Taking a year off of work to travel and photograph the country-where and when to go?

While you're gone, if you need someone to take over your job, let me know.

No mention of the great smokey mtns?

gregpphoto mentioned the Wallowa mountains in Oregon. Be sure to stop in Joseph which is a town named after Chief Joseph. Stunning Swiss like mountains, cool old west feel, and art galleries galore. There are numerous large bronze statues on many of the corners on Main St.

snowyowl13 wrote in post #7280521
If you want to see Wood Bison go to the MacKenzie Bison Sanctuary, NWT in early June. If you hit NWT or northern Alberta in May you just might get caribou.

I know snowyowl is speaking of Woods Bison, a subspecies. But if you just want to see Bison in general, and tire of Yellowstone's crowds, I recommend Custer State Park in South Dakota. It's nor far off of I-90 (about 45 mins south of the interstate), and also about 45 minutes fron the Wyoming border. It may be the best place for Bison photography that there is. Excellent Pronghorn Antelope opportunities, as well. Also great for Prairie Dogs, and ok for Whitetail Deer. Truly a little-known gem!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #7387793
Custer State Park in South Dakota. It's nor far off of I-90 (about 45 mins south of the interstate), and also about 45 minutes fron the Wyoming border. It may be the best place for Bison photography that there is. Excellent Pronghorn Antelope opportunities, as well. Also great for Prairie Dogs, and ok for Whitetail Deer. Truly a little-known gem!

Yea, I've never even heard of that, and I spend half my days researching state and national parks!

You definitely want to go to Nevada in the spring or fall. I lived out there for a while and while it might be a bit cooler in the mountains than the valley, it still gets extremely hot. I love the Valley of Fire, one of my most favorite shots ever was taken there. Is there a reason you aren't visiting Mt. Charleston?

My old co-worker packed up and moved to Wyoming for awhile to pursue photography and his shots from Jackson Hole are phenomenal! He also got married in Death Valley during February and got some amazing shots there as well. Depending on where you are during the winter months, you might want to consider stopping and seeing the beauty of the desert.

Enjoy! I'm extremely jealous and wish I could do the same thing as you.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #7387793
I know snowyowl is speaking of Woods Bison, a subspecies. But if you just want to see Bison in general, and tire of Yellowstone's crowds, I recommend Custer State Park in South Dakota. It's nor far off of I-90 (about 45 mins south of the interstate), and also about 45 minutes fron the Wyoming border. It may be the best place for Bison photography that there is. Excellent Pronghorn Antelope opportunities, as well. Also great for Prairie Dogs, and ok for Whitetail Deer. Truly a little-known gem!

This is spot on. Don't forget Wind Cave National Park which is quite similar and borders Custer State Park:

http://www.parkcamper.​com …tional-Park-sidetrips.htm

Also, Badlands National Park is less than 100 miles east of both places.....