Binocular hunting

[Gussy]

I had a great hunt this morning. I watched 3 6X6 bulls on the skyline at 500 yds. They were having a pecking order tournament. The pushing, shoving and sparring went on for 15 min. Best I've had the pleasure of watching.

4 coyotes on the hill yesterday and all out of range. Early next week my partner is coming up for a calling session.

[Kurt]

Gussy I had 10 does and two bucks in my front yard this morning. One buck already shed the the antlers on one side.
By the time I got the camera out some went into the pines and are bedding down.

[cw50-70]

Don't need no stinkin' binoculars around here. Taken through the front door. There seems to be a tendency in the area to have a good percentage of cactus and non typical bucks.

[Gussy]

This morning 6 bulls. 3 small rag horns had joined up with the big boys. No pushing this morning, just eating. It was 18 degrees and I think they just wanted some fuel. Probably some snow coming again.

Since I got the new Lab, nothing comes in the yard anymore which is fine with me. The young cherry trees are doing much better.

[Kurt]

You can see the fence posts around my young trees I want to keep

[cw50-70]

I have to string an electric fence.

[Kurt]

Every year just before the rut started I used to buy a case of Irish Spring soap and cut a bar in halve and hang it on the young fruit trees and that would keep the bucks away but now I use two fence posts and they wont rub the trees but if you leave one tree close by and the bark will be removed.

[Hartford Pete]

Here are some varmints in our front yard.
-plc-

[Gussy]

Pete,
Some nice varmints in there, just the wrong time of year

Went out coyote calling yesterday but no luck. Our best spot had a wind problem. It was reversed from norm and right into the call area. A lot of problems for cattlemen in the area. Quite a few lost calves. One guy set up and shot 7 from one place where they were calving.

[Gussy]

2 days of coyote calling and no takers.

Today sitting at the table drinking coffee, 4 coyotes on the hill at 5-600 yds out. Go figure.....

But...one made a serious error, he got into the no fly zone 250 yds give or take a couple and he's been removed from the call list

[Gussy]

Very interesting "hunt" this morning. 6 Bulls on the hillside again. 2 would be wall hangers for sure.

The real fun was birds today. A couple of crows were around the coyote I shot a couple days back. A young eagle swooped in and the crows went after it but it didn't even pay any attention to them and landed by the coyote. The crows parked on 2 fence posts for quite a while then gave up. The eagle then walked over to the coyote...some what cautiously. For the next hour he ripped the coyote and had breakfast. Towards the end of that hour another young eagle swooped in and the first didn't seem to inclined to share so the other moved off to one side. A little while later a 3rd eagle dropped in on the party. By this time the first was full and flew off and the second one had a snack. Must not have been much left as it and the third one flew off after about 15 min.

I'm going to take my small spotting scope and table tripod up to the house. Some day I need to get a long telephoto for my camera too!!!

[wyoduster]

My little cocker likes to watch too.

[Gussy]

My little cocker likes to watch too.

Doesn't go after them??

[Gussy]

A "good hunt" this morning. Snowing lightly all morning with 2-3 inches on the ground of fresh stuff. It was hard to see early on but when the snow was letting up, 80+ elk came up out of a draw to feed high, near the rocks on top. The feeding area has some seeps and has good green stuff. No big bulls in the bunch but 3-4 small rag horns. I don't know where the big guys are. I want to see them again to see if they've dropped horns yet. I will get up for some shed hunting once I know they've dropped.

Mid way on the hill had a small herd of 12 mule deer. Down by the house at the bottom of the hill were a few white tails but I couldn't see how many.

Almost time for the hiking boots and shed hunting.

[Gussy]

Even better day. All 80+ were right across from the house this morning. Under 200 yds. At least until the Lab pup decided they were too close to "his property" and started non stop barking. After 10-15 min they moved over to the next ridge.

7 young bulls. 3 were spikes which are legal to shoot without a drawn tag. The other 4 were very small rag horns mostly 2 pt. The sun wasn't up but I did haave agood look. No deer or other critters taoday and no sign of the big bulls for several days.

I do think there's a big cat in the area due to lack of deer sightings.

Cabin fever... I'm ready for some 50+ degree days