Sunset

Teamwork

Here it is ..... proof..... you can barely see the tail of the racoon in this picture who is turning the spin plate to drop corn on the ground below. That's what I call teamwork.

Is it worth the fight?

This coyote and racoon were caught by a trail camera in what appears to be a stare down. It looks to me as if the racoon isn't backing down.

Ace

Ace looks a lot different without his antlers. I found one of his antlers this week and I'm hoping to find the other.

Lots of faces at the trough

I seldom see this many deer at a feed trough. With conditions as dry as it has been there is less native forage for the deer to eat. Hopefully the rain we got this week will bring some new vegetation for them.

The day the rain came

We finally got some much needed rain. This foodplot shown was planted in oats in the middle of October and we haven't had enough rain to bring it up. I'm hoping that enough of the seed is still there so maybe some will germinate. Check the times at the bottom of the pictures. The frirst one is 1:41 PM and the last is 3:53 PM. It didn't take long for 1.2" of rain to soak in. Now we need another rain this coming week. It has been so dry that there are no wildflowers.

It won't be long now

Here are two of the big boys. "Sid" on the left who has lost both antlers and "Bruto" on the right who is shown with only one antler. Soon it will be time for the Easter Antler Hunt. You know, they should be nice and drop their antlers out in the open where I can find them but it just doesn't happen that way.

There it is again...

This bobcat must live close to this feeder. It has often been caught by the camera trying to find a meal.

Feeding the alligators

The kids with Yvette lined up watching the alligators swim up to the bank.

Up close and personal...

Here is one of the alligators waiting for the kids to throw him a minnow.

It was a cool wet day as a "norther" had just blown through. Here the kids pose for a picture with Katie and Yvette. From the left.. friend Steven, Nathan, Clara, Abbie, and Spencer. What you can't see from these pictures is how the kids really got in to getting the minnows out of the cast net and then tossing them to the alligators. I was really impressed with how all were eager to get involved with the fun. They are really some great kids. It was as much fun for me as them. I can't wait for them to come back.

Bobcat

This bobcat must have good hunting at this feed trough. I've seen him and others that were caught by my trail camera when they pass by.

Shedding Antlers Early

I looked back at my pictures from last year and found that the bucks didn't start loosing their antlers until about the twentieth of March. As you can see here I already have one that has lost both antlers by the fifteenth of February. I'm sure that the severe drought that we are having played a part in that happening.

Marking his territory

You have to look closely at the far left corner of this feeder to see what appears to me to be a male Bobcat marking his territory. I've been seeing more and more bobcats. It must be their mating season.

Where's a good bobcat when you need one?

Wild Turkeys

This turkey hen appears to be scratching for the good stuff.

Pretty soon more show up.

When you put out feed, you feed lots of animals.

A pair of bobcats

It looks like these two bobcats are working together to catch mice and rats that frequent this feeder. Or, I guess it could be mateing season too.

Here he is again..... "Guard Rabbit"

It has been awhile since I've last posted pictures. I've been a little busy. Sandra had hip replacement surgery and I've had a few new jobs. She is doing well and is on her way to recovery.
I have squeezed in time to keep the deer fed and downloaded pictures. I'm still amazed at this rabbit that has figured out how to jump up into this trough to feed and watch for predators.

The battles are rough on the young bucks.

Stopping by for a snack

Ace still looks to be in good condition. He is caught by a camera at #6 at 6:28 pm eating some protein.

Foggy morning...

Game camera pictures of cruising the ranch...

It was fun having Lex and Kristi in for Christmas. These pictures were captured by the game cameras as we did our ranch thing. Ginobli got to stretch his muscles too.

Lex catches the big one...

Yesterday Lex castnetted some shiners and we caught bass after bass at this stock tank. We released all of them back so they will live for another day of fun. The one he is holding is the best of the many he caught this day.

Ginobli, the ranch dog...

Here is Ginobli getting ready for another run around the ranch.

Driving "Miss Daisy"

Here is Lex taking his Mom for a spin around the ranch. Kristi flew back to S.C. Sunday and Lex stayed and will drive back today. We spent the days doing what Sam, Sandra's dad use to say trying to "put the big pot into the little pot". We almost did it too.

Upstaters from South Carolina out after bass

Lex and I always have a game on who catches the most bass. He won this day 5-0 and 9-1 yesterday. We now have some nice fillets for a fish fry.

Just look at the glow in their faces, happy times are here.

Ginobli in for a swim

Swimming is something new and different for Ginobli, Kristi and Lex's dog. After a good run around the ranch he was ready to cool off. He was a little hesitant about swimming but after a few tries he took to it quite well.

"The size of the fight in the buck"

I don't even want to know who this yearling buck thought he was big enough to fight. He is the only one I have seen with a major break of an antler.

There he / she is again...

This bobcat has returned again to waylay something... mice, rat, rabbit, or something. It must have been having some success to return. Check out the time. 1:41 AM.

Check this one out...

How about this one? This bobcat is either finishing a meal of a rat or mouse or is waiting for one to show up for feed scraps dropped by the deer.

Dinner Date?

It almost looks like Sid here is waiting on a date at the food trough. I mean check out the moon and all. It is the rut you know.

Coyotes like peanuts too...

Here is a coyote that come by this feeder and appears to be eating some peanuts that I'd shoveled out. He might also be eating some shelled corn too.

Sitting in a blind watching deer

Three out of the last four times I've sat in different blinds I've had "Ace" come by. Two of the times I had hunters sitting with me. He is off limits this year as I want him to breed as many does as possible and pass on his genetics. He is a very nice deer and really is impressive when you see him up close. He seems to rule the areas where he haunts as I've not seen another buck come up whenever he is there. I can't tell you how much fun it is to see nice mature deer on your own ranch.