The Negotiation

Pronghorn Antelope

Probably my favorite moment from the sojourn to Yellowstone. This gorgeous Pronghorn Antelope was one of the animals I most wanted to see. As a young boy I ran track & field and I was always enamored with speed...Pronghorns have it in abundance. They are the fastest land animals on the continent. Able to reach speeds of 60mph! This guy however was in no such hurry. He was lying in a huge grassy expanse in the middle of the Lamar Valley, in Yellowstone’s North Eastern most corner. He spotted me long before I was close enough for this photo but instead of standing and running, he just watched me with great curiosity. This…I soon realized was a negotiation...I would literally take 5 steps forward and then two steps back. Forward...wait a few minutes...and then back. I did this dance with him for almost an hour. On more than one occasion, he rose to his feet and considered a Usain Bolt like sprint, but upon seeing me halt and retreat, he would relax and lie back down, all the while still intrigued with my cautious approach. When I was within reach and started clicking away with my camera, he rose again and stared at me with the most beautiful eyes. I wanted that moment to last forever....but after a few amazing moments, he decided it was time to leave. Instead of running off...he merely sauntered away, occasionally looking back at me over his shoulder. It was all the feels!