Tales from the new West
Winter 2010 & early 2011
Winter
has
arrived
with
much
colder
temps
and
some
snow.
However,
the
Chinook
winds
will
be
on
their
way
to
melt
all
the
snow
and
gust
to
50
or
60
mph.
It's
a
truly
fascinating
phenomenon.
Unless
the
temperatures
drop
below
freezing
quite
a
ways
or
we
get
much
more
snow
than
a
few
inches,
the
snow
does
not
stay
with
us.
(large files)
The deer are visiting regularly. The large buck disappears during hunting season--which is probably why he's so large.
Our
neighbor
that
had
horses
moved
away
and
the
deer
lost
their
major
source
of
water.
A
very
thirsty
doe
deer
stepped
a
long
way
into
our
small
plastic
pond.
The
only
available
water
in
the
pond
was
nearly
on
the
bottom.
She
appears
to
have
used
the
first
"step"
that
is
molded
into
the
pond.
Risky--and
I
didn't
like
the
idea
of
a
doe
falling
face
first
into
the
pond.
So
I
went
out
and
poured
four
gallons
of
water
into
the
pond.
It
will
freeze
overnight
but
thaw
in
the
day.
That's
the
goal,
anyway.
This year we have had several high wind days. I am writing this part Nov 17th and tomorrow is supposed to be a 60 mph gust day. One local bank was under construction when one of those 60 mph winds hit and knocked the skeleton down in part. The picture shows the cleanup process.
Since
the
weather
was
nice,
we
were
able
to
go
to
the
Hut
for
later
into
the
year
than
in
previous
years.
We
put
an
opening
n
for
the
propane
line.
Now,
when
we
get
some
insulation
next
summer,
the
place
will
be
much
warmer.
We
also
may
add
a
window
for
more
ventilation.
We
put
the
windows
up
for
the
best
view
without
considering
the
best
position
for
cross-ventilation.
In
retrospect,
that
was
a
mistake.
We
saw
far
fewer
critters
this
year
than
in
the
past
years.
No
badgers--but
many,
many
badger
holes.
The
road
has
been
pitted
several
times.
The
prairie
dogs
were
busy
also.
The
badgers
continue
to
dig
even
in
the
winter.
Prairie
dogs
mostly
stay
in
their
burrow
but
will
come
out
on
sunny
days.
badger hole
This is a unique form of camping we saw when headed for the ranch opening day of hunting season
Doe
laying
right
outside
our
bedroom
window,
5
feet
from
the
house
Doe looking in our porch door
We have had raptors in the yard twice in the last two weeks. The first was a small hawk that was eating a rodent. I watched him eating for about 45 minutes before he flew away. Then this week, we found a couple of frozen rabbits from hunting a couple of years ago that were not very good, so we put them out in the yard and waited to see what happened. On the 4th, a golden eagle came in and ate both of these! I watched for over an hour while he dined on the rabbit carcasses and then picked the remains of his talons before flying off! It does not get any better than this!!! Click on the button at the top of this page to see more photos.
Deer in our windbreak