Meanwhile in the Forest

My Moultrie camera has been on this tree and the one behind it for over two years now. I found the Highway and rest area for all types of creatures.

I get a ton of activity in 3 short months. Most of it isn't fascinating, but some of it is hilarious and some of it is curious.

This doe likes her photo taken or is infatuated with the click of the camera. Often she or someone just like her will walk up to the camera and stare at it.

I read a lot of articles in hunting magazines regarding how to place a camera. I had terrible luck in following their directions. However after a few years of experimenting it seems I found some great spots. And obviously the animals aren't bothered at all by the cameras.

This fawn had a great playtime with this camera I had low on a stump.

The racoon love to chew on the camera and try to move it around. Most are slightly curious it seems. I leave the cameras in one location all of the time and rarely move them.

The deer share the same trails as the racoon, the skunk, the 'possum, coyote, and bobcat. I should have saved a fun and curious shot where two fawns were following a lumbering racoon. Tsk, I didn't!

This seems to be a great spot for napping also. As well as family get togethers.

Predators also use these trails often.

Here there is a Bobcat and a coyote coming through a couple of hours apart.

Out of curiosity, I set up a camera that shows the driveway. It does a nice job of catching me going to get the mail. And at night I was surprised to see deer in the yard . 

Another time, there was a coyote that trotted towards the mule's fence and turned and ran. I assume because the mules came up and gave it the evil eye.

It will be interesting as winter moves in with snow and other weather what we will see.

I moved this camera back one more tree to catch more of the criss cross of trails and the log that so many deer like to nap near.

Buck Fever

What is the best way to get an old hunter excited? Show him trail cam photos of Big Big Bucks.

Suddenly he is leaning in close with his glasses on peering over your shoulder ooohhhhing and ahhhhhing and breathing heavy. 

No worries, it is an old hunter thing. Seeing Big antlers is like seeing an old Muscle Car. It makes them breath fast and the memory clicks back to that age when they were young and indestructible.

"I need someone to get that old deer stand out back." He says out loud. "Look at that. You can put it up on the Hickory tree." His mind is clicking and whirring. I think I can actually hear it.

Those days of old. He was a marksman and a sure shot. 

"Wow look at these guys! A 9 point non typical buck!"

The buck above has 5 pts on his left side and 4 pts on the other, the antlers are mismatched and unique.

I have a lot of photos of deer in this spot. This would not be a spot I thought I would find a lot of deer traffic. In the last 4 days had about 300 shots of Spike bucks, does, and fawns walking through and pausing to pose for the camera.

This includes, a skunk, raccoon, squirrels, rabbits, 'possum, coyotes, turkeys, and a huge surprise....

....A Pileated Woodpecker!

I keep wishing this camera shot in color, but for whatever reason it doesn't any more.

This Moutrie camera was really worth it. I've had it up in the woods since 2016. It just keeps on clicking.

My goal? I'd love to have a 'trophy photo' of one of these guys. One from my camera in hand. 

I don't dislike venison. Meat from deer hunting has always been an excellent addition to our freezer.

Meanwhile, I can enjoy seeing what happens in the forest when I am not around.

What I found terribly interesting is that the Moultrie records the pressure along with temp and time. I just noticed that the ones with the most activity has a pressure of 28.7ish inHg. 

So...

something I did not know but have learned by watching is obvious to some. The barometric pressure does have an influence on the movement of deer.

If you already knew this, just say Duh and smile. I knew that deer move before weather fronts, I just never thought about it. 

Wild Wild World

Heh. Not the internet either. Outside is the wild world.

First two photos that I actually did take a week ago while I was out looking for cool lichen or moss and checking for the first sign of a wildflower.

Next are some shots from my very old trail cam. It still works but only shoots in black and white. The night shots are not super clear. Oh and the AM and PM were switched. I had forgotten to set it properly after replacing the dead batteries.

Our resident Bobcat. I've seen this or one like it on and off for more than a year and only glimpse crappy shots of it moving through camera range. When I posted a photo of it on FB I was sent messages of alarm from well meaning friends. 

Despite their reputation, they rarely will eat pets. The trail cam shows many rabbits, raccoon, squirrels, and birds that are in this area. I mean this spot in my woods is the virtual highway of wildlife.

The deer love to take naps here as well as play.

And then there were these guys/gals walking on through.
[Funny shots I did not include are the shot of a doe doing her peeing in front of the camera. Then later on? A coyote smelling it and marking the same spot! Pee Mail anyone?]

This last wild beast is Charlie.
No wonder his nose is working overtime when we walk through the woods!

On the other side of the Buckthorn Forest I set up a newer camera thinking I'd see the deer as they came in from the large meadow. I was surprised!

Here are the Tom Turkeys that I photographed last week fighting and probably the same ones that we saw in the back woods while I was riding Sunshine.

Now...If I can move my camera to a likely spot where the resident bear may wander through if he/she is still around.

Bobcat last June

Trail Cam Shots

Meanwhile the trail cameras have been busy.

The first shot is of the twins this June. Since then I've been able to glimpse them often as they wander through the pastures. 

As of this week, they have been pushed away from the doe. It has been fun watching them grow all summer in the woods.

