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Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on August 09, 2018, 05:38 AM:
What is the peanut gallery up to these hot august days?
This is the month that is 6 months long on the mountain tops.
I hate AUGUST!! with a passion.
Smoked in can't see beyond a air mile or so.
Back to being a braille lookout. I use a lot of webcams for my eyes.. If there were just more in the location I would like to see. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Still fighting a ear problem. The tube is plugged and I feel like I'm going deaf in the left ear. Seen the Doc this past Tuesday. He's amped me up on steroids for a few days to try and bust it loose. It might be working. I've felt the ear drum do some popping which it hasn't for a month now it seems like. Being older sucks!!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 09, 2018, 06:04 AM:
We are helping as best we can. Don't give up!
PS is it true, it's all dead wood anyway? Bark beetles, not GLOBAL WARMING?
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on August 09, 2018, 06:43 AM:
Getting ready for the upcoming archery seasons in a couple of weeks.
3D shoot this Sat.
The weeds in the yard are growing taller and creeping ever closer. Need to get the flamethrower out. Fire is the only thing that they fear.
Posted by Lonny (Member # 19) on August 09, 2018, 07:13 AM:
Not a fan of August either.
To keep myself busy, I've been slaying young Ponderosa Pines at a high rate lately. We have way too many in certain areas and unless they get thinned by me, Mother Nature will do the thinning and that can get ugly and cost a lot more money.
Unfortunately, looking back on the trees I left while thinning, the beetles have now attacked some of those trees I wanted to leave. It's no biggie to lose a few, just don't want the majority of the stand to die.
These hot, dry summers, make it tough going for trees that are competing for limited moisture and more susceptible to beetle attacks.
Anyway, it keeps me busy in my spare time.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on August 09, 2018, 08:08 AM:
Still getting monsoon rains and everything is green in northern Az. Been a very wet summer must be bark beetles eh Leonard ? lol its just what happens during an El Nino cycle!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 09, 2018, 09:50 AM:
I dunno, Paul. What does Q say?
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on August 09, 2018, 10:33 AM:
Shooting coyotes in 105 degree weather and getting ready for archery season here.
Also been handloading a lot...I was getting low on 22-250 so I set up and been pulling the lever every night. Sometimes I loath reloading and sometimes I really enjoy it...right now Im enjoying it. Im loading some LEAD FREE hollow points and they are shooting really good so it makes me happy.
Mark
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on August 09, 2018, 11:37 AM:
First time I have ever seen dirty air up here must be Smoke from California !
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on August 09, 2018, 11:38 AM:
[ August 10, 2018, 04:22 AM: Message edited by: Paul Melching ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 09, 2018, 12:03 PM:
Here are some photos that earth walker sent me.
I hope she can jump in and tell us what's going on?
edit:
[ August 09, 2018, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on August 09, 2018, 01:43 PM:
First pic was the MM73 Hwy 55 fire just north of Horseshoe Bend. Had a good north wind on it later that night. Was afraid it was going to get to HSB. It's totally contained now.
Second pic was the Keithly creek fire out of Midvale. It also ran to the south and threatened a lot of ranches went close into Mann Creek Res. It's contained now.
Third pic is the Mesa fire just south of Council. 57% contained. It's been making little runs here and there. Can't see smoked in.
Fourth pic is the nasty angry gobbling Rabbit Foot fire. It's spotting and has a fairly big finger running to the south back down the top end of Morgan creek. They will be in a red flag warning tomorrow for a Haines 6 high, low RH and gusty winds. Not looking good. The team is thinking of expanding the closure area. This one is going to piss of a lot of hunters. Not getting it out until fall rains/snow. Oct 31 is what they are saying. Can't get over the summit into Meyers Cove area or Cobalt.
I know some of the names don't mean much to a lot of you but some of you might know some of these areas.
104* at my house in the valley. I'm 85* on the mountain and the AC unit can't get the inside below 90* right now.
I can't see well over 2 air miles in all directions.
The whole southern half of the state is from E-W is in a stage 1 fire restrictions. Fire crews out patrolling and they have found 2 camp fires on a 100 degree day. People are really stupid!
Posted by Eddie (Member # 4324) on August 09, 2018, 03:20 PM:
Well my back went out 3 weeks ago, just now feeling like doing something. Going up to oldest sons Sunday to do a little crappie fishing. Hope everyone are doing well.
Wish my reloading room had a AC, like L H I need to load up some 22-250.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on August 09, 2018, 05:12 PM:
Good pics. It would appears to look better than what it is. Smoke is like a light-medium fog here.
