This morning, as I read the story in the Tri-Valley Herald (www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald) about the Koopman Ranch and how the county’s ranching heritage is threatened, I couldn’t help but think that something very important was missing.
Yes, agriculture is dwindling in Alameda County and ranches are disappearing along with wildlife habitat, but often forgotten is the [...]
Archive for February, 2008
Alameda County Hunting Heritage Endangered
Posted in Big game hunting, Deer hunting, Endangered species, Land Ownership, Ranch Management, Wildlife habitat, blacktail deer, deer, family, hunting heritage, outdoors, wildlife conservation, wildlife management on February 25, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Kruger National Park Big Five
Posted in outdoors, photography, wildlife, wildlife conservation on February 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
During our trip to South Africa, we spent four days at Nagala Tented Safaris and we had numerous encounters with the king of beasts, both male and female. On one occasion we followed a male lion at night and watched him roar from about 15 yards away. A lion roar is a spectacular event when that close. [...]
Landowner view of Condemnation
Posted in Land Ownership, Partnerships, condemnation, real estate, selling land on February 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
During 2003, thinking it was a good time to buy a property to suit my own investment needs, I scoured the multiple listing service for an attractive buying opportunity. On one occasion, I found a property that seemed to be listed below market value.
The property listed was advertised to be a 32-acre site with [...]
Letter to California members of The Mule Deer Foundation
Posted in The Mule Deer Foundation, fundraising, mule deer, wildlife, wildlife conservation on February 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
MDF President and CEO, Mile Moretti and his wife, Julie, will be in attendance at our March 14 event this year. Miles has now been on board for a couple years and we are seeing good results based upon his efforts. Come to the banquet and take time to say hello, he’s very approachable and [...]
The Giant Buck of Snowdrift Ridge
Posted in Archery hunting, Big game hunting, Deer hunting, Hunting, archery, ethics, mule deer, outdoors on February 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The mule deer is one of the most difficult species to take with bow and arrow. Large bucks are often incredibly wary and know how to travel using the terrain and other deer to their safety advantage.
One of the advantages of archery hunting is that during the early season these big bucks will often be [...]
California Boar Diving
Posted in Big game hunting, Hunting, boar, outdoors on February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
(Caption: Tom Campbell with the wet boar. Click to enlarge.)
The water was cold and my bare feet were barely touching the slime mud on the pond bottom. Somewhere beneath or beside me was a 200-pound boar that had sunk beneath the chocolate-brown water of the stock pond.
I was surprised that the pond was so deep. [...]
Sunny-Day Mallards at the MDF Convention
Posted in Big game hunting, Hunting, Hunts with a Professional Hunter or Outfitter, The Mule Deer Foundation, fundraising, wildlife conservation on February 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes good things sneak up on you like sunny-day November mallards. When you go to the marsh on those sunny November days, you don’t expect much. You know the odds of taking home more than a bird or two are slim. But for some reason, unknown to you, the ducks arrive in numbers. The drake’s [...]
Most Colorful Bird – The Roller Bird
Posted in outdoors, photography, wildlife on February 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
(Click to enlarge)
While we were in South Africa last summer, the lilac breasted roller bird was with us constantly. It was first mentioned by our guide at Kruger National Park. Then we observed it in the Limpopo Province while I was hunting.
I attempted to photograph the roller bird on several occations, but lighting issues and failure [...]
Another Big Boar from the Livermore Hills
Posted in Big game hunting, Hunting, boar, outdoors on February 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
A fellow named Jaime Carpenter shot this boar. Jaime was from the South Bay and had been out late the night before. I wasn’t sure if he’d stay awake long enough to shoot this boar.
The boar and another small boar (say a 200 pounder) were following some sows and apparently they were receptive. The small [...]
Mayberry Farms Superbowl Sunday Photo Shoot
Posted in California Delta, Wildlife habitat, outdoors, photography, seasonal marsh, seasonal marsh, waterfowl, wildlife, wildlife management on February 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
(Double click on photos to see full size version.)
Superbowl Sunday was a great photography day at Mayberry Farms. The sun was good and the birds were cooperative. These pelicans took off from the pasture next door.
The egret passed by close enough to capture him in flight.
Lola was pumped up and chased everything that moved.
Mallards were [...]
