in this image with the one below taken later in the season. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Moose-Wilson road: this road connects the aptly named town of Moose – home to the national park's visitor center and headquarters – and the small town of Wilson. Along the route are sections of great moose habitat, including several ponds.
Taggart Lake: The lake's parking area is next to Cottonwood creek, another moose favorite. I find Moose here, especially in late spring when cows seem to favor this area to hang out with their newborn calves.
Step One, Know Your Moose
Keep your Distance – Things get Hot Fast in the Moose’s world
Note how different the antlers look without the velvet - the rut is near! You may think that a moose is as harmless as your average neighborhood whitetail deer. Think again. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Moose are huge, can run up to 35 mph (56 km/h), and are very unpredictable. In the U.S. and Canada, moose injure more people annually than any other animal. As a result, the national park enforces a minimum distance of 25 yards.
During the mating season, the rut, which runs from early September into early October, moose can be exceptionally unpredictable. As bull moose (males) travel the valley searching for cow (female) moose, things can get heated. Sparring bulls or even fighting cows can take off running in the blink of an eye: you had better not be in their path!
What to Watch Out For When Watching Moose
My favorite time to photograph moose, is also the time when they can be most unpredictable. Understanding the animal is vital. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
That leads to an important point: let's say you're photographing a moose. Are there any clues that will tell you when a moose is annoyed at your presence? Even keeping your distance – minimum 25 yards, doesn't guarantee that the animal likes you being there, especially when you're busy photographing for more extended periods.
The first sign that a moose is annoyed with you is prolonged eye contact. When you notice the hairs on the back of the Moose's neck and shoulders ('hackles') stand up, back away. That usually indicates that a charge is imminent.
The Behavior of the Rut
The confrontations between bull moose during the rut are usually short - but can be quite violent, even deadly. Keep your distance. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
My favorite moose behavior to photograph occurs during the annual mating season or rut. Unless I can find a bull moose to photograph, I typically stick with a cow since almost inevitably, a bull moose will arrive, sooner or later.
A bull moose awaiting the moment when its cow is ready to mate will defend her from other bulls. When another bull walks into the scene, both bulls will typically sway their heads to intimidate the other and – hopefully – avoid the danger of a full-out fight. If this behavior doesn't fend off the competition, the two bulls may settle their differences in a very short but violent confrontation. The clashing of antlers frequently injures one of the bulls, including breaking off parts of the antlers.
What’s That Moose Doing? The Flehmen Response
Another behavior to look for during mating season is called the "Flehmen Response." In this behavior, the moose lifts its head and curls back its upper lip (It also can expose the lack of upper teeth in a moose. See the two images above)
Moose and other animals perform the Flehmen response when investigating odors, sometimes interpreted as "odor messages" between animals. The technical explanation is that this behavior helps guide scents and pheromones onto the olfactory vomeronasal, "Jacobson's organ," located in the mouth, allowing the males to “smell' whether a nearby cow moose is ready for mating and is sexually receptive.
Photographing Moose Can Be a Wet Business
Moose is not your typical “aquatic’ animal - but be prepared to get wet when photographing them. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Moose habitat typically includes water; I recommend wearing shoes that you don't mind getting wet. When looking for moose, you'll frequently have to walk through a creek or irrigation canal. Waterproof footwear allows you to step into the water; be it a river or pond; to get those great shots of moose drinking or crossing the water.
In summer, a pair of sandals may do the trick, whereas you might want to consider insulated rain boots in the colder fall weather.
The Best Time to Photograph Moose in the Grand Tetons
Moose spend a lot of the day browsing or just sitting, especially in warmer weather. Perhaps they are on to something. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
The Seasons of Moose Photography
Let's start with my least favorite time for moose photography: January through April. Bull moose shed their antlers annually around December or January. Even though moose are fairly easy to spot at this time of year, I prefer photographing them with a full head of antlers.
Spring Means Cute Calves, No-Nonsense Moms, and Long Focus Lenses
Things start to turn interesting around May each year when mama moose gives birth to a very cute moose calf. Once again: Beware! Moose cows are some of the most fearless moms in the animal kingdom. Whereas other specie in the deer family typically distract incoming predators by luring them away from their (bedded-down) calf. Moose cows don't think twice about charging (and successfully chasing off!) an incoming grizzly bear or wolf.
Spring Photography Tip: I definitely recommend using a (very) long focal length to photograph a moose calf. Stay away from mom! For me, that means staying well beyond the 25-yard minimum required distance, not only to avoid disturbing the cow and calf but also to stay safe yourself.
Moose in the Velvet Summer
During the hot summer months, Moose can be hard to find. They typically bed down in the shade between dusk and dawn. Moose are best suited for cold climates and don't like hot weather. Any temperatures above 62 F (16 C) and they start to pant. But, if you do find a bull moose during summer, you'll see the beginning of their new antlers.
