OK trip - Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

[Chris Ober]

The first weekend in May I'll be making another trip to Oklahoma and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. I have a small group planning on going and more are welcome to join. Subjects include: Elk, turkey, longhorn, bison, deer, prairie dogs, landscapes galore, meadowlark, burrowing owls, scissor-tailed flycatchers, eastern collared lizards, and much more.

This won't be the first time I've been to the refuge so I'm a bit familiar with the area. You don't want miss the buffalo burgers in Meers either! :)

We'll be camping and I'll drive up Wednesday evening on April 30th for 4 nights. Lawton is 20-30 minutes away if you want to hotel it.

I can provide more information if anyone is interested in joining us.

[Judd Patterson]

Wish that I could come Chris. I've always wanted to visit Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge...it sounds like a great spot that is perfect to visit in late April/early May. Good luck and please share your trip photographs here!

[Steve Wheeler]

Hi Chris... I'm in the Dallas area and would be interested in getting some more information on your trip. I've been up there twice, but it was many, MANY years ago. Do you have a web site where we might see shots you've taken up there?

Thanks,

Steve

[Chris Ober]

Here's a few I have up on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisober/tags/wmnwr/
I'll try to get some more added.

[Terry Eddington]

Chris, is this a workshop or just a get together of like minded photogs? How much reach is needed for most shots? Sounds interesting.

[Chris Ober]

It's just a get together for anyone interested. Range of lenses just varies. You can get bison, longhorn, and elk with a 70-200 from the main road some days. Other days, a 500-600 is needed. Prairie dogs will come within couple feet of you and given enough time, would take food from your hand. There are a lot of landscape opportunities as well. I've used a 20mm all the way up to a 600 for the collared lizards but usually end up mostly using a 300-400 handheld.

[Chris Ober]

Link to their site - http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges...ins/index.html

[Chris Ober]

Anyone, anyone? :)

[Jeff Parker]

I'm game. Are you guys camping? This is for May 3-4?

[Chris Ober]

Sounds good. I'll be there May 1-4. The small group has dwindled down to just myself and a friend but we'll be there regardless.

[Robert Amoruso]

I was just there second week in April.

[Chris Ober]

How was it?

[Robert Amoruso]

Chris,

I was with relatives so was "kind of pressured" not to spend my normal time photographing, but I did good with the bison right off the road in great afternoon light. Some good prairie dog images and a few scenics. No elk though they were reported to be around.

Definitely could spend a week there.

[Jeff Parker]

How did it go?

[Robert Amoruso]

How did it go?

I did good enough that I am planning a workshop there in the fall.

[Chris Ober]

Was pretty good overall. Clouds didn't cooperate too much for landscapes but we managed a few. The lizards and buffalo were plenty. We saw elk and turkey a few times but nothing that provided good opportunities.