This is an old scrub apple tree near the end of our driveway. Most of the apples have fallen now but the deer still like to stop and browse.

I moved the camera to a new spot where I noticed a LOT of deer beds. So far this has been the best spot to catch activity.

This could be an immature eagle...but since my old trail camera no longer shoots in color...I can't tell.

These aren't in order by date, but just thought they were fun.
The bucks are different ones. There is this one below with a little fork in one of his points!

This trail is used often by the coyotes also. I never thought much of this section of the woods because it has such a heavy canopy of Buckthorn and Box Elder, not much grows underneath it. However, upon close inspection, the trails look like mini highways.

The next photo...are these the twins?
I'm going to pretend to know better and say they must be. 

This next one was taken on the 19th of October. It appears that one of the fawns is nursing. 

I enjoyed getting a good look at this fella. I've seen him before and failed miserably with my regular camera.

Good thing I have a trail cam!

Yesterday Charlie and I worked up a surprise for the fella that put his tree stand on the edge of our land so he can shoot into my woods. Nothing drastic. 
This fella has 200 acres of his own land and 'leases' another 100 acres, but is compelled to sit on top of my fence.

Tsk Tsk.

Stuck inside...and Oh Deer!

Well sort of. When the VA sends out a certain medication, I have to be available for the delivery as Tom the UPS guy has to hand it to a live human being and it needs a signature.

The meds come once a month and it is always handled overnight. So after the order is confirmed, I have to be present until the package shows. 

It was clean up day anyway. Time to take Charlie's dog crate and put it upstairs. He is not like Morris at all. Morris loved the crate and would go in it any time he wanted to be alone and often at night. Charlie doesn't believe in crates. He will go in it if we have company [which we don't] or if we are gone all day for an appointment [hasn't happened in months!]. 
Charlie was quite upset that I moved the crate. However he is quite happy with being King Of The Couch!

I picked the torn and tattered blind that Daryl left in the woods from last bow and gun season. He didn't take it down and when it snowed, rained, and iced like mad last winter...the top of the blind collapsed. The fiberglass rods that held the roof up shattered in the cold. In short. The blind was destroyed. I waited for him to come and claim it, then Covid came and well... I was tired of seeing it laying in my woods. It now resides in the neighbor's dumpster.

The older one that was no longer used was in the back of the shed. I set that up so I could go in the mornings and have coffee and watch the pasture from inside the little blind. A few years ago I had been able to grab a photo of deer leaping the fence.

Photos from November 2018: Shooting Deer.

I moved stock tanks, cleaned gutters, and hooked up the heater for the stock tank. Next was the game of pick up sticks and toss them in the yellow cart so I could take it to the brush pile.

I cleaned out Lil' Richard's stall so he can go inside tonight. He is the only one who doesn't mind being in the shed. I fear the old pony is getting deaf. He never heard me come by him with the 4 wheeler and the rattling cart today.

It is supposed to start raining tonight and all through tomorrow. Sigh. Cold and rain.
I don't like that combination for the critters. 
I also went back and checked the trail cam for some neat shots of bucks who are getting quite active right now.

Below, a few of the visitors around the farm.

So now I'm still waiting for a delivery and wondering if he'll be late this evening or will it be tomorrow?

Well, I've done a fair bit of work and now I'm going to experiment with some Still Life Photography.

Pancakes for supper.

I'm diggin' it.

PS~ No deer hunting on our land this year. Well, other than with a camera that is.

The Hunt for Morels

What can I say? I like hunting for Morel Mushrooms.
There are a few things that a person really needs to be successful.
Yes.
Know your trees.
In our area, know your hillsides too!

Most of all. Do not be in a rush. You must have a lot of time.
Time to squat near a place to just let your eyes roam about to look for the pattern of the Morel.

If you find some, the advice is ... don't move. You may be stepping on them. I found that to be true enough.

Slow is better. Take time, don't hurry. Be relaxed and listen to the birds. Enjoy the fresh air.
Or the gnats and bugs when it gets warm. [Not quite as enjoyable]
Don't pick the False Morels.
I've had people tell me you can eat those reddish ones.
Nope, I don't think so. It isn't worth the risk now is it?

I found enough early Morels to make a 'mess' for us the other morning.

Homemade Bread and Morels.
What better spring treat can there be?

These were the early ones. If we get some rain, the other trees further up the hillside ought to produce...


I'd put up a trail camera near one of the trees ---- what an active place it is!

Hmmm.
The person in the photo is someone I know and I sort of figured he'd drop over and check out the big tree that produced so much last year. I missed out on a rather large crop of Morels because 'someone' had picked them!

He's a good guy really but it is a bit irritating. I don't search his property for Morels.
I am conflicted in a way. About 7 years ago he called us to ask if we liked Morels and Rich said we loved them! He told us about another tree that on our place just over his fence that he had picked nearly 10 lbs at!
He offered to bring the Morels over and we just told them to keep them.

Since he lets me walk and take photos around his creek bottom I feel compelled not to start something. After all, I know I can call him if I need his help in an emergency.

I do have a surprise waiting for him under the tree though.

Evil laugh.

No, it will not be harmful. Just curious to watch his reaction on the Trail Cam.

Those are not real Morels, they are Candles made to look like them!

:)