Autumn Moose - The Rut!
What are the odds of finding three sparing bulls? Patience and persistence are key factors in photographing wildlife. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Fall is my favorite season. The antlers reach their full size in late August while still being covered in velvet. Sometime in early September, the bull moose will start rubbing their antlers on trees and bushes to remove the velvet and expose the hard bone-like antlers underneath.
The mating season runs into early October. During this time, expect the Moose to be very active, especially the bulls, as they seek out cows for mating.
Autumn Photography Tip: The rut typically begins in late September and runs through the middle of October. Bulls are very aggressive at this time. Stay well away (at least 25 yards / 23m ) Use extra caution.
Winter is About Conserving Energy
Winter is cold business in the Grand Teton mountains. If you are not moose with a double coat of insulation against freezing temperatures, it helps to have a sense of humor. Meet my wonderful wife, Hannah. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Winter in the Tetons; November and December; is a great time to find Moose. Once deep snow is on the ground, moose tend to move out into the large sagebrush flats, making them very easy to spot.
The bulls are trying to conserve energy at this time, so they are not super active, but they still have their antlers. And by November and December, they have changed their summer coat for a warm winter coat.
Surprisingly this coat is so warm they start to pant during winter when the temperature goes above 28 F (-2 C)!
Winter Photography Tip: November to Late December is best; moose lose their antlers in January
The Right Equipment for Capturing Spectacular Moose Photographs
Focal length and The Best Lens for Photographing Moose.
Even when you stand the requisite 25 yds away, the mooses' size, bigger than a horse or elk, means that you don't need all that big of a lens.
Given their size and that moose are mostly active dusk and dawn, my go-to lens is the light-sensitive 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. This is a great focal length to be able to take both environmental as well as close-up shots.
In addition, the sizable f/2.8 opening allows for enough light to enter your camera, even when the available light is less than perfect at dusk and dawn.
And Bigger Lenses Can be a Disadvantage.
Unless moose are out in the open, bigger lenses like 500mm or 600mm have the disadvantage in my experience of you needing to back up too much, resulting in trees or bushes blocking the view, although I do love the smooth bokeh at those focal lengths.
I like to shoot my lenses wide open to blur the background and make the animal subject pop. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
What Shutter speed is Best for Photographing Moose?
In general, moose spend their days eating or lying down. As a result, typical shutter speeds can be much (much) lower than when photographing action. In addition, most moose activity happens from dusk through dawn. That's great news: shooting your lens wide open (at the largest aperture available) at a slow shutter speed allows you to keep the ISO low.
During the brief moments when bull moose spar during the mating season, I recommend at least 1/1000s to freeze the action. Stay focused, however as most fights are over in a matter of seconds!
What about the Aperture?
I like to shoot my lenses wide open to blur the background and make the animal subject pop. For example: shooting with the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens at f/2.8. This also allows the maximum amount of light to pass through the lens, allowing you to select a faster shutter speed or lower ISO. Consider reading my book, Beginner's Guide to Bird & Wildlife Photography if you are unclear about how a camera works, primarily related to the ever-important relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Where to Stay When in the Grand Teton
Near-by Jackson, Wyoming has a variety of hotel and motel lodging available across all price ranges, however, nothing beats the view from our “mobile home.” Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
My Favorite Campgrounds in the Grand Tetons
Grand Teton National Park has several campgrounds. My favorite for capturing the moose action is the Gros Ventre campground which is smack in the middle of some of the best moose habitats. Campsites are scattered along the Gros Ventre River.
As of 2021, all campsites in the national park are by reservation only through recreation.gov. Reserve early as these sites go fast!
The national forest outside of the national park has several campgrounds available.
My favorites are Spread Creek (which includes the Cunningham Cabin dispersed camping area), Shadow Mountain, and Hatchet. All of these are first-come, first-served, and fill up early in the day. If all campgrounds are full, both the Spread Creek and Hatchet grounds each have a big, empty lot that serves as overflow camping areas (no facilities offered).
May 1st through Labor Day, the national forest has a 5-day stay limit. Remember that these campgrounds typically don't open until sometime in May (weather allowing) and close around mid to late September. As with other national forest campgrounds, no RV hookups are available, although trash pickup and water are available during the times they are open.
Conclusion
Wildlife photography is best when the animal subject is not skittish. The Tetons are, in my opinion, the best place to find Moose in the lower 48. Compared to a big national park like Yellowstone, Grand Teton is relatively small, which allows you to cover a lot of ground and moose hot spots in a few hours.
Just make sure you keep an alert eye on the Moose when you're admiring and photographing them: don't be fooled by their seemingly low-key attitude and behavior! Remember, even wolves and bears don’t want to be around when a moose is annoyed.
