We went into the weekend planning to search for fall colors in Wyoming. But sometimes, the best adventures happen when God has something different planned for you.
This time, we didn't have to go anywhere.
The wildlife show was happening right outside our door.
Living in Wyoming means sharing our everyday lives with wildlife. Pronghorn wander through our yard, deer stop by, rabbits come and go, and little birds remind us that even the smallest visitors have a place here.
But this weekend was different. We had a front-row seat to one of the most exciting times of the year for pronghorn: the rut.
And as a wildlife photographer, I couldn't have asked for a better surprise.
What Is the Pronghorn Rut?
The pronghorn rut is the breeding season when males compete for females and work to defend their territories and herds.
In Wyoming, this activity becomes especially noticeable in the fall. The quiet landscape can suddenly turn into a stage filled with chasing, displays of dominance, and incredible bursts of speed.
Our experience started on Friday evening, but the real surprise came early the next morning.
I was awake at 5 a.m., studying my Bible, when I heard a strange sound outside. It was almost like a crazy joker laugh.
I knew something was happening out there.
During the rut, pronghorn bucks make a variety of vocalizations, including grunts and other calls. Hearing them in the darkness made me curious enough to look outside.
And just like that, my quiet morning took an unexpected turn.
When the Bucks Arrive, Everything Changes
Pronghorn often form groups of females and young, while males become increasingly active during the breeding season.
As the rut gets underway, males compete for access to females and try to keep rivals away. They patrol their territories, chase one another, and work hard to maintain control of their groups.
Watching this unfold just steps from our home was fascinating.
The bucks rubbed their horns against the sagebrush, scraped the ground, and repeatedly used particular spots to leave scent and mark their territory.
These behaviors are part of how pronghorn communicate and establish their presence.
Then came the chasing.
One moment, the animals would be standing quietly in the sagebrush. The next, a male would take off after another pronghorn, sending the entire scene into motion.
There was hardly a quiet moment.
How Fast Can Pronghorn Run?
Pronghorn are among the fastest land mammals in North America. They can reach speeds of around 60 miles per hour under the right conditions.
Seeing their speed in person is something else entirely.
They don't just run in a straight line and stop. During the rut, males may chase rivals, pursue females, and repeatedly move across their territory.
You can feel the energy of the scene even when you're watching from a distance.
As a wildlife photographer, I usually have to be patient. I spend hours driving, searching for animals, watching the light, and waiting for the right moment.
But this weekend, the action came to me.
I didn't have to leave home before sunrise or drive miles into the mountains looking for wildlife. I just needed my camera and a good view of the yard.
Wyoming had brought the wild right to my doorstep.
Did You Know Female Pronghorn Can Have Horns Too?
One of the interesting things about pronghorn is that both males and females can grow horns.
However, males generally have larger, more prominent horns, while females usually have smaller horns or may have none that are easily visible.
The males also have some distinctive facial markings. Look closely and you may notice a dark brown patch on the cheek, along with browner coloring around the nose.
Once you start paying attention to these details, you realize how much there is to notice beyond the horns and speed.
Every animal has its own appearance, behavior, and place within the herd.
And when you're photographing wildlife, those small details can make a photograph tell a much richer story.
The Little Ones Follow Mom
While the adults were busy chasing and defending their groups, the young pronghorn were part of the scene too.
When their mothers moved, the little ones often followed.
It was a reminder that even during this intense season, family life continues in the middle of all the action.
Watching wildlife isn't always about dramatic fights or incredible running speeds. Sometimes, the moments that stay with you are the small ones: a young animal keeping close to its mother or a brief pause when the whole herd seems to settle.
Those are the details I love looking for through my camera.
Two Bucks Fighting: The Moment That Took My Breath Away
Saturday morning brought the most exciting moment of our weekend.
Around 8 a.m., I heard something happening outside. Before I could see it, the sounds told me there was action nearby.
I looked over and saw two males fighting.
I searched for them with my camera, trying not to miss what was unfolding in front of me.
