Alberta Bound......

A poor imitation of Gordon Lightfoot but thanks to Rick and Darren (who had to go and show us all those amazing *&#$%&%^ images) a week from tonight I'll be sleeping in Alberta and I need some assistance. Having photographed elk in RMNP for many years and knowing their haunts and habits, I'm wondering if near Jasper or Banff there are any slam dunk elk locations. Stuff like Morraine Park in RMNP where you ALWAYS see elk in September. So those of you who've been there, put on your thinking caps and help a brother out. Thanks in advance.

Bill

Why would you drive all the way to Canada to shoot elk when, by your own admission, you've had success with them in RMNP? Having said that, I've seen (from a distance, never been there) that Banff is a lot like Estes Park, wherein it would be harder to not see elk than to see them. You'd better come back with some elk-filled meadows with Canadian mountains as a backdrop!

Hey Bill - can't be of much help with the Elk, I'm afraid. But given how much wildlife we came across up there - including a close encounter with a mama grizzly and her two cubs - I don't think you'll have much trouble finding what you're looking for... if you can avert your gaze from the mountains, that is.

Maybe Darren will chime in since he's been up there in fall, but my guess is that you may have to get out of Jasper and Banff to have an experience similar to RMNP. As you'll find, the mountains are more rugged and meadows less common and less expansive than in RMNP. Perhaps in some of the nearby Provincial Parks, you'd be more likely to see the big herds.

Regardless of what you find up there, I'm sure you'll enjoy it - spectacular place!!

Thanks Rick and Todd. Great question, Todd..why WOULD I drive all the way there to shoot elk? Hmmm, let me think....Mt Robson, Mt Edith Cavell, Morraine Lake, Peyto Lake, the Ram Range...I could go on but the boss gets cranky if I'm late for work. Have a grand day folks.

Bill

When we stayed in Banff the hotel owner complained about the elk eating his flowers all the time!

Bill

The elk are everywhere near the towns of Banff and Jasper. Just drive the roads around the east end of Banff and the south end of Jasper. And keep your eye out for black bear that are wandering around at that time. The elk in Canada seem to have heavier looking antlers and appear to be larger than those found at RMNP. Good luck on your trip.. There is a frontage road that goes north from Banff to Lake Louise you might investigate, rather than driving the main highway.

Bill,

Try to get your hands on the Darren Wigget book on shooting in the canadian rockies. Ihave it if you want to take a look at it.

RichieV

"The elk in Canada seem to have heavier looking antlers and appear to be larger than those found at RMNP"

That could be because they're eating themselves out of house & home in RMNP.

I visited Banff and Jasper in 2005 and in 2006 went to Jasper and Wells Gray Provincial Park. I stayed away from the town of Banff. The elk congregate between Jasper north to Snaring River. Most of the time I found them just out of town between hiway 16 and the Athabasca River. Many times if you use the pullout just north of town and look down on the river the elk will be on the little islands. But they move around quite a bit. Further north of town, again between the hiway and the river, is a small picnic area (there is a pit toilet building there) and it is an open field area. If you walk back through the trees you arrive at the river at water level, not an overlook. I have photographed elk back there too. Further north is a turnoff to Snaring River campground, along that road I have found elk but small groups. Go past the snaring river campground a ways and the pavement ends. The dirt road goes through pine and open areas where I have only seen lone bulls. That would be the area I would like to find a herd, away from the hiway. Keep in mind the total distance between the town and Snaring River campground is only 10 miles. If you are camping and want to get away from the people, Snaring River campground will be less crowded. It was already closed when I was there last year. My favorite campground is the small Columbia Icefield campground which is on the Icefield Parkway near the Columbia Icefield. It overlooks the valley and mountains on the other side. You have to get their early in the day tho.

Hope this helps,

Duane