She can see my place sort of from there..Lol
Bluffs on the river about three miles away can hardly see 'em.
I know some of the ranchers in the Midvale & Council area. They were all a "tad" spooked. Ok for now. I guess ?
Posted by NVWalt (Member # 375) on August 10, 2018, 01:50 AM:
With all that you got in the west, I just checked my rain guage and got 1-1/8 inches of rain last night. To wet to go down to my range and knock over sillywets. I feel for you all. I know my old stomping grounds in Nevada have taken a beating and will be nothing but cheatgrass this spring. So sad.
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on August 10, 2018, 11:06 AM:
I can't see beyond 2 air miles for the last 2 weeks. Those pics were before the smoke moved in.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on August 10, 2018, 05:41 PM:
My wife said they reported *111* @ the Boise airport.
Near as I can tell it only hit *108* here in New Plymouth.
Oh' yeah, the county fair has started a couple miles down the road. Why can't they do this shit in March-April, even May or June ? I would consider attending ?
This my 3rd summer on this joint. Never seen so many flies ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
[ August 10, 2018, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 13, 2018, 10:50 AM:
August has always been one of my favorite months. Bow hunt. Shorts and flip flops. Monsoon season. No top on the Jeep. Kids not back in school yet. I love August.
Been up to just a little bit of what I usually spend most of August doing. But not as much as I'd like or normally do. Up to my eyeballs in a home improvement project that is kicking my ass and taking up all my time instead. I ain't cut out for doing tile...
But, anyway, took the family camping last weekend and snapped a few pics of the velvety goodness and one surprise lion.
- DAA
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 13, 2018, 11:38 AM:
You sure have a talent! Thanks for sharing. Now, get on that tile.
Good Hunting. El Bee
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on August 13, 2018, 11:41 AM:
Ear is unplugging. Yahooo!!!
I still HATE August!!
Smoke moved out yesterday. It was nice to be able to see again.
Smoke moving back in today. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
I still HATE AUGUST!!
Saturday the smoke smelled like burnt garbage. All our smoke is coming from Calif.
Rabbit Foot fire is 15k and growing daily. It has moved just about in all directions.
Early bow hunters are going to be cut off from a lot of country for a while.
Pray for rain!! on the fire !!
Posted by MI VHNTR (Member # 3370) on August 13, 2018, 05:52 PM:
DAA, excellent pictures as usual. Thanks for sharing.
The air here in the UP of Michigan is hazy due to the fires in Canada. It's been hot and humid so far this month.
Posted by Lonny (Member # 19) on August 13, 2018, 07:33 PM:
DAA, great pics! Love the lion! How did that come about?
August here so far has been really smokey with visibility around a 1/4 mile and very hot temps. Fire danger is off the charts at the moment and with no rain in 6-7 weeks we are hurting for some.
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 14, 2018, 02:43 AM:
Lonny, just drove up on it, basically. Had a valid tag and a rifle on me, too. Just didn't feel like zapping a freebie.
- DAA
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on August 14, 2018, 09:32 AM:
Freakin sweet!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 14, 2018, 10:53 AM:
What's friggin' sweet is that very last photo of the cozy radiant campfire, next to the incomprehensible Milky Way. Why not ponder it once more for some cosmic cerebral enrichment? Can't hurt.
edit: and is that Mars or Venus?
Good hunting. El Bee
[ August 14, 2018, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 14, 2018, 05:00 PM:
Mars ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
.
- DAA
Posted by knockemdown (Member # 3588) on August 16, 2018, 04:15 AM:
OUTSTANDING photos, Dave!
Posted by Az-Hunter (Member # 17) on August 16, 2018, 06:26 AM:
Dave; your outdoor photos, do for my mind and eyes, what a cold beer on a hot summer day does for my well being.....just makes a guy feel content and smile.
It's not just fraternity brother stroking you get here from all of us on the forum, you truly have a unique talent when you slip behind the camera. Photography is indeed an art form, not everyone can do it, you, obviously can.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 16, 2018, 09:32 AM:
I like the laid back response to the question about how the lion photo occurred. (a once in a lifetime event for most of us)
"Uh, I just drove up on him"....or something like that? Yeah, I bet. I've seen very few lions, by accident, as opposed to intentional calling. Just two, that I recall, right now. I've also killed a couple but that was no casual encounter.
Another thing, just where does this guy go camping, populated with scads of trophy class mule deer? This is another rare sighting for most of us without having to climb a couple steep mountains, and then we get a shot of them bouncing away. No, it's like some Alice in Wonderland Park where tame deer nuzzle at your pocket for a candy. He's charmed, a spellbinder like that fairy tale doctor that talks to the animals.
