In a comment left yesterday The Hunter's Wife said...Great pictures. We are having great weather. Saw a Robin last week...spring is here!
I wasn't able to say that I had seen a Robin until this morning when a bunch came through - traveling with some Blackbirds and Bluebirds. The Robin males had made their visible return to the Des Moines area Southwest of Timber Life some three weeks ago. They must have decided it was to early at that point to hit the countryscape.
There was a group of Blubirds darting through the air from perches to the ground looking for food.
This little Cardinal male looked a bit ruffled by all the outsiders stopping by to sit in his tree and eat his food on the ground. He was having a bad feather day...
As time goes on I know all of us will be able to add daily the evidence towards the impending calendar date called Spring a week from Saturday. ;)
Sadie and I were on our almost daily trek to the mailbox this morning. I had gone back into the house to grab the camera because I had caught two tall standing whitetails in the pasture watching our every move. I knew we would be seeing wild life today...Well, of course the deer weren't there when I got back outside!
Found some raccoon tracks going the full length of our half mile drive.Hubby saw the black eyed bandit going out last night on his way into the house after dark.
Heard Red Winged Blackbirds, water birds, and the not so pretty crow was being raucous.
The Cardinals have been doing a fantastic job of calling in the sunrise as of late, just a very positive time of the morning to be out and around.
Got a picture of our melting mountains of snow and perennial plants that are showing new life.
The Lavendar is starting to green up at the tips.
The sedum has started new growth which seems to have become food for ground hugging animals.
Then there were Vs and Vs of geese flying by.
Caught the undersides of these guys going over when I stopped to snap some shots by the airplane hangars on my way back from retrieving the mail.
We are reaching that time of year when all the Whitetail deer hunters in Iowa have a place to get together to show off their trophy Bucks,shed antlers, and their talents with the Bow.
In the two years that I have visited this event, I have gotten some really great ideas to put on my to-do list in an effort to improve conditions at Timber Life for the deer that call this property home.
So,what am I talking about? The annual Iowa Deer Classic of course!
Checkout the video taken at last year's event...A great introduction to what you will find if you get a chance to attend.
I know I had a great time finding out about all kinds of products available for the hunter in general...
Show Hours
Friday - March 5,2010 - 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday - March 6,2010 - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday - March 7,2010 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
General Admission
Adult $10
Youth (7 to 12) $5
Kids under 7 free
Big Buck Contest Ticket $20
Family Pack $25 (includes Two Adult tickets, Two Youth tickets, Two Soft Drinks)
Friday Night is Ladies Night! All ladies are admitted FREE!
Event Registration
Big Buck Contest: Fri 3pm thru Sun 11am
Shed Antler Contest: Fri 3pm thru Sun 11am
Classic 300 Archery Tournament: Fri 3pm thru Sun 11:30am
Door Prizes!
Daily Winners - Delta Targets
Grand Prize - Thompson-Center Muzzleloader
This is a great way to get the whole family involved in activities of the outdoors....;)
Last year we had a warming spell that gave us open ground on this same date. By the end of this week it appears we will be headed up into the 40's for highs so the ground will once again be peeking out. Going to be a strange phenomena since we've had snow on the ground since December 9th.
This weekend in Des Moines,IA the National Pheasant Fest is returning for another great time for the upland bird game hunter.
I haven't personally attended one of the gatherings,but from what I have heard they have a lot of things scheduled .
Weekend Agenda
Friday, February 26, 2010
12:45pm
Bird Dog Parade (immediately preceding Ribbon Cutting)
HyVee Hall Entrance
1:00pm
Ribbon Cutting - Show Opens
HyVee Hall Entrance
2:00pm
Seminars and Sessions Begin
HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
6:00pm
Friday Night Sportsman's Banquet - Boasting & Toasting
Polk County Convention Center
7:30pm
Friday Night Sportsman's Banquet - Dinner Served
Polk County Convention Center
8:00pm
Seminars and Sessions End
HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
9:00pm
Show Closes
HyVee Hall
Saturday, February 27, 2010
9:00am
Show Opens
HyVee Hall
10:00am
Seminars and Sessions Begin
HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
12:00pm
Conservation Lunch
Polk County Convention Center
5:00pm
Seminars and Sessions End
HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
6:00pm
Show Closes
HyVee Hall
6:00pm
Saturday Night Banquet - Boasting & Toasting
Polk County Convention Center
7:30pm
Saturday Night Banquet - Dinner Served
Polk County Convention Center
Sunday, February 28, 2010
8:00am
Church Service
10:00am
Show Opens
HyVee Hall
11:00am
Seminars and Sessions Begin
HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
4:00pm
Seminars and Sessions End
HyVee Hall Meeting Rooms
5:00pm
Show Ends - Thank you for a great Pheasant Fest!
