- More deer camp and more deer pusses
Our regular flock this winter amounted to about 19 birds.
The little guys below are always there...
The does below will be giving birth in the next two months!
So, winter is over, shed hunting coming up, and perhaps a bit of coyote patrol. Health issues aside, we'll try to get it all done!
Such an easy and snowless winter we have had! Lowest recorded temperature at the farm was 12 degrees below zero, and only for a day or two. We never had more than 18 inches on the ground, and it never stayed around that long. The deer and turkeys had ample opportunities to dig out tons of acorns, and they did! Our fields, and especially the edges looked like football games had been played on them... As I stated in my last post, the deer census station was a bust this year, completely. First ever, that we have not been able to tabulate accurately the deer per square mile in this region. First off, there was so little snow in the early throes of winter that finding beds was next to impossible. Next, when we did get snow, it was so little, or lasted such a short time, that it was useless. Also, the deer were so free to move, and food so plentiful, that there was virtually no deer yarding up. The beds within the square mile that I could accurately count, numbered no more than ten. And, in fact, I never had more than ten deer on camera at one time. Several caveats to consider: Within a mile of the farm, there are folks who feed deer heavily all through the winter. Also, when winter is soft, and mast and other foods readily available, deer will roam much more widely than during a hard winter. Counting the beds, my typical take would be 10 deer per square mile of the farm. No way. I guess, closer to twenty as in past years. They are everywhere, and as often at high noon, as in the darker hours. This year, with camp gearing up again, and a doe encouragement (without babes) incentives, we hope to find out!
Turkeys also, so many, so there, and so close! The toms fanning and strutting as early as January, but now about to go nuts!
And of course, the gray foxes, always beautiful, always there, and always attentive to the barn chicken situation.
Attentive is the word I would also label this doe with. So graceful, and in such great shape..
Go ahead, mouth off to this old gal!
A few of the ten, scarfing a few whole corn kernels.
I love the backdrop. That is deer camp in the background. I moved the census station a bit South because of ice this year, and they did not seem to mind.
Comments always welcome!
jackzeller@myfairpoint.net
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