Whatever, we are grateful for the sharing. Thanks, Dave. You rascal!
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on August 16, 2018, 09:55 AM:
Yeah Dave, you could at last drop me a pin on those deer once in a while.
Mark
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 16, 2018, 11:13 AM:
You guys crack me up .
Leonard, true story, my partner Tim had a doe trained to eat out of his had at this camp spot. She came and visited our camp everytime we were there for four years.
Last time, was two years ago. And we had not been there for two years. Both figured she probably wouldn't be around anymore, but as soon as we pulled up Tim starts whistling and calling her (he named her...). I'll be go to hell if she didn't come running out of the trees right up to him! She wouldn't hang out in camp like she always had in the past, even sitting around the campfire with us at night (I shit you not!). But the next day she came by with her fawn for awhile, then again the day after that. Guess she was too busy being a mom to hang out with us like she used to.
I looked for her this time, but I think she's probably passed by now.
Public land, national forrest. Not very well known... Well, take that back, it is VERY well "known". Everybody has heard of it now. But not very visited. 99.9% of the people recently having a shit fit over it have never been there and couldn't even point to it on a map. And I'm glad they all got a heart burn over it. Fucking do gooders.
- DAA
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on August 16, 2018, 02:00 PM:
Ok...….Got this figured out !!!!
When I get reincarnated, I want to be;
Dave during hunting season.
Troy during fishing season.
and a porn star the rest of the year.
I know a handful of people who have seen a mountain lion in the wild.
I know a few of them have taken a mountain lion.
But I don't need too many fingers to count the ones that have passed up a lion 'cause it was too easy !!!!
Posted by Eddie (Member # 4324) on August 16, 2018, 02:15 PM:
Dave you have a wonderful gift. I tip my hat to you sir!
Now where did you see those bucks
We were up at Rilfe CO. Mule deer hunting back in the late 90s,
My buddy was watching this little valley when he had this big cat walk 75yrd below him. He came back to camp that evening and told me what he had seen. He said they are really something to see in the wild.
[ August 16, 2018, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: Eddie ]
Posted by earthwalker (Member # 4177) on August 16, 2018, 07:00 PM:
Not to take way from DAA's pictures and stories.
But have watched a cougar get harassed by 2 coyotes one time watched through the spotting scope for over an hour. My dogs were having a fit about the howling coyotes.
Other half watched a cougar walk down the road below the lookout We are on right now.
Haved killed several over the years.
Want to get in shape follow a bunch of hound chasing lone in the winter.
Posted by DiYi (Member # 3785) on August 17, 2018, 04:33 AM:
Great photos,thanks.My wife has a couple pet does that visit daily.Now one has a fawn and the other has 2.Fawns try to figure out how to climb up our deck steps.Fun watch.She stores her bird seed etc back there in garbage cans and there's always spillage.Depending on type,that initially was the attractant I suppose.They scarf up sunflower seeds.
She also has a pet wild hen turkey around daily.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on August 17, 2018, 05:28 AM:
Love that pic of Tim and the doe I get lots of game on my camera at night but my Airedales keep everything At bay in daylight hours. So far Mtn. Lion Elk Fox Coyote Bobcat and lots of Bunnies !
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 17, 2018, 05:31 AM:
Tim's doe was addicted to pumpkin seeds and honey-oat granola bars .
And she loved to stand there and lick the grease off my camp stove too.
Oh, and if you took a leak, she'd run over and eat the grass you just pissed on .
Have only seen four mountain lion that I didn't call, that I can remember. One of them, I thought it was a bedded deer and snuck right up on it. Then maintained eye contact with it for about 45 minutes while it followed me, stayed about 60 - 70 yards from me the whole time. That was way cool. That one was way bigger than the one in these pictures.
And of course have seen a few that I've called on accident on coyote stands.
- DAA
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 17, 2018, 06:46 AM:
Ol' Tim, we've seen his picture here going back years, same hat, same shirt, same boots, same 243, still needs shave, and haircut. I bet he's an easy going dude! Tell us more about him, what does he do when not riding shotgun with partner Dave?
I had a buddy like that, 25-30 years. Then his son got old enough to get out in the woods and we drifted. I haven't even seen Pat in ten years! <sigh>
Good hunting. El Bee
[ August 17, 2018, 06:49 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on August 17, 2018, 11:48 AM:
Yes, Tim..the internet enigma/anti-hero. Tell us more.
