"Battling Bighorns" Photography Tour

December 8-14, 2019
Cost: $1795 / Deposit: $500
Limited to 6-7 participants • Leaves from Cody Wyoming

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In the rugged Absoraka Mountains of Western Wyoming December is the mating (or rutting) season for the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Rival rams fight for dominance and the right to breed. These battles are one the most spectacular sights in the natural world and we have timed our trip to be on location during the peak of the rut! One of our participants recorded a great video during the tour Check out this video captured during the 2011 tour.

Bighorn ram in winter

“BATTLING BIGHORNS” PHOTO TOUR INFO

December is the mating season for the bighorn sheep. Rival rams fight for dominance and the right to breed. The battles are one the most spectacular sights in the natural world and we have timed our trip to be on location during the peak of the season!
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The beautiful and rugged Absaroka Mountains lie along the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Rising to over 13,000 feet they are home to one of the largest populations of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in North America. Each winter hundreds of bighorns winter in the valleys west of Cody providing excellent access to photographers. We will concentrate our efforts in the spectacular valley of the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

The valley is also home to a host of other wildlife that with luck we may be able to see and hopefully photograph. River otters, bison, elk, deer, coyote, red fox, and cottontail rabbits are some of the inhabitants. Northern pygmy owls, golden and bald eagles, ravens, magpies, waxwings, robins, American dippers, and many others birds are native to this area.

The mountain scenery is inspiring, beautiful landscapes beckon you around every turn. There is no shortage of photographic subjects along the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

Tour Prices Include:

Transportation from and to Cody at the start and end of the trip via group shuttle
Welcome dinner and snacks/water throughout tour
Photo Instruction and image critiques (if desired) by D. Robert
Guides and Drivers
Taxes on all services

Tour Prices DO NOT Include:

Airfare to/from Cody, Wyoming
Lodging during the tour and in Cody before/after the tour
Transportation to and from the airport in Cody
Gratuity for Guides and Drivers
Meals, except for welcome dinner on first night
Alcoholic beverages

Bighorn sheep fighting in Wyoming

ITINERARY

Day 1 Dec 8 – Arrive in Cody, Wyoming. Shuttle service to and from the airport is provided as well as accommodations for this tour. We will all meet at 6:00 pm for an orientation dinner and following dinner will have a discussion and an AV program highlighting our upcoming photo adventure. Both United and Delta Airlines have regular flights into Cody.

Day 2-6 Dec 9-13 – We will depart around 7:00 am each morning and spend the day in the valley photographing the multitude of subjects available to us. A field lunch is provided to each participant as well as a variety of snacks and beverages. We will return to Cody each evening after sunset. On Friday Dec. 14th we’ll have a goodbye dinner at 6:30pm

Day 7 Dec 14 – Departure day catch one of the morning flights out of Cody for your trip home.

For your departure, there are evening flights out of Cody or you may prefer to stay over night and leave the following morning.

WHAT TO BRING:

Equipment: We recommend a minimum of 300mm telephoto lens for this tour in addition to a variety of wide angle lenses or zooms and a mid range zoom lens. .You will want to bring along a couple of flash cards and a means to download images when cards get full. We always suggest you bring along 2 camera bodies if possible in case of equipment failure.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Cancellations more than 120 days ahead of the tour are refunded 50%.
Cancellations between 60-120 days ahead of the tour will only be refunded if the spot can be filled minus $150 handling charge.
Cancellations less than 60 days ahead of the tour are non-refundable.

Franzfoto Tours strongly suggest that tour participants invest in trip cancellation insurance.

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CANCELLED EXPEDITIONS: In the event of insufficient tour sign-ups, Franzfoto Tours reserves the right to cancel any given tour. In that event 100% of moneys received will be returned. However, Franzfoto Tours is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.

LUGGAGE: Franzfoto Tours requests that tour participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag, and tripod. We do not wish to be dictatorial in this matter, but asks that group members bear in mind space and comfort in our vehicles. All personal luggage is the responsibility of the owner.

SMOKERS: Smoking is not permitted at meals or in vehicles. It can be permitted at photo stops where local ordinances permit, photography and photographers are not affected.

RESPONSIBILITY: Franzfoto Tours and its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, and as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause. Franzfoto Tours reserves the right to substitute hotels, and other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience. Franzfoto Tours reserves the right to pass on to tour members any additional and unplanned expenditure incurred during a tour, via events beyond Franzfoto Tours control. The right is reserved to accept or decline any person as a member of any tour.

Payment of tour fees by trip participants constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.