Hoback the moose in Grand Teton National Park

Many moose roam Grand Teton National Park, but none has been as famous in recent years as Hoback, the "King of the Tetons." He's known for his massive size and distinguishing features, including a frequent drop tine and his signature floppy right ear. He's considered one of the oldest moose in the park at ∼15 to 17 years old, which is quite old for a moose in the wild.

This fall, however, Hoback proved elusive. Multiple times I visited an area he'd been seen the day before, only to miss him. Thankfully, on my second to last day, I spotted a handful of folks watching a bull moose grazing out in the sagebrush. I pulled out my binoculars and was thrilled to see his unmistakable drop tine and droopy right ear. His slow gait in old age allowed me to venture out into the sagebrush as he meandered in my direction. He kept his head down in the brush most of the time, so I was thrilled when he briefly looked up, allowing me to take this photo with the Teton Range towering behind him.

As a prime example of the Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi), Hoback represents the smallest of the four North American moose subspecies, yet his presence in the valley is unparalleled. His storied life in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has made him a symbol of the rugged endurance required to survive nearly two decades in the wild. This portrait, taken against the jagged skyline of the Teton Range, captures the essence of the Shiras subspecies—notably the smaller body size and lighter-colored pelage compared to their Alaskan cousins. The clear afternoon light accentuates the "bell" under his chin and the deep textures of his gray-brown coat, which serves as vital insulation against the high-altitude Wyoming winters.

Capturing Hoback with the iconic Cathedral Group in the background required a low-angle perspective to emphasize the monumental scale of both the animal and the landscape. By utilizing a narrow aperture, I ensured that both the fine details of his weathered antlers and the snow-dusted peaks of the Grand Teton were rendered with sharp clarity. For collectors, this image is more than a wildlife portrait; it is a tribute to a park legend. The natural, earthy tones and dramatic composition make it an ideal centerpiece for any collection, especially when printed on archival canvas or high-gloss metal, which brings out the rich contrast between the golden sagebrush and the deep blue shadows of the mountain range.