My brother Bob drove all the way from Corpus Christi to Tulsa to have Thanksgiving with us. Logan and I decided to take him to the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve about an hour from Tulsa in the Osage hills. It is Frank Phillips old ranch. You know the guy who started Phillips Petroleum. He is long gone but the company he founded and his ranch are still going. I love the museum, but that is for another day. Today I am posting about the bison and deer on the preserve.
There are lots of bison there. I used an HDR technique to get halfway decent shots. I don’t know about you but bison shots are tough. They just soak up the light and end up being black blobs unless I overexpose the shot and then their surroundings look like they have been nuked.
There was a calf there. This one is red. I am not sure but I think somebody told me that all bison calves are red. Anybody out there know for sure?
Where does a bison lay down goes a variation on the old joke. You go make this guy move if you don’t like where he has planted himself.
There were lots of deer out Saturday. They are very watchful but not as wary as they would be outside the preserve.
I like how they lock their attention on you. I am not a deer expert mind you and the only thing I shoot them with is my camera but I think these are European fallow deer. There are also Japanese Sika deer and we saw some but they were far off. And hey readers, if I am mistaken let me know!
Whoops, what is going on over there.
Woolaroc has lots of other animals roaming loose. Just as we were leaving the gate a herd of elk appeared and they have Scottish highland cattle, and Texas longhorns.
Linking with Camera Critters and Saturday’s Critters
Oh, I love the Bison and what terrific pics!! Thanks so much for sharing these!! Sounds as all of you had a great holiday with your brother there to join you!!
So that’s the problem, because bison “just soak up the light and end up being black blobs.” And I suppose that’s true for the hybrids too. But you did get some very nice shots. Nice to get a boys day out with the wildlife.
I have rarely been able to get decent shots of bison.
Yes overexposing can be tricky but in this case I think your photos are spot on. The Bison are just beautiful animals but I guess not messed with?
The white-tailed deer are everywhere in Maine. Bison are here but few and not readily available to the eye. I’ve seen them grazing on a bison ranch… next stop a menu in a restaurant.
nice place to take a drive! we have a few ranchers in the area that keep a few bison. really neat.
Both the bison and the deer are beautiful animals.
What a great place to see all these neat looking animals.
If I visit Tulsa this is one place I definitely want to go!
Alan,
I love this place—the ranch and the art and the landscape…thanks
Both animals are fantastic to see. Have a lovely weekend.
i love Bison … such character. they are bunches of them around here in VA. i guess for their meat. poor things. i guess it is healthier in the long run. ( :
What a neat place! I love the bison and the deer, glad they have a safe place to call home! Thank you for linking up, have a happy weekend!
Is this ranch open to the public or is it private? I have taken a few shots of bison before and they all did exactly what you said–became black blobs..sometimes with an eye staring at me. LOL!
Gorgeous creatures !
Great photos !
Gorgeous creatures !
Great photos !
Bison are such amazing-looking critters!
I never see them, thank you.
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A wonderful series of captures, Alan. Know what you mean about trying to avoid black blobs!
You got some wonderful close ups of the bison in this preserve, Yogi! It is difficult to photograph them as they are so dark. I’ve seen brown Bison calves, so I’m not so sure all are born red in color.
The deer were very pretty. I am used to the mule deer that we have here that have giant ears