Late fall has turned into winter, and I doubt I’ll be filming my moose friends in the water this year. But hey, that’s the way wildlife photography goes. Each year brings something different, and you roll with the changes.
By the way, moose are a featured species in my debut novel, “The Puller”.
Well everyone, it looks like winter is here. How do I feel about it? the freezing temps and snow are cute for a few days. Then it turns into a relentless grind. It’s character forming, however.
Recently, the Washington Post wrote about the “land rush” here in Montana, and how residents from places like New York and California are “escaping Covid-19”.
They are in for a big surprise. I’ve heard estimates of 35,000 new residents. Many of whom bought houses sight unseen. This weekend, western Montana was slammed with below zero temps and up to a foot of snow. And it’s not even Halloween.
I’m not quite sure why California residents, or Oregon residents are bailing for Montana. The weather here is FAR WORSE than either of those states, both of which you have the option of driving to “new weather” within a half hour drive. This is not the case for Montana. What you see is what you get…for hundreds of miles.
I’m also a little confused as to why California residents would pass up the tens of millions of undiscovered acres and federal land between San Francisco and Montana. That’s a lot of amazing scenery, and much better weather they’re just skipping across.
And finally, I’ve never quite understood why people “escape the cities and suburbs” yet bring that exact property aesthetic to the new place (in this case the Rockies, and in this case cutting down native flora and replacing it with golf course lawns). I plan to write some more about this, and it is of course detailed in a few of my unpublished novels I have set aside for a rainy day.
Anyway greetings from Montana. It’s freaking cold.
I had a great time this week hanging out with my friend Brynne. She flew out to Missoula from Denver, and we were able to enjoy a couple fine establishments and federal public land. Winter is here, though. Before Halloween even.
For a long time, a legendary white-tailed buck named “Duke” roamed the western Montana mountains. Myself, and a couple photographer friends were awed by Duke…especially during late fall when he was more easily filmed.
Duke was known for his especially vertical and massive antlers…like a crown. It gave him a stately look,
thus the name “Duke”.
For years, we filmed him in late fall with great joy. You could count on him to show up like clockwork.
Then one fall, old Duke didn’t show. And the next year, and the next. Even though I’d visit exactly where I knew he lived.
This went on for years. Every late fall, I’d travel to where he used to be and wish I could film him again.
Yesterday, I was in the western mountains, camera in hand (as always). My goal was to film owls in the cold pre-storm light. By chance, I happened to be in the exact spot where Duke used to roam.
As I walked, I heard a rustling in the branches. I turned, and one of the most majestic bucks I’d ever seen appeared from the brush. His antlers were unmistakably similar to Dukes’.
I realized, then and there, that old Duke had passed on his genes to this amazing new buck.
I won’t look back on Dukes’ old haunting grounds with sadness anymore. He lives on in the western mountains.
– Michael
As promised, this page now gets a daily update.
I’m currently in Missoula, and it looks like winter has arrived.
I’m writing a new novel with an original concept, and also putting together a new short story collection at my favorite coffee shop.
I filmed this elk last week, and it was 79 degrees. This Saturday it’s going to be 8 degrees. That’s just Montana for you.
Hope you all have a great Sunday.
best,
– Michael
