October 2021 - 7

OPENING SHOT
Ramming speed
Photo: by Bill Sincavage
Gear: Nikon D5
Settings: 1/2000 sec, f/8, ISO 1000
T
he early-December morning started
like the previous 10 as I sought to
photograph bighorn sheep from the
Whiskey Mountain herd near Dubois - singledigit
temps, clear, no wind. I watched several
small battles, but not the drawn out, one-onone
fights for dominance I expected.
Just after 10 a.m. I heard a loud crack from
the heights above me. A minute or so later
I heard a second crack, and then a third. I
thought, " This is it. The battle I've spent many
days waiting for is on. " Glassing the cliffs I
spotted the pair of full-curl rams facing off
for the season's breeding rights. My next
move was to get closer while not disturbing
the business at hand. This required a bit of
an uphill hike, so I grabbed the camera/lens
combo I hoped would get me the best shots
and headed up.
I wound up in a position at the same level
as the rams, but I was hidden enough in the
rocks not to draw attention. The rams drew
close to each other. One casually walked
away then slowly turned to face the other.
Both got on their hind legs and charged. With
a crack that echoed through the valley, the
rams struck horn to horn. Then - silence.
The rams stood motionless for a few seconds
staring off into space. Shortly after they did it
again. Then again.
The battle lasted more than two hours.
Eventually the rams moved closer to my
position. They were challenging each other
within 30 feet of me, totally oblivious to my
presence. One of the rams was bleeding from
its snout. The other was missing a chunk from
one of his horns. Then as fast as it started, it
was over with no clear winner. I got hundreds
of shots of these two rams fighting - this
being one of my favorites.
Wyoming Wildlife | 7

October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2021

October 2021 - 1
October 2021 - 2
October 2021 - 3
October 2021 - 4
October 2021 - 5
October 2021 - 6
October 2021 - 7
October 2021 - 8
October 2021 - 9
October 2021 - 10
October 2021 - 11
October 2021 - 12
October 2021 - 13
October 2021 - 14
October 2021 - 15
October 2021 - 16
October 2021 - 17
October 2021 - 18
October 2021 - 19
October 2021 - 20
October 2021 - 21
October 2021 - 22
October 2021 - 23
October 2021 - 24
October 2021 - 25
October 2021 - 26
October 2021 - 27
October 2021 - 28
October 2021 - 29
October 2021 - 30
October 2021 - 31
October 2021 - 32
October 2021 - 33
October 2021 - 34
October 2021 - 35
October 2021 - 36
October 2021 - 37
October 2021 - 38
October 2021 - 39
October 2021 - 40
October 2021 - 41
October 2021 - 42
October 2021 - 43
October 2021 - 44
October 2021 - 45
October 2021 - 46
October 2021 - 47
October 2021 - 48
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/wyoming-wildlife-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2024-e-edition
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-iak-special-issue
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/January2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/September2020
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com