Thanksgiving Write About the Good Challenge

Thanksgiving is right around the corner...I have many things to be thankful about. However, I would like to take the time to be apart of the Thanksgiving Write About the Good Challenge. Kristine over at Hunt Smart Think Safety has ask us to write about a mentor that has influenced our activities in the great outdoors. It is my extreme pleasure to tell you about the gentleman that enabled me to go after the abundant Whitetail. A neighbor of 74 years young, that has hunted in our area since he was old enough to carry a gun and a year round fisherman. He learned of my desire to be out stalking when I mentioned how I would like to see what the gunshots on my property were bringing down. The next season, he came bearing a well used Remington 20 gauge which I used for a couple of years, before I got my new Remington 870 Youth Express. Last year during Shotgun Deer Season he was going through Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer. He went hunting anyway, and took down his limit for each gun season, processing them on his own. This summer after receiving a clean bill of health he has been very busy living each day to the fullest. His name, Merlin Klaas, a hunter-fisherman that loves the Outdoors. An inspiration to to all that have the opportunity to know him.

OH Deer!

We are all probably becoming witnesses to the rutting behavior of the Whitetail deer if you spend anytime at all in timber, or field,at this time of year. This young buck seemed intent on making an impression on the young doe that led the way...The doe appeared to be around 1 year old, there was one fawn following in close proximity. I would put the buck between 1 1/2 and 2 years. In reading over at Huntingnet.com I discovered why his antler development isn't really very impressive at this point. They say that his bone structure and body mass is getting most of his energy right now. Antler mass becomes more impressive when the whitetail buck reaches 4 years old and beyond. However, I would like to keep an eye out for him in a year or two to see how this little guy will mature.

Eating Green

Eating Green??? As I hear the question echoes coming in from the blogosphere. We are hearing alot these days about the Green Revolution. The contruction of buildings both commercial, and residential,fabrics we use for our clothes, cleaning formulas, energy to power our every day needs and last but not least our transportation. However, today I am not going to be addressing any of the afore mentioned topics. What then, you say is all this about, "Eating Green"??? The answer happens to be a huge head of cabbage in the 15+lbs. range. It happened my way when my brother, an owner/operator of an 18 wheeler, delivered a load of these members of the brassica family to a grocery warehouse. Now, I am thinking of all the ways to use it up. A very sweet Fall treat considering it's size. Thanks brother Ed! ;)

Sadie Says - It's Snow!

Mom rousted me out of bed shortly after 5:00 A.M. and asked if I wanted to go outside. I acted as though I didn't hear her for a second or two. Yawning....Picked myself up, curled my back towards the ceiling, stretched my right front leg, then the left. After my oxygen promoting morning routine we headed out the back door. With the door opened, and the light switched on to illuminate the darkness, I saw these things floating in the air. Bugs! Millions and Millions of BUGS! I'm in heaven as my head went from side - to - side trying to grab them up. Hmmmm, no crunch. How disappointing... I was havin' such a great time! The snow has stopped and warmth in the ground has started making water out of what fell.

Before it started to melt, Mom was quick to grab the camera and look out the back after daylight arrived...

Wind Turbines in the Wetlands

In Iowa we are finding more and more ways to incorporate some valuable resources provided by the natural geography of the land. The area pictured above runs along the famous Lincoln Highway. An optical illusion has the the wind turbines looking as though they are apart of the Don Mangels Wildlife Area,a public hunting spot developed by Story County and the local Pheasants Forever Chapter . Actually, the turbines are just beyond the perimeter. As time passes we are finding ourselves becoming host to fields full of several sources for energy production of one source or another. Beginning in Northern Iowa , the first to be groomed by the now defunct Enron Corporation years ago, miles of the alternative wind turbines were erected. In recent years those first turbines have seemed to sprout co-workers to assist in the growing demands of our electrical needs. Whether it be from the winds that blow reliably, or the corn in the field that could be directed to the ethanol plant within 15 miles from this location . We are one State of many working to gain alternative sources of energy, so lack will not cause us to wish we had planned ahead.

