Make a “Little Noise”
Wildlife Photography – Sometimes to Get Closer you have to Make a “Little Noise”
A handheld predator call makes the difference getting these coyote images.
Just one of the many challenges in getting great wildlife images is getting close enough to a wary animal to get the impact and detail. Long fast lenses help, if you have the money. Most of us can’t afford extremely long lenses and/or lenses with fast apertures. So, how do you get close enough to wildlife to capture great images with photo equipment most of us can afford?
Well, I say make a little noise. This might sound counterintuitive, but many animals are curious about sounds. Oftentimes, if they can’t see what’s creating the noise they may just come to check it out.
About a year ago, I was tagging along with some buddies who were archery Elk hunting. One afternoon I set out to check out a waterhole for some sign that elk were using it. As usual I took my camera with me—just in case. Just a few yards from the waterhole, I set up in a ground blind made of downed timber and settled in for an afternoon thunderstorm. Later, as the skies cleared wildlife began to move. Besides the usual small critters (mostly squirrels and birds) I was visited by pair of Coyotes. The problem was, they were crossing away from me about 200 yards out and getting a quality photo was going to be tough.
I had a small mouse squeak coyote coaxer in my pocket. I squeezed it and put out a couple of high pitched chirps. One of the coyotes immediately stopped and stared in my direction. Because all I had to do was squeeze the coaxer, I was able to call without any movement. I kept squeaking and eventually the coyote got interested and broke off from the other coyote and headed my way. I waited for just the right moment and released the shutter when he got to about 18 yards from me. The shutter noise stopped him in his tracks and he looked at me right thru my lens. After another shutter release he figured out I wasn’t something he was interested in and walked off.
On this particular afternoon I got a couple of great images because of my wildlife calling knowledge and being prepared with my camera and hand call. I made a little noise and cut distance between me and the coyote 200 yards to just 18 yards. If you are out and about taking wildlife images and want to get closer, think about adding calls to your plan. The best part is, you don’t need to spend a ton of money. A quality electronic game call can cost around $600. I got these coyote photos ops with a predator call that weighs next to nothing; fits in any pocket, and cost around 4 bucks!
I’ll see you in the field,
Michael J. Burm
Please see my portfolio at: http://mjbphoto.smugmug.com/
