Wildlife photography in Wyoming rarely goes exactly as planned. Add dogs, and a wide open landscape… and things get even more unpredictable. But sometimes those imperfect days turn into the ones you remember the most.
Wildlife Photography with Dogs: Beautiful Chaos
Have you ever tried photographing wildlife… with dogs?
It’s chaotic. It’s unpredictable. And sometimes it feels almost impossible.
But somehow those days end up being the ones you remember the most.
We decided to explore a part of Sublette County, Wyoming we hadn’t visited in years. Our plan was simple: walk the dogs, let the children run, and scout new places where I could come back alone to photograph Wyoming at sunrise.
Simple plans have a way of turning into adventures out here.
A Hill Full of Elk
As we drove toward the turn we wanted to take, we were suddenly greeted by hundreds of elk.
On top of a hill — elk.
For a moment it felt like we had stepped into their world.
By the time I grabbed my camera and got ready, only about a third of them were still there. The rest had already moved on, melting into the landscape like they always do.
They were far from the truck, but still close enough to take in the moment.
And honestly, it felt like a blessing just to witness them.
Right then I knew — it was going to be a good day.
Scouting New Places in the Wind River Range
Our mission that day was simple:
Walk the dogs. Let them run wild.
Scout new places where I could come back to photograph Wyoming at sunrise.
Mission accomplished.
The children had the best time exploring, we saw wildlife everywhere, and my mind was already filling with ideas for future photos.
The landscape here is something special. The foothills of the Wind River Range rise up around you — big, quiet, and beautiful.
We don’t even know the real name of this place.
Spotting Deer in the Wyoming Hills
Throughout the day we saw deer everywhere.
And if you’ve ever looked for wildlife, you know the first thing you usually notice… is their bums.
They blend into the land so well that sometimes that little flash of white is the only thing that gives them away.
Photographing them though… that’s another story when you have dogs.
Wildlife photography and dogs don’t exactly go together. The moment the dogs start running, the deer lift their heads… and just like that, the moment is gone.
But honestly…
I wouldn’t trade those moments.
A Smaller Elk Herd in the Distance
Later we spotted another herd of elk.
Much smaller than the first, and far away in the distance.
Still, I couldn’t help myself.
I always want to see how close I can get.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
But it’s always worth trying.
Levon the Treasure Hunter
Meanwhile Levon, our little treasure hunter, was having the time of his life.
His nose is unstoppable.
This time he found a piece of hide and decided it was the greatest toy in the world. Tossing it in the air, running, playing…
Pure happiness.
Watching him reminded me of something simple but powerful.
Dogs don’t need much to be happy.
A smell.
A stick.
A piece of hide.
And suddenly life is perfect.
There’s something beautiful about that.
We could learn a lot from them.
Returning the Next Day
The next day we came back.
And once again… deer everywhere.
I tried to photograph them, but as you can imagine, with dogs running around, it wasn’t exactly easy.
But on the way back we took a different road.
And that’s when things changed.
Deer, the Wyoming Range, and a Perfect Moment
Suddenly we found deer after deer after deer.
This time the dogs were in the truck, and I was finally able to move slowly and get close.
Really close.
First we saw them with the Wyoming Range rising behind them.
Then we came across a big herd spread across the hills — quiet, alert, and beautiful.
Moments like that remind me why I do this.
Why I keep coming back to these wild places with my camera.
Why I Keep Photographing Wyoming Wildlife
Wildlife photography isn’t always about perfect photos.
Sometimes it’s about the experience. And time with God.
The wind on the hills.
The sound of hooves moving through the sage.
Watching your childrenrun wild in a place that still feels untouched.
And sometimes it’s simply about being grateful that places like this still exist.
Wyoming has a way of reminding you of that.
Thank You for Exploring Wyoming With Us
Thank you for coming along and exploring Wyoming with us.
This journey of photographing wildlife, growing old close to the land, and sharing the beauty of God’s creation means more to us than we can put into words.
If these stories or photographs encourage you, inspire you, or simply help you slow down for a moment, that already means the world to us.
If you’d like to keep following along on this adventure, there are a few gentle ways you can support what we’re building here.
You can follow our journey on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where we share new wildlife encounters, photography stories, and life here in Wyoming.
Some people enjoy bringing a piece of Wyoming home through our online print shop, where we share photographs from the wild places we explore.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter, Notes from Wyoming, where we share quieter stories from behind the camera.
And if you ever feel like cheering us on in a simple way, you can always buy us a coffee to help fuel the next sunrise adventure.
Mostly though, we’re just grateful you’re here.
Thank you for walking these Wyoming hills with us. 🌿
If you’d like to experience the full adventure — the elk on the hill, the deer in the distance, Levon’s treasure hunting, and the landscape that made us fall in love with this place — you can watch the full video of this day on our YouTube channel, where we documented the entire trip.