TrailDog Artisans Photography - Cary Leppert

Devil’s Tower is a symbolic American western icon. It’s cut rock faces have lived in rock climbers dreams as well as native american folklore. This National Monument should be considered on any traveler’s list if they intend to explore the American Mountain West. It sits in Northwest Wyoming and a hiker could spend an entire day hiking around the base and nearby area. Catching the grazing bison in the early morning excited me and I really dig this photograph.

A very wooley American Bison grazing in Badlands National Park near Spring Creek. He was quite content eating with the birds and paid me no mind. Some other bulls were a little more put out by my presence.The American Bison is an icon of the Great Plains. At Badlands, bison roam the 64,000 acre wilderness area in the western side of the North Unit. Visitors to the park can view them, as I did,in the area containing Sage Creek Rim Road.

American Bison at Devil's Tower National Monument in Northern Wyoming.

A huge bull bison watching me as I photograph him at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge outside of Denver Colorado.

While exploring the area around Sage Creek in Badlands National Park we came across this large bull American Bison. He was a good 30+ yards from us but was showing typical signs of dominance and “I am the big boy on the block”. He was rolling in the grass and dusting up the area around him. He was grunting and dropping his head. I heeded his display and moved in the opposite direction. These guys are so interesting, massive and mesmerizing to see in the wild. I really enjoy just watching them do their thing. South Dakota has numerous wild herds and is a fantastic place to check them out. I am so very happy that we didn’t hunt them to extinction and have instead reintroduced them to the wild in our wildlife refuges and parks.

A large bull watching me and protecting the herd. This brute did not like me near the herd at Panorama Point, Nebraska. He was rolling in the grass and then charged me. After I got in my truck he chased the truck for another 30 yards. He was doing his duty to protect the cows. Unfortunately the herd was grazing directly on Panorama Point the highest elevation in Nebraska. I had to wait for over an hour for them to mossey off the high ground.

A huge american bison at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Refuge having a drink after a day of grazing.

A large bull relaxing in the warm sun in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. These enormous animals are amazing up close and I really appreciate the herds that have been set free in the national park.

A bison at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge looking for something he can use to scratch an itch.

A bison finds a concrete block to scratch that annoying itch at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Refuge near Denver Colorado.

A family of bison relaxing in the grass at Custer State Park in South Dakota.