Hubby volunteered to do a fly over of the turbines straight north of our homestead eight miles, to give us a bird's eye view of the Fall landscape. ;)

Buck Rub

It is the season for the mighty whitetail buck to start leaving more evidence of his secretive summer presence. This is the second rub in a weeks time that I've discovered in the close vicinity. The Hawthorne trees seem to be the focus of the rubs. That is a fact I will have to keep in mind when looking for other rubs, and scrapes, to see how common it is in this timber. Yesterday, this rub did not exist in an area I have begun to groom as a resting spot behind my garden. This little cul-de-sac has been a very popular meeting place for deer of all ages in the past. It is to the south of the hickory that fell a few months ago.The perfect spot to create a funnel for the upcoming shotgun season in December...

Pheasant Opener

Tomorrow morning, October 25th, here in Iowa, hunters and their four legged friends will be taking to the field in search for what is being considered the scarcely populated upland bird, the pheasant. Forecast for success by officials still has a positive outlook for those who put in a lot of time in their hunt. Presently, we are in a cycle where large groups are not apart of the landscape. Standing crops in fields may provide barriers to what could already be a challenge for the first day. Opinions heard from an avid resident hunter supported hunting as usual. He was going to take his dog out for some exercise with his friends to see if they could find a few of the Ring - necked Roosters. As for me this season - I only plan to listen for activity and observe. The general consensus of our immediate area is a serious shortage. The Iowa season runs from October 25, 2008 - January 10, 2009.

There is Hunting Happening Here

Visibility was limited this morning.The fog being brought to this neighborhood by changing temperatures. The guns started going off a little before 7:00 A.M. according to the clock. Early Muzzleloader started this past week and a second Duck season started this morning. I had the opportunity to make an acquaintance yesterday. Spoke with our districts Conservation Officer, Bill Fribley. He has a wide territory to cover in his responsibilities of enforcing the Department of Natural Resource's regulations. Made a contact with him because of some activity I felt was outside of the guide lines for hunting the Whitetail at this time. According to the renter of the property next to us he has only granted hunting rights to one individual, but the two individuals here this week didn't include that person. So, I am wondering today if that is the same scenario with the Muzzleloader activity that has taken place. I don't open up our timber to hunters from the outside because of past dealings. However, according to the law an injured animal may be retrieved off of our property. It would be best if those hunting on the bare field would let us know they were going to be there. Of course they don't seem to have the same train of thought... Sadie and I have been serenaded by gunfire on a few of our treks outside. The 11:30 A.M. jaunt seemed to herald in another barrage of blasts. The fog having lifted has left us with a cool and sunny day. It is now early afternoon, there is still a lot of time for both the deer and hunter to regroup to try everything all over again. When the day comes to an end we will go see how many of those blasts ended a deer that had to be field dressed,like the one on Thursday night, on the Timber Life side of the fence...;)

Sadie Says - Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Rough!

Things have been a bit rough around Timber Life. Mom keeps letting me outside to use my sniff and chase reflexes when the squirrels are mining underneath her car. Chewing whatever they chew...Those little red tree rats really give me a great workout. Anything with legs that move - I'm ON IT! Anyway, some times those creatures take off into the timber where Mom doesn't mow, or spray chemicals. Over the years animals have brought some really sticky seeds into my close to home running range.

You should see how the long hair on my beautiful ears gets twisted - no need for styling mousse these days.

OH NO! Here she comes again! Two brushes in hand. I get to chew the green brush handle when she is going at me with that blasted wire thingy. Mom and I are both going to be extremely happy when the snow finally comes to cover those prickly stickers over for this season! Pssst! Ya know what's funny? I get to snicker, cause Mom has to peel those pokies off herself tooo...;)