Mule deer, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (#WF0013)

      The more time you spend in national parks or other areas where wildlife is strictly protected, the far greater will be your chances of achieving great wildlife images. Some years ago I hiked to the floor of the Grand Canyon and pitched my tent among the cottonwood trees of a campground near the Colorado River.  I was seated at the campsite picnic table cleaning my camera and 300 mm telephoto lens when the mule deer buck shown above walked to the edge of the campsite and lie down on a rock ledge.  Taking the shot was simply a matter of  raising my camera and, while pressing my elbows firmly against the surface of the table to steady my hands, releasing the shutter.  While I was doing this I heard a noise to my left and turned to see a wild turkey enter the campsite.  By simply turning my camera and telephoto lens toward the wild turkey, I was able to capture a full frame image.  A ranger later told me that the turkey’s name was “Doris” and she had been “hanging” in the campground for the last six years.  Don’t you just love national parks?  Of course, even in national parks it usually isn’t this easy - but the more time that you can spend in such areas, the better your luck will be.   

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© Berkshire Wild Publications & David Gafney 2004

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