Mark
[ August 17, 2018, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Lone Howl ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 17, 2018, 03:45 PM:
I just remembered something. There have been times when I have attempted to make friends with critters and domestics and always had them freak out when they smelled coyote and bobcat scent and blood all over ourselves.
It seems like you guys have solved that situation or your hunting clothes and boots are properly sanitized when on non hunting camping trips? I'm not a religious camo washer, though, so what do I know?
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by Ariel Perez (Member # 4678) on August 19, 2018, 02:54 PM:
Not much going on here in Safford, we have had a better monsoon then last summer so that a plus.
I really enjoy August it means fall is right around the corner, I can smell the roasting of hatch green chile as I’m typing this.
We just got back from a vacation in Puerto Rico and that place still looks like shit in my opinion and they aren’t going to do much to change the electrical grid from what I have read and talked to people about. It’s a real shame.
I’m ready for the season to start, have my scouting cut out for me in Nm and Az. We are doing a contest in eastern nm first weekend of November and then another one here in southern az the weekend before thanksgiving so I gotta find my pockets of coyotes.
Archery deer and bear opens this coming Friday so the hills will be crawling with hunters from August till January. I’m sure koko is planning his annual trip up north to fling his arrow at anything that moves.
Posted by knockemdown (Member # 3588) on August 20, 2018, 03:26 AM:
I remember watching Daves first 'Varmint Safari' video and thinking to myself: that Tim dude is cool as shit!!!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 20, 2018, 09:51 AM:
All I can say is that after visiting several Caribbean islands, the people of Puerto Rico are the friendliest, even when they don't have to be. And, they have just as nice beaches as anywhere. Plus the water is warmer than Mexico or Hawaii. The thing I like is when you get out from a swim, you don't reach for a towel because the air temperature and water temperature are about the same. The only thing I make note of is all the houses have bars on the windows, not an encouraging sign. They have colonies of escaped Monk parrots all over San Juan. I think they are from south America, originally?
edit:
quote:
that Tim dude is cool as shit!!!
you only say that because of the scraggly beard! Beard people!
[ August 20, 2018, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by knockemdown (Member # 3588) on August 20, 2018, 12:11 PM:
There is (was) a colony of monk parrots living at a marina close to where I live, no BS! They had a huge woven nest and were surviving our cold winter, best I could tell?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 20, 2018, 03:14 PM:
We have had a flock of Amazons that live mostly in the foothills around here, There is a distinctive way that some birds flap their wings and some parrots, (not all) only flap about 30 degrees over and 30 degrees under horizontal and that's the big giveaway when these birds fly around here in groups of 20 or 30. I once saw a pair of Patagonian conures sitting on some telephone wires not far from here. They were way lost, or escapees. There is a big beaked parrot that eats pinecones, native to south-east Arizona, comes and goes across the southern border.
Of course we may have heard to the extinct Carolina Parakeet. I don't really know what happened but that one was a legitimate resident....unlike the thousands of parakeets (budgies) escaped that are resident in the Everglades.
There are about 370+ species of hookbills in the world with Africa the least represented. Australia and Indonesia, all those south pacific islands have the most. South America has a lot of birds but not a lot of different species, as I recall, only about 25 or so?
That's all we need to know about parrots for now....and cockatoos, (not "true" parrots, because they have erectal feathers around the head; a weak argument, in my opinion) and Pinky's.
Good hunting. El Bee
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 20, 2018, 07:05 PM:
I see a condor or two once in awhile. The biologist that's in charge of them around the Grand Canyon gave me a ride from the south rim to the north rim a couple years ago. Talked mostly about condors the whole damn time. I did not mention a couple of the places I have seen them.
See quite a few golden eagles which are my favorite.
See a ton of bald eagles but I don't much give a shit since they are so common.
- DAA
Posted by Az-Hunter (Member # 17) on August 20, 2018, 08:27 PM:
Neither the Bald Eagle or the Golden Eagle are common in southern Arizona, but I always see a few every winter and spring. The Bald Eagles always used to hit the alfalfa fields right across the road from me, would see a pair there most every spring.
There are a handful of places I call, where I can almost bet on seeing a pair of Golden Eagles. The old "wish I had a camera" moment happened one evening, just as sun was setting, it illuminated the long grass drainage I was calling like gold. A pair of Golden Eagles were at the far end of the drainage, about 150 yards to the east, one sitting on a yucca stump, the other on the ground. Called for maybe five minutes, when the one on the yucca stump lifted off and came straight at me about five feet off the ground. Like it was on a string, never flared until maybe 20 feet from me, one pretty sonofabitch. They are one big bird for sure.
