Evan Jones
Nestled near Dixon Montana is the National Bison Range. I took a drive to Montana to see some bison and get some epic photos. I found out about the National Bison Range while researching on the internet. At first I thought that it would only be open in the spring and summer, but the website states that the lower of the two drives is open in the winter also. Being the crazy guy I am, I decided to take off one Saturday and check it out. Missoula Montana is about 3 1/2 hours from home but it took me nearly 6 hours to get there because I was driving on “photographer’s time” (stopping at every cool spot to take pics).
https://rusticlens.smugmug.com/Montana-Bison-Trip/i-rswHcfF/A
Highway 12 makes for a beautiful and scenic, but curvy drive to Missoula. It had just finished raining and the sky was interesting and dramatic. I stopped and added two shots to my milepost project along the way. The trouble with Idaho is not in finding something interesting or beautiful, it’s finding somewhere to pull over to shoot it.
https://rusticlens.smugmug.com/Montana-Bison-Trip/i-rZgnfgp/A
I also found a couple pretty cool little waterfalls to practice my slow exposure on. I had to walk back from a pull out quite a ways to get this one.
I stayed the night in Missoula and got up early the next morning to do a sunrise shoot at the Bison Range. Upon arriving, I was excited and took the shot of the sign. I was envisioning these awesome shots of bison with snow in their fur. Adding to my joy was the fact that I was the only person there. I drove into the range and drove all the way down the lower road………. and saw not one bison! They were all hiding somewhere else on the range that you can’t get to in the winter! What a bummer. So I made the best of it and took some more nice shots on the way back west on Highway 12.
https://rusticlens.smugmug.com/Montana-Bison-Trip/i-cv3QjMs/A
At least I didn’t come back empty handed. I plan to visit the Bison Range in nicer weather for some redemption. Right before the turn off for home, I got this shot of the sunset over the Clearwater River Valley.
https://rusticlens.smugmug.com/Montana-Bison-Trip/i-rTTKk8M/A
Click here to see some more awesome shots from this trip!
Get more info on The Bison Range on their website.
Have you ever taken a trip that was a total bust but came out ok in the end?
[…] She really wanted to catch a fairy. This is where this story ties in with my trip to see the Bison. I really wanted her to succeed in catching a fairy, (wink wink) so you can imagine how glad I was […]