Moose Encounters - Gaspé National Park

Deep in the mountains in Gaspé National Park, if one is cautious and patient its possible to observe moose in their natural environment. In the midst of the rut season Jacqueline spent days seeking out these giants to observe and photograph them.
   Over rugged terrain and steep mountainsides she sought out massive bulls as they courted their mates on the frosty fall mornings.
  

Two bulls battle as we cautiously photograph them. The sounds of grunts and clashing antlers fill the air as the two giants throw themselves at each other in this deadly contest.
 

A huge bull scents the air in the classic “lip curl” among birch as Jacqueline captures him on film.   

After nearly 2 hours of battle, one bull finally got the upper hand and drove off the other. This battle ended without either injured.

High mountainside meadows and marshes with their twisted alders and birch offer excellent forage for the moose and an incredible view for us as we photograph and observe them. Each season moose chew off the tender tops and new branches of the birch on the sparse mountain slopes causing the birch to twist as they grow.
   If one sits and watches patiently at a meadow on the neighboring mountain, often you are rewarded with a dark speck moving through the grasses. - A zoom in with your telephoto lens reveals a large bull browsing the tops of the trees there or better yet challenging a contender for his domain.