Posted by Ariel Perez (Member # 4678) on August 21, 2018, 04:29 AM:
Yes Leonard I would much rather go to the Caribbean islands over Mexico or Hawaii, like you said the people are friendly and the food is excellent. I’m just not a fan of the roads, some buildings look pretty run down, bars on windows, spikes on walls, security cameras everywhere. It’s a nice place to visit but I definitely would never live there.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on August 21, 2018, 04:42 AM:
[ August 21, 2018, 04:44 AM: Message edited by: Paul Melching ]
Posted by knockemdown (Member # 3588) on August 21, 2018, 05:26 AM:
Bald eagles have made a comeback here, to the point of seeing one upstate now is not a rarity...
Got golden eagles now, too! Farmer told me of a cool experience, back in winter. He came across a dead deer (1.5yr old buck) that had apparently been dragged down by a large bird? Said there was hair & blood for a few hundred yards, and he could easily make out the tips of a large wingspan in the fresh snow, on either side of the track...
Might could be some coyotes started the job, and a bird finished? Or, deer was hit by car and the bird finished it?
Either way, his son hammered a stake in for a trail cam to watch the dead deer, and look what showed right back up...
Our deer ain't small, that buck was prolly 150lbs live weight? You guys know how big those golden eagles are, and the pic speaks to that!
[ August 21, 2018, 05:27 AM: Message edited by: knockemdown ]
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on August 21, 2018, 05:41 AM:
I know there have been many cases of golden eagles killing sheep. One area in Montana, years ago, WS captured and relocated dozens of golden eagles for quite a few years in a row, trying to reduce loss to the producers.
Given the tools they have available and an open field situation, I can very easily see a golden very easily killing a deer. Very easily.
- DAA
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 21, 2018, 06:33 AM:
That's a great pic, Fred. Thanks for posting!
I also have quite a fondness for Golden Eagles, and Bald Eagles can kiss my ass, There's an area along the western edge of Utah where you can drive north of US50 and certain times of the year, it seems like there is a raptor of some sort sitting on every telephone pole with Golden Eagles well represented, but not numerous or common.
This happened quite a few years ago in Nevada. We were staying in a pair of abandoned miners shacks, it was July and very hot but we were hunting and mostly scouting for the upcoming season.
We thought it might be a good idea to make some Lipton noodle soup and fill the thermos with it, and headed off just as the sun was going down. Because we had already hunted the area we were camped we had to drive about 25 miles towards Seven Troughs and somewhere along the way we became aware that nobody had packed the friggin' water! Because it was so hot, easily 100 degrees, it started eating at us and we came on a windmill and cattle trough. There was zero wind and we didn't trust the water in the trough and no water coming out of the pipe.
I got the bright idea to climb up there and turn the blades, but first, we didn't have any container for the water except the thermos. So, we sat around hoping the wind might pick up and drank the very salty soup instead of letting it go to waste. Rinsed it in the trough and started climbing when I suddenly noticed a Golden Eagle perched on top! I asked Mike to pass me the cleaning rod I always kept under the rug and I began poking at the eagle. Not viciously, understand, I just wanted him to get out of my way, we were all psyched out and dying of imagined thirst and quite desperate.
So, he flew off, it wasn't much of a real fight, I just shooed him off but believe it, 20 feet off the ground and dealing with a bird that size and hanging on with one hand, it wasn't a walk in the park, either. By far much closer to an eagle than I had ever been, to that point. Another time, (well) that's another story.
So I started turning the vanes and started getting a trickle of water down below, my trusty associate assured me. It really took forever and it was very tiring but eventually we filled the thermos/YAY! So I said to Mike, I'm going to keep spinning long enough to fill the thermos cup. Okay, you got it!
So, It's not like three spins and presto, a cup of water, but 5 minutes later he said "ok". I climbed down, really beat! And hot tired and thirsty, said where's the cup and he said It's screwed on the thermos, I drank it. At that point, I could have wrung his neck, I said words to the effect that that cup of water was my reward for doing all the work while he sat on his ass holding a thermos under a water pipe.
So, I went back up and spun the vanes long enough to fill the cup a second time, climbed down and gulped that whole cup of water. Now we were thirst quenched and had a quart of water for the night and were on our way.
You know, of course, it turned cold and the hunting was pretty good and nobody drank that water all night long, but it sure felt good starting out, we had to have it and it was worth the effort.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Good hunting. El Bee
[ August 21, 2018, 06:41 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
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