Beyond the Wild

It’s that time of year for the BTW Crew’s favourite annual session: reflecting on memorable wildlife encounters from the past year. Two thousand twenty-five was a big year of photography accomplishments and phenomenal luck. Ron, Jason and Mark discuss their favourite moments and share personal stories about wildlife encounters and photography techniques. Special thanks go out to our supporters for helping make 2025 such an amazing year of new experiences, and thanks for sharing the thrill of wildlife photography, the joy of sharing experiences with friends, and the surprises that nature brings.

Sound Bites

"The morning that the moose stood still."
"Go out when the conditions are bad."
"Incredible wolf encounters this year!"
"Life is about making time for experiences."
"Wildlife photography is 95% waiting."
"Personal milestones make the best memories."
"Nature always surprises us in the best ways."

Chapters

03:10 Reflecting on 2025: Highlights and Experiences
06:04 Sponsorship Appreciation and Community Engagement
08:50 Personal Highlights from the Year
11:58 Photography Adventures and Techniques
18:02 Wildlife Encounters and Memorable Moments
27:02 Looking Ahead: Future Photography Opportunities
28:49 Incredible Wolf Encounters
34:20 Memorable Wildlife Photography Experiences
40:56 The Dynamics of Wildlife Behavior
49:31 Introduction to Drone Photography
55:24 Reflections on Life and Wildlife
01:03:01 Capturing Unique Moments in Nature
01:10:20 Personal Milestones and Family Moments
Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, hosts Ron Hayes and Mark Raycroft welcome guests Tristen Vega Moffett and Neil Simmons, the owners of Roam Wild Photo Tours. Tristen and Neil are professional photographers and run tours in Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Park. They tell of an epic snow coach trip where they witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime wolf-pack attack on a bull bison. Although this natural occurrence is vital and has been happening for thousands of years, photographing it is difficult and confounding. This is just one of the unique opportunities these National Parks provide to peer into the wonders of the wild.

Links

Website: www.roamwildphototours.com

Instagram: @roamwildphototours

Tristen’s Instagram: @wildly.tristen

Neil’s Instagram: @neilsimmonsphotography

Mollie’s Pack Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv2vjwwZznA

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, hosts Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus welcome host and guest, Mark Raycroft and his wife, Pili, to discuss their recent adventures in Nunavik, leading a tour to photograph musk ox in the stunning northern landscape. This epic trip to photograph these unique creatures during the rut is filled with amazing stories and adventures. They also discuss the unique accommodations, travel logistics, the beauty of fall colours, and the behaviour of musk ox during the rutting season. With plans for future trips already in motion, the hosts express their excitement for more adventures to come.
Chapters
00:00 Reunion and Exciting Travels
03:15 Adventures in Nunavik
10:00 The Journey to the Camp
12:35 First Impressions and Musk Ox Sightings
16:30 The Beauty of Northern Colors
21:02 Understanding musk ox Behavior
25:12 Photographic Opportunities with musk ox
34:45 First Encounters with Musk Oxen
37:01 Observing Herd Dynamics and Behavior
39:36 The Prehistoric Connection: Musk Oxen and Their Environment
42:04 Capturing Stunning Wildlife Photography
44:54 Exploring the Vast Northern Landscape
48:14 Day Two Adventures: New Herd Discoveries
52:05 Unexpected Encounters: Bears and Other Wildlife
55:57 Weather Challenges and Adaptations
59:49 Comforts of Camp Life
01:03:01 Future Trips and Conservation Efforts
Links

Website: https://www.markraycroft.com/p/musk-ox-photo-tours

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast, hosts Mark Raycroft and Jason Loftus engage in a lively debate moderated by Drew Hamilton of Discover Churchill Tours, discussing the differences between whitetail and mule deer. They explore various aspects such as habitat, behavior, fieldcraft for photography, antler characteristics, marketability of images, and the intelligence of both species. The conversation culminates in a fun challenge where both hosts attempt to mimic deer calls, leading to a light-hearted conclusion that leaves the debate open to audience interpretation. You likely don’t want to miss this one.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Dynamics
02:11 The Great Deer Debate: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer
04:09 Understanding Whitetail Deer
07:08 Exploring Mule Deer Characteristics
12:14 Fieldcraft for Photographing Deer
19:18 Antler Comparisons: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer
27:54 Sales and Marketability of Deer Photography
32:33 Intelligence of Whitetail vs. Mule Deer
37:00 Imagining the Perfect Deer Shot
42:01 Autumn's Beauty and Wildlife Dynamics
43:44 The Role of AI in Photography
46:06 Debating Deer: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer
51:25 Calling in the Wild: Vocalizations of Deer
58:34 A Friendly Competition: Snort Wheeze Showdown
01:01:48 Conservation and the Future of Deer Species
01:04:58 Exploring the Aurora Season in Churchill

Links
Drew Hamilton
www.discoverchurchill.com
​ ⁨@drewhh⁩

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.

In this episode of Beyond the Wild, host Ron Hayes and Jason Loftus welcome wildlife photographer Julia Cook. Julia has accomplished more in five years than many wildlife photography enthusiasts, and she shares her journey into wildlife photography, her experiences in Yellowstone, and the differences in bear behavior between Yellowstone and Katmai. Jason and Julia discuss their recent trip to Churchill, Canada, where they experienced incredible polar bear encounters. The conversation also highlights Julia’s personal experiences with wildlife photography projects, including the release of black-footed ferrets. Join us for this enjoyable episode and see how fast Julia became “hooked” on wildlife photography.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:05 Wildlife Photography Beginnings
03:58 Experiences in Churchill
06:50 Polar Bear Encounters
09:54 Evening Activities and Aurora
13:03 Guided Tours and Bear Sightings
15:52 Julia's Journey in Wildlife Photography
18:58 Guiding in Yellowstone
20:50 Summer Adventures and Outdoor Experiences
21:45 Memorable Wildlife Encounters
22:58 The Elusive Wolverine
26:00 Grizzly Bears: A Passion for Photography
28:09 First Encounters with Grizzly Bears
29:34 Safety in Bear Country
30:25 Research and Photography in Katmai
31:51 Understanding Bear Behavior
37:40 Citizen Science and Bear Identification
39:43 Upcoming Projects and Workshops
45:00 Conservation Efforts and Breeding Programs
48:27 Wildlife Encounters and Personal Experiences
50:28 Future Wildlife Adventures and Aspirations
53:56 Wildlife Photography and Unique Sightings
57:58 Traveling for Wildlife and Cultural Experiences
01:01:59 Reflections on Wildlife and Community Engagement

Links

Instagram: @juliacookwildlife
Website: www.juliacookwildlife.com

Thanks for tuning in to the Beyond the Wild Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to stay notified about upcoming episodes for your listening and viewing pleasure! Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.