When most people think of western wildlife hot spots, they think of Yellowstone National Park. Yet sitting just to the south, nestled in between the Tetons and the Gros Ventre range of mountains lies Jackson Hole. The wildlife photography possibilities of Jackson Hole are absolutely mind blowing. Moose, elk, bison, big horn, pronghorn, mule deer, grizzly bear, black bears, gray wolves, and a virtual cornucopia of smaller mammals abound in this valley in the Springtime. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the owls that nest throughout as well.The geology of this valley (or hole as large valleys are known in the Northern Rockies) is what makes Jackson Hole so phenomenal.

One would be hard pressed to design a better scenario for luring in these large mammals. Extensive riparian habitat for moose, dense stands of spruce and fir standing like islands in a sea of open sagebrush on top of cobble stones makes for the ideal elk and mule deer magnets. Pronghorns flood into the valley before the snows melt. Bison of course are a mainstay of this valley while several packs of wolves that now call the valley home can be seen hunting in the sagebrush. Thanks to the extensive willow flats this area is a major elk calf nursery as well which in turn brings the grizzly in mass. Then of course we have the sage grouse, short eared owls, all three color morphs of red tail hawks, bald eagles, golden eagles, spruce for nesting gray owls, cottonwoods for nesting great horned owls. The list goes on. And this is not even touching on the landscape photography!

They key to working Jackson Hole and the Tetons is knowing your subject. What drives them, what are they feeding on that time of year, where are they coming from to get to the Hole, what brought them him here in the first place, and where will they be moving to next. This is what makes a wildlife photography workshop in Jackson Hole and the Tetons with photographer Jared Lloyd different from the rest of the crowd. Jared has both lived and worked as a full time wildlife guide and environmental educator in the Hole and has the intimate working knowledge of the Teton region and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to offer you a photography trip you will not soon forget.

Workshop Details

Cost: $2,100

Dates: June 16-22 2013

(that’s 5 full days of photography)

Lodging: All lodging is included with the price of this workshop. Workshop price is based upon double occupancy. Single supplements are available upon request for an additional price.

What You Can Expect. . .

Skill Level: beginner to professional

Physical Level: moderate

  • Hands on in the field instruction custom tailored to meet your personal needs.
  • You will come away from this workshop with a unique understanding of this ecosystem and the knowledge of how to hone in on key wildlife hotspots regardless of the topography and region, and what it takes to put them at ease, get close, and to work this situation.
  • An unparalleled level of diversity of photographic subjects. The bountifulness of the Spring is directly associated with the depths of the winter. Up here at nearly 7,000 feet, winter is long and the growing season short. The results? Life has but a short time to do its business before the snows return. Baby elk, moose, bears, mule deer, bison, wolves, owls, etc. . . all flood the valley at nearly the exact same time.
  • Life does not so much as grow here in the Spring, as it does explode throughout the valley. On good years, the wildflower display this time of year will rival that of almost any location in North America.
  • Most photographers come here for the charismatic mega-fauna. In other words, big animals with big antlers or big teeth. All the while the smaller majority is often overshadowed by the limelight shining down on the large mammals. It is this smaller majority that is the true testament to the biological diversity and wonder of Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons National Park. In terms of bird life, there are nearly 460 different species that can be found in this valley. Compare that to top bird photography locations on the East which usually top at at around 350.