I went hiking today in the high country.




I came up on some prints and decided to follow them. Turned out to be a small pack of coyotes.







I quietly followed along about 50 yds behind them to see where they were going. They haven't seen me yet.




There are 3 I can see, but I think there are a couple more ahead of these




Darn, one of them saw me










It turns out the coyotes were stalking a small herd of elk. Just after the coyote spotted me, I seen the elk in a small bowl. One of the coyotes was still staring at the heard in the bushes (just to the left of this picture).




Well, that's it for now. I need to work on being more quiet in the future. It would have been nice to get up to the elk heard and sit for a while waiting and seeing what the coyotes would do.

BTW, I did have a hefty Manfrotto Monopod to use as a weapon if the coyotes turned on me

[dnes81]

Awesome! What an experience that must have been! Love RMNP, one of favorite places.

[Mr. Particle]

Beautiful! What an inspiring day, and some great shots!

[Adam]

Indeed, beautiful!

Thanks for posting this great series

[BlueBubbleBoy]

These shots are terrific! And the story to go with them too. Why don't I live in Colorado???

Did you do anything special to protect your Kx in the snow? I'm going on a backpacking trip in TN over New Year's and last year it got to 15 degrees and snowy. I'm planning on bringing my Kx this year (didn't have one last year).

[GhoSStrider]

Great pictures! There's a Nikon guy on Flickr that I follow that shoots coyotes around Morraine Park a lot. Alas! I've never been able to find any while I was there. Oh well, at least I get to experience it vicariously through better wildlife photographers like you and him!