Game Farm/Wildlife Farm

[morabid]

Hello everyone. I live in upstate NY and love to photograph animals of all kinds. I have done zoo's to death and been to many wilderness areas but I am looking for a new variety. I have heard that there are game farms or wildlife farms that are home to many animals of all kinds but I can never find any in my area. I am willing to travel around to neighboring states but have come up with nothing. Anyone out there have any suggestions?

[scot079]

The only ones I know of are in TX

http://www.lensandland.com/

[jsinon]

Check these guys out, http://www.state.me.us/ifw/education/wildlifepark/ I'm planning on a trip as soon as funds allow. In the winter, when they are closed to the public, you can arrange to photograph the animals. It is a bit on the pricey side though. I think the price they quoted me when I emailed them was $150 for the first hour and $50 for each hour after that. I plan on checking it out this summer for the normal admission price to see what it is like, and then may go back next winter. I like the idea of being able to go in the enclosures/off the designated paths to get closer with the animals. But as I said, the price is a little steep.

[Eagle]

http://www.thewilds.org/

[Tom Reichner]

Hello everyone. I live in upstate NY and love to photograph animals of all kinds. I have done zoo's to death and been to many wilderness areas but I am looking for a new variety. I have heard that there are game farms or wildlife farms that are home to many animals of all kinds but I can never find any in my area. I am willing to travel around to neighboring states but have come up with nothing. Anyone out there have any suggestions?

Hello, morabid!

There's a tremendous wolf preserve not too far from you in north Jersey. They do offer photography sessions where you may shoot thru special openings in the enclosure.

The wolves should still look GREAT at this time of year, but don't wait too long, as they shed their winter coats soon (the guard hairs are shed for summer).

Here's a link to the photography page of their site:http://www.lakotawolf.com/Serious_Photo.htm

Photography sessions are rather pricey, so be prepared to lay out some cash for this opportunity. The habitat is a very natural looking eastern deciduous forest. Dan and Pam Bacon own the preserve and are very easy to work with.

[Canonswhitelensesrule]

There are also a couple in Montana...

www.animalsofmontana.com

www.tripledgamefarm.com

There's also a place called Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, NJ that obviously specializes in wolves. Here is their website:

www.lakotawolf.com

[Mike55]

A great article on the ethics of game farms:

http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/conservation-and-ethics/40-conservation-a-ethics/354-game-farm-photography

Note there is a big difference between wildlife sanctuaries and many game farms.

IMHO I would make sure the animals are kept in large enough enclosures and are treated with dignity and well cared for before plunking down the cash. The images in the article show what not to support (tiny cages).

Also, there is the question of game farms "cheapening" the act of wildlife photography. It could take you a lifetime to actually see and shoot a cougar in the wild (and it would probably be a blurry non-ideal shot).

Jut something to ponder, IMHO.