Is this an ethical owl tour?

Yes!! I only host owing excursions if I believe them to be ethical towards wildlife. I don't bait owls, which means we'll have to put more time in finding them. I also don't intentionally flush owls for flight shots.

How many owls will we see?

Since these are wild owls which are not baited, we'll have to put some time in searching for them each session. We have a 90% success rate finding at least one owl per SESSION (and keep in mind the full tour consists of 5 sessions). Some outings are slow, while other days are very productive and could involve 3 or more owls in a single session.

What other wildlife might we see?

I commonly see deer and coyotes, as well as the occasional fox or moose. If we get lucky we may even see a barred or northern pygmy owl.

Where in Alberta will this tour take place?

We will need to stay near Calgary in a neighbouring city. A number of hotels / motels / AirBnBs are available for you to choose from. Exact location with be disclosed after booking, but feel free to send me a message and I'll provide you with some further insight to assist you with planning before you book.

INTO THE GREY

Quick facts:

- Located in Alberta, Canada

- 2 guides instead of 1

(doubles the frequency of owl sightings; please consider this when reviewing the value of this tour)
- Driving based tour (guests drive separately)
- 5 individual outings

- Photography Tips + Tricks Session and Photo Editing Review included

Things you'll love

about this tour

Ethics are priority

We don't bait, we don't harass, we don't flush. If you're looking to photograph these incredible owls in an appropriate context, you can feel good about joining this tour. We put the work in to locate owls on our own, which takes time and patience but is the right way to do it.

The Owls

Great Grey Owls are typically quite tame and active during good lighting, sometimes even in the middle of the day. This extends our opportunities to photograph them.

TWO guides instead of one

Myself and another photographer are leading this one together - this doubles the frequency of us spotting owls for you.

Location

This location has a healthy population of Great Grey Owls, and we usually have at least one to two encounters per session (keep in mind the trip consists of 5 session)

The Details

Welcome to "Into the Grey" - a 2 and a half day ethical owl viewing and photography experience. If you've never seen a Great Grey Owl before, just wait until one turns its head and stares right at you! It'll be a moment you never forget. GGO's are often active by roadsides, perching on trees, posts and poles. They often have a calm, tolerant demeanour, allowing for prolonged photography and action shots as they hunt.

The trip includes 5 individual owl sessions. On each individual session, we typically have 1 to 3 owl encounters. Throughout the course of the entire tour we normally will have 5-10 great grey owl encounters, with the chance of encountering pygmy owls, barred owls, northern hawk owls, deer, foxes, coyotes, and moose.

We'll travel ahead of you while you follow behind in your own separate vehicle (please note the booking of your vehicle is your responsibility and not included in the trip price). Each individual outing will last several hours as we look for owls and photograph them by the roadside. Please be aware this trip will include a lot of driving each day.

DAILY ITINERARY:
Day 1: We head out mid afternoon for our first session and return after dusk.
Day 2: We aim to be on location by sunrise for several hours of searching for and photographing owls. If owl action slows down, we break for lunch/mid day rest. We then head out again for the second half of the afternoon until dusk.
Day 3: Same as Day 2

TRIP INCLUDES:
- Our "Wildlife Photography Masterclass" - a 1 hour presentation on everything we know, and a Q+A at the end

- A one-on-one Lightroom Editing Session designed to give you the opportunity to enhance your workflow and gain some creative insights when processing your images. We'll sit down with you with laptops open and help you go through some of your exciting new photos as you make final adjustments to them
(These sessions will occur in the evening after one of the days of owling)

PLEASE NOTE: Accommodations, meals, and your own rental vehicle are not included in the trip price. We recommend a vehicle such as an SUV, and one that will have winter tires equipped. You will need to fly in to Calgary, Alberta, and then travel ~45 minutes to a nearby town (disclosed after booking) where you will need to stay for the duration of the tour in order to remain in proximity to the owl location. Many stores and restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Please be aware that the roads will have wintery, slippery conditions. This trip does not involve large amounts of hiking, but may involve walking and standing on unsteady and slippery ground while outside the vehicle.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Release of Liability Waiver
Participation in this tour requires the review and signing of a Release of Liability Waiver. A copy of the waiver will be provided for review prior to booking, and a signed waiver will be required before your reservation is confirmed.

Wildlife Sightings
While efforts will be made to provide exceptional wildlife photography opportunities, wildlife sightings, behaviour, proximity and photographic conditions can never be guaranteed.

Weather & Itinerary
Winter weather and wildlife activity can be unpredictable. The daily itinerary, locations and timing may be adjusted throughout the tour based on weather, road conditions, wildlife activity and other circumstances.

Transportation
Participants are responsible for their own transportation and will drive their own chosen and separately booked vehicle throughout the tour. Participants are responsible for ensuring that their vehicle, insurance, licensing and equipment are appropriate for their use and winter driving conditions.

Physical Requirements
Participants should be prepared for winter conditions, including cold temperatures, snow and potentially uneven or slippery terrain. Some wildlife photography opportunities may require walking while carrying personal camera equipment, and will be along the sides of active roads that do have some traffic.

Wildlife Ethics
The welfare of the wildlife always comes first. Participants are expected to follow the direction of the tour leaders regarding appropriate viewing distances, positioning and behaviour around wildlife.

Gratuities

Gratuities are not included in the trip price, and while they are not required, gratuities for your guides are always greatly appreciated should you feel you received an exceptional experience.

Cancellation Policy

Full payment is required at the time of booking to secure your reservation.

Your payment is fully refundable up until 60 days prior to the tour start date. Cancellations made within 60 days of the tour start date are non-refundable.