Saturday it starts, deer season 2008. I’ve got my ground blind set beside a pond that typically attacts bucks during hot weather. I’ve missed a couple from this spot, but never put my tag on one yet. But this may be the year.
My blind is commercially made and has several ports to shoot through. I [...]
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Saw a pair of fawns yesterday. First of the year for me. Whenever I see my first fawn of the season, I can’t help but count back to the date it was conceived. I’ve been told that the blacktail gestation period is about 7 months. Various internet sites say it’s about 200 days. That sounds [...]
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Posted in Ecology, Endangered species, Hunting, Land Ownership, Wildlife habitat, blacktail deer, deer, outdoors, wildlife conservation, wildlife management on April 19, 2008 | No Comments »
Our Alameda County ranch, like most ranches, has a variety of habitat types - oak woodland, oak grassland, riparian and chaparral. One thing that’s clear to me is that the effects one can have upon habitat in the hills are more subtile than the results one sees on valley farm ground. Our delta property responds quickly and [...]
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The first few trips to the ranch after the close of duck season are an awakening. I make very few trips to the hills during duck season, mainly because I’m focused on ducks and once the hills on our ranch become saturated by winter rains, travel becomes difficult.
(Note: Click on photos to enlarge them.)
Once duck [...]
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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 | No Comments »
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 [...]
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Posted in Deer hunting, Ecology, The Mule Deer Foundation, Wildlife habitat, blacktail deer, deer, fundraising, mule deer, outdoors, wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife management on February 1, 2008 | No Comments »
Feeding deer is sometimes controversial and not always effective. It can maintain deer population numbers at a level which is beyond the ability of the habitat to support them. However, when unusually rough winters hit, it is the only way to keep deer from starving and when the habitat is healthy and the deer need [...]
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(Double click on photos for larger version.)
The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will be played next week on the Monterey Peninsula. Most of the hoopla will be around the pro golfers like Phil Mickelson and the celebrities like George Lopez and Kevin James, but there are other players on these courses.
Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Poppy [...]
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The tree-stand was located in a multiforked oak tree about 30 yards from the pond. The opening day of archery season would most likely be the best chance to arrow a nice buck. It doesn’t take long after the first disturbance before the bucks shy away and only does continue to drink at the water’s [...]
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