There they were, facing each other and pushing against one another in a display of strength and determination.
It was pure adrenaline.
Watching two wild animals compete like that makes you appreciate how much energy the rut demands. These males spend their days patrolling, chasing, challenging rivals, and trying to maintain their position.
It's a test of strength, endurance, and timing.
And for a wildlife photographer, it's also a reminder that you can never predict exactly what nature will give you.
You can plan your entire day around a photographic opportunity, but the most memorable moments sometimes happen when you least expect them.
That morning, I was exactly where I needed to be.
A Weekend Between Wildlife and Family
We spent much of the weekend going back and forth between watching the pronghorn and tossing the frisbee for the children (dogs) whenever the animals disappeared from sight.
It was such a Wyoming kind of weekend.
One minute, we were watching wildlife behavior that felt straight out of a National Geographic documentary. The next, we were back to our everyday family routine.
And that is one of the things I love most about living here.
Nature isn't always something we have to travel far to find. Sometimes, it becomes part of our daily lives in ways we could never have planned.
By Sunday evening, the activity had finally calmed down. We wrapped up our weekend with a beautiful view of Boulder Lake.
We had originally planned to search for fall colors, but the weekend had given us something completely different.
Something wild. Something unexpected. Something we got to witness from home.
Finding God's Wonder in the Everyday
I often think about how easy it is to believe we need to go somewhere extraordinary to experience something special.
As a wildlife photographer, I'm certainly guilty of planning early mornings, long drives, and entire days around the possibility of seeing an animal.
But this weekend reminded me that we don't always have to go looking for wonder.
Sometimes, it's already there.
God's creation is full of details we can overlook when we're too busy thinking about where we need to be next. This time, I was reminded to slow down, pay attention, and appreciate what was happening right in front of me.
We didn't go looking for fall colors.
Instead, we witnessed a National Geographic moment right outside our door.
And honestly, I couldn't have planned a better weekend.
More Wyoming wildlife stories and photographs are coming soon. If you enjoy seeing the wild side of Wyoming through my camera, I hope you'll follow along and join me on the next adventure.
Watch the Pronghorn Rut on YouTube
I was so excited to share this experience that I put together a YouTube video showing more of what happened during our incredible weekend.
From hearing that strange “joker laugh” at 5 a.m. to watching two males fight right outside our house, this was one of those wildlife experiences I never could have planned.
Come watch our National Geographic moment, right outside our door. I hope you enjoy experiencing this wild side of Wyoming with me as much as I enjoyed photographing it.
Help Me Keep Sharing Wyoming's Wild Beauty
Wildlife photography is more than a job to me. It's a way to share the beauty of God's creation, tell stories through my camera, and bring people closer to the wildlife and landscapes that make Wyoming so special.
But behind every photograph are early mornings, long drives, hours spent waiting for the right light, and countless hours editing images and creating stories to share with you.
If my photography brings you joy, peace, or a little more wonder for God's creation, there are several ways you can help me keep doing what I love.
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Watch my YouTube videos. Every view helps my channel grow. If you enjoy the videos, please like them, leave a comment, and subscribe.
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Share my photographs and stories. When you share my work with someone who loves wildlife and nature, you help more people discover The Overland Diaries.
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Visit my online store. My wildlife and landscape photographs are available as artwork and other products, so you can bring a little piece of Wyoming into your home. Every purchase helps support my photography.
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Support me on Buy Me a Coffee. If you'd like to contribute directly to my dream of sharing more wildlife stories, you can support me here: Buy Me a Coffee.
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Join my community. Follow along here and subscribe to my newsletter, Notes from Wyoming, so you don't miss the next adventure. If you have Facebook and Instagram follow us there.Â
Every view, kind comment, share, and purchase means more than you might realize. Thank you for being part of this journey and helping me continue doing what I love.
My dream is to keep exploring, photographing, and sharing the incredible stories God places in front of me. I'm grateful you're here to experience them with me.