HyVee Hall
(weekend agenda subject to change)
In taking a look at pictures,number #20 to be exact, from the last event held in Des Moines at the Iowa Events Center back in 2007, I saw a Springer Spaniel from the back that reminded me of my dog Sadie.
It is my understanding that Federal Premium Ammunition will be introducing a new pheasant shot called "Prairie Storm" at the Fest. Click here to see a review by Anthony Hauck, outdoor writer for the Star Tribune from Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN.
I have been checking out the website and ran across some of the forage mixtures that Pheasants Forever have developed to supply the upland game birds and whitetail deer winter food sources. Dual purposes that could fit many situations.
It has been my personal observation that the pheasant population has had a huge decline in our local area and it wasn't by human hunting pressures.Sure would like to see the birds back to the same level of three to four years ago. ;)
The National convention is only a few days away and would make a great break in the monotonous winter weather that has been keeping us all with an eye to the sky. The forecast for the weekend in central Iowa is sun and temps in the 30's. ;)
National Pheasant Fest Mark your calendars:
Des Moines, IA
Friday, February 26th 1pm-9pm
Saturday, February 27th 9am-6pm
Sunday, February 28th 10am-5pm
When the hard-drive of my old computer wouldn't click out of it's death knell a while back ,I got a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system on a new e-machine.
The Windows Live Mail Program has some really entertaining, positive additions for people who want to keep things changing with their communications. I have found adding pictures to be very easy and giving them character by framing quite delightful. Yes, it sounds like I'm bored...doesn't it?
Certainly, the capabilities I've discovered maybe possible with other programs, but this is the first I have been aware of them being associated with an e-mail program that I have had the opportunity to use.
At this point I can see a lot of interesting situations with e-mail and photo editing programs at my disposal. I am the click and learn type individual. Just hope I don't wipe something out in the process. I won't, tongue in cheek, had to throw that in there for good measure.
Here's sharing my take of the Windows 7 Home Premium Live Mail Program. I like it! I like it! ;)
The promise of more winter weather on Sunday the 14th, led Hubby and me to go shopping Friday evening after he got off work to prepare for our Valentine's celebration at home. Hubby and I had some ideas of what would be on the menu...so we headed to the fresh meat/seafood counter at our local store.
Timber Life Valentines Menu
Salad splashed with Raspberry Vinaigrette New York Strip Steak Scallops (a la famous Boston Restaurant recipe) Mashed Potatoes with bacon and cheddar Mississippi Mud Pie Cheesecake
Hubby took over as Chef and everything was grilled, baked, and microwaved in time to catch the start of the Daytona 500. Go Bass Pro Shops Jamie McMurray !
Viewing the movie "Amelia" helped to fill in time while we waited for the Daytona 500 track repair to cure and get the cars back onto the track.
Ah yes...I can't forget to share what Hubby brought me this Happy Valentines Day. Recently, we acquired the Wii gaming system so we are starting to add accessories. Hubby and I took turns at being rookie game hunters. It is going to be interesting on how to get the response of the gun to mirror the response of the user better. Yes, probably needs some tweaking of the components. Sure is going to be fun working out the bugs.
OH! I can't forget the basket of sweet treats. Thanks to Hubby I have been supplied with one of my favorite candies. I like cinnamon....HOT cinnamon. This little conveyor of sweet treats is sitting in a basketful of "Atomic Fireballs", not sure how long it will take me to munch my way through, but it should be well into the next year.
I thought is would be nice if Hubby could go flying at his Aero Club this year since he likes to get his feet off the ground whenever possible. So, the suggestion for him to go ahead and pay his full year of dues was met with a smile.
The snow stopping and the sun shining for a time made for a pleasant end
to the day.
Hope you all got a chance to celebrate with your special
person....;)
